“Be assertive. Stand up for what you believe in and don’t be afraid to ask if you feel you deserve something,” said Leah Marchon (pictured), client executive, commercial lines at Alberta-based MHK Insurance.
“Push past your job description as much as you can,” she added. “The more responsibility you take on, the more you will get out of it.”
Never one to shy away from negotiating her value, Marchon once found herself in a position of earning less than her male peers and she did not hesitate to fight for her worth.
“I knew my book of business was larger and my role had more responsibility, yet the men were earning a lot more money than me,” she said. “I made a list of my accomplishments and future goals and I demanded a raise.”
Marchon has found that women are sometimes underestimated, which can work in her favour as she is able to surprise people with her knowledge and expertise.
Having grown up with a father in insurance, Marchon was intrigued by the industry from an early age and started her first job in the mail room at Aon. After completing her education in insurance and risk management, she went on to work at Marsh for five years before moving to MHK Insurance in 2006 and subsequently climbing through the ranks to her current role.
Although the move from Marsh to a small independent brokerage felt like a step backwards, it actually gave Marchon the opportunity to rise swiftly to a management role.
“It was the best decision I could have made because it pushed me into a position of responsibility that would have taken far longer to achieve at Marsh,” she said. She is the manager of MHK’s Bonnyville branch in addition to her role as client executive.
Marchon is passionate about her industry and devotes a lot of time to trying to recruit more women into the business.
“It’s a very flexible industry with so many opportunities to learn and fulfill your desire for knowledge,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take guidance from your mentors.”
