Company and Executive Women Worth Watching ® 2013 Award Winner
Carol
Aon
Murphy
E
DUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT IN MY FAMILY. My grandmother attended college to become a teacher in the 1920s. It was unusual for Americans, especially women, to attend college at that time. She then made sure my mother and her sister both graduated from colleges in the 1950s. My father came from a family who had never attended college, but he attended after serving in the Korean conflict via the GI bill and went on to receive a master’s degree. I was raised to believe that I could be whoever I wanted to be, but that education and working hard were the keys to success. My parents encouraged my tremendous curiosity and passion for learning which are still with me today. Immediately after obtaining my degree in economics, I was hired into the insurance industry as a casualty underwriter and then became a broker. In 1990, I joined Aon. I was promoted several times in my first ten years at the company. I was very busy with work and traveled extensively internationally, but wanted to get my MBA before starting a family. I decided upon the Executive MBA program at the University of Chicago; Aon sponsored my tuition. The class met on Fridays and Saturdays every other weekend for two years and included four weeks of intensive class work in Chicago and Barcelona. Following the completion of my degree, I led a large account practice in San Francisco and later returned to Chicago. I have been blessed in having a great education that was largely funded through scholarships and my company’s investment. Now, as the leader of Aon’s Women’s International Network, I share my passion for education with others and support professional learning opportunities for women and others in the insurance and risk management professions. I am a passionate supporter of STEM education because I believe development of my own interest in math especially has been critical to my business career. I have supported two colleagues on my team to attend MBA programs and helped another African American woman to finish her bachelor’s degree while working full-time. I also lead seminars regarding MBAs and balancing education with work and family demands. I have had the opportunities to fulfill my career and personal aspirations and to be successful in great part to the educational opportunities afforded to me. As leaders, we must work to broaden educational opportunities and access for all. We are in the risk management business but one of the biggest risks facing our firms is a shortage of qualified talent. By bringing in diverse candidates, including women, globally, we can meet that demand, and by investing in and promoting educational opportunity for all, we can create that pipeline of talent for the future.
HEADQUARTERS:
London, England WEBSITE: www.aon.com BUSINESS: Insurance REVENUES: $11.3 billion EMPLOYEES: 62,000 TITLE: Managing Director EDUCATION:
BA, Bates College; MBA, University of Chicago FIRST JOB:
Casualty Underwriter, Travelers Insurance MY PHILOSOPHY:
Demonstrating exceptional performance in your job and being a strong team player is the first priority. Roadblocks and challenges make you stronger and can be overcome through exceptional performance and hard work. FAMILY: Husband John and
three daughters
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How do you balance career and lifestyle/home responsibilities? I think it is essential for women to invest in as much outside support for home and childcare responsibilities as possible in order to be free to focus on a successful career. Although my husband is extremely supportive, having these great resources really helped me manage both.
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What advice would you give younger women about their education? Focus on developing skills that will serve you in your career aspirations over the longer term. Do your best in your education, as it is a very competitive environment. Depending on your situation, it may be easier to focus your energy on education before having children.
PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL
September/October 2012