Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   March is International Women’s History Month and March 8th is International Women’s Day. It’s the perfect time for the RIMScast debut of Jennifer Santiago! Jennifer is the Director for Risk Management and Safety at Wakefern Food Corp., the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States. Jennifer has served in RIMS for years, is a RIMS-CRMP holder, and is one of the most visible, vocal, and fun ambassadors at events like RISKWORLD 2023, where we will see her on stage!   In this interview, Jennifer shares her background, what excites her in risk management, and her passion for DE&I and ESB. She says that the risk management industry has been extremely homogenous for decades, which is too long! Tune in for today’s informative and exciting conversation!   Key Takeaways: [:01] About the RIMS Membership. [:14] Registration for RISKWORLD 2023 is now open! [:26] About RIMScast. [:38] About today’s episode. [:47] All about upcoming RIMS webinars, workshops, events, and more! [1:53] March is International Women’s History Month. [2:07] About today’s episode with Jennifer Santiago. [2:43] Justin welcomes RIMS 2023 President Jennifer Santiago to the podcast! [3:11] Jennifer tells how she feels as President of RIMS, after years of involvement. [3:36] How RIMS advances the risk management profession and individuals. [4:44] How Jennifer moved her career in risk management through RIMS. [5:23] Jennifer shares the 2023 RIMS theme of personal and organizational resilience. [6:30] The risk profession can lean on RIMS to get R.E.A.D.Y. for what is next. R — Reconnecting and strengthening the bonds of the risk community. E — Education as a critical path to personal and professional development. A — Advocating for the profession around critical legislation. D — DE&I, the foundation from which everything else stems. Y — YOU, what RIMS can do for you as an individual RIMS professional. [7:46] Why Jennifer is “long” on the risk management profession and CRO roles. [8:31] Jennifer’s passion for DE&I. Why risk professionals should use DE&I. The industry has been extremely homogenous for decades. It’s not acceptable any longer. [10:52] Meaningful things executives can do, such as forming Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and having DE&I Officers, to support DE&I in their organizations. [13:01] What challenges are there for women to break into the pipeline and reach professional success? There should be no more one-size-fits-all stereotypes. [15:22] Does Jennifer golf? Where are the deals being made now? [16:08] RIMS plug time! About the RIMS DE&I Strategy page, RISKWORLD 2023, and in-person workshops in Atlanta before RISKWORLD. [17:10] Justin revisits his interview with Josh Linkner, highlighting why live events are so critical, with the demand for human connection in this era of remote and hybrid work. [19:18] About Jennifer’s career at Novartis, Penn State University, and Wakefern Food Corp. and her move from one to the other. Jennifer tells about being a change agent. [20:36] Jennifer’s interest in company culture and the risk toolkit in different industries. [21:16] How Jennifer does a deep dive when she takes on a new role and finds where she will bring the biggest value with the biggest impact. [22:57] How Penn State and other Universities are like cities. The risk profile is extremely diverse and you are thrown into it, even in a pandemic. [24:54] How risk management has a line-of-sight view around an organization and connects the dots to see the enterprise risk. [26:09] About the evolution of risk management education. It’s being highlighted more and more as a necessary skill set. About the RIMS Rising Risk Professionals group. [27:52] What resources the Spencer Educational Foundation provides for students. [29:22] An example of a risk management insurance major graduating to a career. [30:41] What Jennifer is e