Enhancing Innovation Through Diverse Perspectives

Q: How does LGBT+ representation within WTW contribute to a more inclusive and innovative work environment?

Anthony: LGBT+ representation brings diverse perspectives and a wider range of viewpoints to the table. This naturally promotes innovation and creative solutions. For WTW, which markets itself as a global leader within the insurance and risk management space, ensuring that unique perspectives are heard is vital to the success of the business.

Leveraging LGBT+ Experiences for Business Success

Q: In what ways does WTW leverage the experiences and perspectives of LGBT+ employees to drive business success?

Anthony: There is an increased focus on talent acquisition and employee engagement. A reputation for LGBT+ inclusion attracts a wider pool of talented individuals, giving us a competitive edge in the job market compared to other organizations that remain silent on this issue. Additionally, feeling valued and respected as an LGBT+ person boosts morale and engagement, leading to higher productivity.

Role Models and Mentorship

Q: How do LGBT+ role models within WTW inspire and mentor others, both within and outside the LGBT+ community?

Anthony: From a bird’s eye view, seeing successful, in-charge, and proudly LGBT+ individuals in the workplace is incredibly validating and liberating for other LGBT+ employees. It challenges the norm that generally sees heteronormative, white, male-passing people in management roles, showing that anyone can thrive at WTW. This inspires LGBT+ employees to embrace their authentic selves at work.

These role models provide invaluable guidance for career development by sharing insights from their own careers and personal stories that illustrate how they’ve overcome challenges. They offer valuable mentorship, equipping junior employees with navigation strategies for overcoming bias and tips for building resilience, ultimately fostering a strong sense of belonging within WTW.

Seeing this within the wider WTW network assists allyship, stimulating empathy among non-LGBT+ colleagues as we move towards a more inclusive workplace.

Anthony’s insights highlight the significant impact of LGBT+ representation at WTW. At WTW, fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued is central to our mission of driving innovation and achieving business success. By creating a supportive and empowering workspace for all employees, we ensure that everyone can bring their authentic selves to work. This PRIDE Month, we celebrate the strides we’ve made and reaffirm our commitment to a future where everyone can thrive authentically in the workplace.

We hope this conversation with Anthony inspires you as much as it has inspired us. Happy PRIDE Month!

What was your role when you first joined WTW and what is your current role?
I joined WTW in March 2014 as a Health & Welfare Business Analyst in our Benefits Outsourcing line of business. Flash forward 10 years and I’m an Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) Program Manager in our Global I&D team within Corporate HR.

How has WTW supported you during your career progression?
Throughout the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to gain skills, build relationships, and have new experiences across four different lines of business. I also had the opportunity to lead our Multicultural Inclusion Network in Chicago, which allowed me to get involved with our I&D efforts and contribute to creating an inclusive culture at a local level.

What sets WTW apart from your previous employers?
Regardless of the role and business I’ve worked in over the years, our colleagues and leaders are always willing to mentor, support and collaborate. It’s our people and culture that set WTW apart.

What is your work style at WTW and how has it positively affected you?
My work style when I joined WTW was in-office and I loved walking to our downtown Chicago office and enjoying the energy and atmosphere of being with my colleagues every day. My current work style is fully remote and it’s the perfect fit since I’m now in a global role, live further from the city, and have a toddler with a baby on the way. I truly value flexibility and it makes me more productive and efficient in my role, while also allowing me to balance motherhood and my home life.

A bit about Sharan…

• Her role is Global Inclusion & Diversity Program Manager
• She worked in four different LOBs at WTW before moving to our Corporate HR team, and she’s celebrating her 10-year WTW anniversary!
• She started her I&D journey in childhood with her Girl Scout Gold Award project titled: Diversity Extravaganza, featuring a series of six cultural workshops for elementary school-aged children
• She loves music, dancing, reading, and traveling to new places. She and her husband traveled to 14 countries together while dating
• She has a 21-month-old daughter named Jeeva, and she’s expecting a baby boy in the Spring!

Describe your journey as a WTW returner
I initially joined WTW in 2011 and worked here for 10 years. After leaving to work for another company, I decided to return to WTW a year and a half later. This decision was made after the Global Head of Recruitment reached out to me, which sparked a great conversation. The timing was right, and I missed my colleagues at WTW – the way that we make inclusion and diversity an integral part of recruiting, the continuing education that happens here to ensure our recruiters are following best practices, and the endless opportunities to enrich our jobs by participating and leading projects are some of the things I missed most. At WTW, we can raise our hands, make suggestions, and continue to grow.

Returning to WTW has been a remarkable journey, rich with personal growth, rediscovery, and the joy of reuniting with familiar faces. As I walked through the virtual doors of WTW there was a flood of positive memories and reminders of projects that I worked on; processes that I helped to implement and colleagues that I worked closely with in the past. I couldn’t help but feel nostalgia and excitement for the new chapter ahead. Reflecting on the past, I realized how much I had learned at WTW and during my time away, and how those experiences had shaped my perspective. This reflection encouraged me to approach my return with fresh eyes and renewed enthusiasm.

What do you enjoy most about working at WTW?
I really love working at WTW for several reasons, including our amazing colleagues, efficient processes, and the ability to bring our whole selves to work. Moreover, there are countless opportunities for personal and professional development. Your voice matters here – if you have a sound idea or a solution, you are given the opportunity to take your idea and run with it. The colleagues at WTW are like family to me. There’s such a caring element and when you’re in such a positive environment it brings out the best in everyone.

In your experience, what sets WTW apart from other employers and why would you recommend others to apply to WTW?
WTW is not just a place to work, it’s so much more. We care about our colleagues and communities and making a positive impact on the world. We really are invested in our colleagues. The growth and transformation I’ve witnessed within WTW mirrors my own personal evolution. Every day brings new opportunities to learn, collaborate, and make a meaningful impact.

How have your colleagues supported you since returning to WTW?
Coming back to WTW was like coming “home” again. My colleagues were very helpful in welcoming me, sharing knowledge about new systems and policy changes, and offering to lend a helping hand. My leaders were also welcoming and open regarding involving me in discussions fostering collaboration and teamwork. The overall support made me feel welcomed back to my WTW home. Returning to WTW meant stepping into a company that had evolved in my absence. New faces, updated technologies, and innovative strategies were now part of the landscape. Embracing change became a central theme, and I found myself eagerly learning about the advancements that had taken place. The willingness of my incredible colleagues to help me catch up was a testament to the supportive environment at WTW.

What is one of your proudest moments at WTW?
I have so many proud moments, but it’s the moments where I was pushed out of my comfort zone that make me the proudest. Some examples: I got to work on requests for information for our new video interviewing vendor. My colleagues around the world got to review proposals and make recommendations on which vendor to select and why. I had the opportunity to oversee the entire process, starting from working with stakeholders and purchasing, to collaborating with the vendor for product implementation. I also developed comprehensive process guides for our team, while working with others to ensure that the recruiters have access to the most up-to-date documents to navigate the video interviewing platform. These guides are still in use today.

Another proud moment was taking on the high-volume hiring initiative and finding a creative way to track contingent hires as our applicant tracking system was not set up to track the hiring volume at the time. The high-volume project allowed me to work closely with my team in North America as well as with other Human Resource colleagues outside of recruitment. That project showed me what an awesome team of recruiters we have at WTW.

What is your favorite WTW benefit and why?
Our paid volunteer day. The fact that we can take eight hours to volunteer for a cause that is near and dear to our hearts means a lot to me. I love how we have a spirit of caring at WTW.

What impact have your team members had on you?
My team members are welcoming, collaborative, smart and constantly looking for ways to be the best at what we do. This is something I noticed over 13 years ago when I first worked here. I was in awe of how our team not only discussed best practices but went the extra mile to implement them and measure their success. This was true when I started and still holds true today. WTW is home to me. It’s great to be back!

WTW’s India Global Delivery Center (GDC) recently celebrated 30 years of service in the market. What made this achievement even more special? Being the recipient of six prestigious awards in the areas of both colleague experience and inclusion and diversity (I&D).

We are thrilled to have been honored with three awards for providing our colleagues with a unique career experience including: National Best Employer Brand, Happiest Workplace and Best Gender Equality awards from Times Ascent – World Human Resource Development Congress.

• The National Best Employer Brand award recognizes our communication and employer branding strategy in a competitive talent market.
• The Happiest Workplace award acknowledges our exceptional work culture, employee engagement and wellbeing initiatives that contribute to a positive and fulfilling work environment.
• The Best Gender Equality award acknowledges our efforts towards gender parity, including initiatives to attract and retain women in the workforce, leadership development and allyship.

In addition, we were recognized with three awards at the DivHERsity Awards 2023, conducted by JobsForHer; a one-of-a-kind gender diversity award curated to recognize the exceptional work done by companies in India to accelerate female participation and performance in the workforce. These recognitions include:

• Top 3 Companies by Industry – Banking/Financial Services/Insurance
• Top 5 Most Innovative Practices – DivHERsity Hiring
• Top 20 Most Innovative Practices – Women Learning and Development Programs

These achievements reflect our organization’s dedication and long-standing commitment to creating an inclusive, collaborative and people-first culture. It also acknowledges our efforts in recruiting, retaining and developing women as well as underrepresented talent while successfully supporting their professional development.

See what these awards meant for our colleagues in India and WTW as a company.

“I am so privileged to be working with a company and team that has won six significant awards, most of them being in the I&D space. It enhances our excitement to advance the inclusion of underrepresented groups in India GDC. Deeply thankful to our colleagues, leaders and my team.”

Anu Subramanian,
Director – Office of the General Counsel, Human Resources, Communication and Employer Branding, WTW India Global Delivery Center

“I take immense pride in our accomplishments across I&D, made possible through our recruitment, development and engagement programs. These awards are a testimony to the support we receive from our Colleague Networks, leaders and allies in addition to all the work done by the I&D core team at India GDC. We endeavor to keep improving year-on-year, to provide more opportunities to under-represented talent and sustain an inclusive work environment.

Soumya Joshi,
Associate Director – Human Resources and I&D lead for WTW India Global Delivery Center

WTW has been recognized as one of Singapore’s Best Employers in 2023 based on the independent survey of more than 17,000 employees conducted by The Straits Times and Statista. WTW is ranked among the top 50 Singapore’s best employers and fifth in the Banking & Financial Services category this year with thanks to WTW colleagues themselves who voted on how likely they would recommend WTW to a friend.

We asked Choo Oi San, Head of Singapore at WTW what this meant for WTW.
“We are delighted to be recognized as one of Singapore’s Best Employers. Winning this award for the second time is not only a testament to our commitment to our employees, but also a reflection of our company’s values and mission. We want to be the best company we can be for the most accomplished and aspiring talent.”.

Hear from some of our Singapore colleagues on what this award means for them.

WTW would like to thank all our colleagues who participated in the survey – we would not have achieved this award without our colleagues’ hard work and support for each other.
If you are looking to make your goals one step closer with an award-winning company, take a look at our wide range of opportunities here: https://careers.wtwco.com/job-search-results/

What does it mean to you that WTW Mexico has been recognized by HRC Equidad Mexico as one of the ‘Best Places to work LGBTQ+ 2023’?
It’s reassuring that we’re building a safe place for our colleagues, where they can have a voice, be represented and be themselves.

What do you think separates WTW from other employers?
The scope of what we do is diverse, which means we get to interact with colleagues from different backgrounds, experiences and roles from all over the world. It’s also a great way to learn from other colleagues and discuss personal interests and career aspirations.

What is your favorite part of working at WTW?
The flexibility WTW offers is unbeatable. In addition to in-office working, we recently introduced hybrid and remote work flexes so that colleagues, regardless of their location or line of business, can find a balance of what works best for them and their clients.

Name a time when you’ve been inspired at work.
I feel inspired when colleagues proactively reach out to me to learn about the financial wellbeing benefits WTW offers. It’s motivating to see colleagues use our resources to accomplish their short and long-term financial goals; it’s inspiring to know I can help provide guidance to support colleagues in reaching those goals.

Introduce yourself and your roles at WTW/

My name is Roel and I started my career with WTW nearly seven years ago. I am currently a Global Sourcing Specialist and transitioned to this role in October 2022 after starting as a Recruitment Advisor in June 2016 and progressing to Senior HR Specialist in January 2018. Applying for a new role internally at WTW was not at all complicated and my managers and colleagues were very supportive of my career progression and personal growth. I underwent an application process involving a few different interviews, which gave me an opportunity to get to know the teams better and get a first-hand look at who I might be working with. I had regular catch-ups with line managers and hiring managers to talk about future aspirations, short term goals and the next steps in my career. I have always felt fully supported at WTW through upskilling and training opportunities to ensure I was ready for my each of my new roles.

Why did you choose to join WTW and what keeps you here? 

Aside from great benefits and the opportunity to progress in your career, I love WTW because of the work-life balance as well as the initiatives to promote health and wellness to all colleagues here in Manila through different channels. This is done through talks and seminars, giving back to the community and just simply encouraging colleagues to live a healthy lifestyle.

What has been your proudest achievement at WTW? 

The Walk For Hope Steps Challenge. This is one of the many programs supported by WTW Manila and is a combination of giving back to the community and promoting health and wellness. The main purpose of this program is to accumulate as many steps as possible, which then determines WTW’s donation. In the end, all participants were able to reach 20 million steps which is equivalent to a P100,000.00 donation. And since I ranked first in the individual category, I also won a road bike – what a way to start a year!

How do you show up for your WTW colleagues and how do they show up for you?

This is achieved by being available when colleagues need help and sharing best practices so we can all excel and be effective in our jobs. #Teamwork

How does your work drive the change that transforms tomorrows? How does WTW empower you to do this?

In our work, we are given the chance to improve our processes either individually or collaborate with other colleagues. This way we can come up with better ways to handle different requests and build on a better client experience.

What is your best WTW memory so far?

I am very active in WTW initiatives as well as the health and wellness events/contests. The Walk for Hope Steps Challenge was the most recent, but I would say the most memorable was when we won the 2017 Walking to Wellbeing challenge which was organized by the WTW Asia Pacific region. Our team ranked 1^st and won Apple watches!

How would you describe the culture at WTW? 

WTW is a fun place to work, while also being supportive in terms of your career progression and encouraging a healthy work-life balance. Trainings are readily available, there are accessible mentorship programs as well as regular initiatives and events where anyone can participate as to enhance personal hobbies and talents.

Heather Hambrick, Director, shares how flexible working allows her to balance both her job at WTW and an external PhD program in Healthcare Administration.

Our lives are made up of so many different priorities. These are ever-changing, so flexible working empowers the ability to shift in a dynamic environment. Working remotely for WTW enables me to save two hours travel time every day, meaning I am able to do more of the things I love, such as spending quality time with my spouse, looking after my cats and cooking!

Shortly before joining WTW, in my own time, I began an accelerated PhD program in Healthcare Administration. I will graduate with my Doctorate in Healthcare Administration this August and look forward to what this can do for my work at WTW.

I really appreciate having the flexibility of working from home, so that I don’t have to lose any study time to commuting to and from work. I am able to shift from my early morning schoolwork seamlessly into my workday at WTW and continue studying in the evenings.

I cannot express how grateful I am to find such a supportive company environment that enables this success!

Angela Hillier, Account Manager, shares the significant impact that flexible working has had on her everyday life.

The flexible working arrangements at WTW have been life-changing for me.

Previously, my daily commute totalled three hours and I never had time to go to exercise classes as they didn’t fit in around my travel to and from work. Now, without this commute, I can easily fit in pilates classes three times a week and start my day positively before working remotely.

This arrangement has also enabled me to finish work early once a week and pick up my grandson from day care, which is a very precious time for me. The time saved by not commuting every day is so much better spent walking the dogs, getting my domestic chores done and improving my work-life balance. Thank you WTW!

Esra Kennedy, Team Administrator, shares her story about hybrid working at WTW and how it has allowed her to spend more time with her family.

My current WTW Work Flex style is hybrid. Some of the benefits I enjoy most about this arrangement are that I can spend more time with family, do more activities in the evenings, and save money on petrol and car maintenance. I tend to go into the office at least once a week, but this can vary depending on the business need and what I have scheduled in my diary that week. I appreciate this as going into the office breaks the week up and it is nice to catch up in person with colleagues, especially ones I don’t work closely with day to day.

If a hybrid working style wasn’t made available to me, I would not have been able to properly care for my dog. Hybrid working allows me to be at home to walk her and keep her company if I can’t arrange dog care. Additionally, I don’t have to worry about a long commute every day which I really appreciate.

As we grow in life and go through different stages, it is so rewarding to work for a company that grows with me; from being in the office full-time, to remote working and looking after my child, and then to hybrid working and having the perfect balance of home and office environments!

When I started at WTW, I was single and worked full-time in the office. I then got married, had a child and I was a bit concerned with how I was going to balance working in an office full-time and being a mom. A question I asked myself was, ‘Do I continue working or quit the job to raise my son?’ Thankfully, this wasn’t as decision I had to make as my team at WTW was supportive and helped me balance my work and personal life. Being a Business Support Specialist, WTW provided me with the necessary technical equipment and support which gave me the flexibility that I needed to work remotely and be at home with my son.

As my son got older, flexible working became even more important because I needed to be there for him on certain occasions, whether at school or at his myriad of sports games. Time flies, so I didn’t want to miss out on any of the special moments in his life. The most important thing in my life is family, and I believe it should come above all else. It’s critical, therefore, that my manager knows that which has been my experience at WTW.

When COVID hit, and schools were no longer in-person, there was no change to my work set up as I was already remote, so this was really beneficial for me. I was able to continue working comfortably, the same as I had been before the pandemic. Now that my WTW Work Flex is hybrid, and our offices are starting to open back up, I cherish seeing my colleagues in person and really enjoy going in. What I appreciate the most is that I am able to see what my diary is looking like, how busy I am that week then decide when works best for me to go into the office.

I feel very fortunate to work for an amazing company with such high regard for its colleagues’ work and personal lives. WTW has always provided me with the flexibility and tools I need to succeed in both and for that, I am very grateful.

Tell us a little bit about you and your role at WTW.  

Emma: I joined WTW in June this year. Prior to this role, I worked in HR at Emirates in Dubai UAE. I was an expat for over 11 years before we relocated back to England in 2019, then Covid hit! Katie and I work in Talent Acquisition where we share a role as a Recruiter, focusing on the Corporate segment of the business.

Katie: I have been with WTW for almost 7 years. My fist role with the company was as a Recruiter for our Technology and Administration Solutions line of business which I did for five years. I then had an extended maternity leave break for 13 months and after having my baby, I decided I wanted more of a balance between being a mum and still continuing with my career. I spoke with my line manager and HR partner who fully supported my desire to return to work part time and it was then that the job share arrangement came to fruition.

How does this job-share work for you? 

Emma: I currently work three days a week; Monday, Tuesday, and Friday

Katie: I work the other two days of the week: Wednesdays and Thursdays. This ensures that the full week is covered for our clients and stakeholders.

What is your current WTW Work Flex? (Remote, hybrid or in-office) How does this work for you? 

Emma: We are very much hybrid, which I absolutely love. I usually work from home, but sometimes go into the office if something must be done in person, if myself and Katie have scheduled cross-over days booked in, or if I just fancy a change of scenery. I love the flexibility at WTW and being able to manage my own time and workload effectively.

Katie: I usually work one day at home and the other in the office as I enjoy the combination of both. It is great to be able to go into the office and have that face-to-face interaction with colleagues and stakeholders.

What does the flexibility of job sharing allow you to do, that you wouldn’t be able to do if you worked full time?

Emma: I have a very busy family, with two young boys, working three days a week gives me the ability (mentally and physically) to still be focussed on them while they are still young, but also still have a career in an area that I love. I get the best of both worlds. Working part time also allows me to do lots of volunteering at my children’s school which I’m very passionate about.

Katie:  Working as part of a job share allows me to spend time quality time with my young son, but also continue in a career that I thoroughly enjoy. On my days off, I am able to take my son to toddler classes and spend time with other parents, which I feel is so key for both my son’s development and my own journey and development as a first-time parent. It is a fantastic mix of work and family life.

How do you ensure your tasks are done effectively?

Emma: Communication is absolutely key. Our managers and clients shouldn’t notice a difference dealing with either one of us; hopefully being on the same page at all times. We religiously do a handover to each other to ensure were both up to speed with projects as things progress.

Katie: Along with our regular handovers, we also ensure that we are both copied in on all emails so that we are both kept in the loop and there is no duplication of tasks.

How do you feel working at a company, that has enabled you to split your job role and responsibilities with another colleague?

Emma: I have strong views about flexibility in the workplace and the positive benefits that it brings. I was very happy to see such an excellent company and role aligned to this. With a job share partner, it gives great peace of mind to know that work is being taken care of on the days you’re not working.

Katie: I feel so grateful to have been given the opportunity to continue my career on a part-time basis, within a company that I really enjoy working for. It shows that WTW is an advocate for flexible working, which I feel is so important in an ever-changing and evolving employment market.