Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society. Can you envision everyone receiving equal pay for work of equal value, regardless of gender? Or having full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities, all being paid equally for work of equal value? That vision is the objective of International Equal Pay Day, celebrated annually on September 18. Elisa Stampf, the Co-Founder and CEO of Insure Equality, is here today to discuss employment equity in the insurance profession. Insure Equality is a non-profit that seeks to create and enforce accountability in the insurance profession and industry in the pursuit of diversity and equality. Listen for insight into the LBGQT+ stakeholders of the insurance profession.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMScast. [:36] About today’s episode, where we will talk about equality in the risk and insurance professions with Elisa Stampf of Insure Equality. [:58] All about exciting, upcoming RIMS events! On September 14th, the Spencer Educational Foundation returns to New York City for its Annual Funding Their Future Gala. The event will be held at the Cipriani on 42nd Street. A link is on this episode’s notes. You can also visit SpencerEd.org. [1:19] The RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held October 4th–6th in Vail, Colorado. Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com for more information and to register. [1:31] Head to the RIMS.org/Advocacy page to find information about The RIMS Legislative Summit, which is returning to Washington, D.C. on October 25th and 26th. [1:45] We are very excited about the RIMS ERM Conference 2023, which will be held November 2nd and 3rd in Denver, Colorado! The theme is Elevate and Evolve. The Conference will be different than years past with some great changes; book your travel plans now! Visit the Events page of RIMS.org or the links in this episode’s notes. [2:13] International Equal Pay Day is recognized worldwide on September 18. That is the ideal topic to kick off my discussion with Elisa Stampf, the CEO of Insure Equality. Insure Equality is a non-profit that seeks to create and enforce accountability in the insurance profession and industry in the pursuit of diversity and equality. [2:34] Elisa is based in Chicago. She has an insurance background. She is going to provide perspective on LGBTQ+ rights in the risk and insurance professions and discuss how Insure Equality’s philosophies can improve conditions and inspire change. [2:58] Elisa Stampf, welcome to RIMScast! [3:28] Elisa fell into insurance without an insurance degree. In early 2012, she started as an underwriter and worked her way to the home office. She worked in workers’ compensation and then marketing. In 2020, she shifted to the agency side. Within four months, she was being forced out. [3:59] Elisa wanted to make being in insurance a welcoming conversation and make sure everybody’s voice is brought to the table and included. [4:23] In 2021, Elisa spent weeks calling every insurance professional she knew, surveying them. Two things came to the top. Everyone had a story but thought they were alone and they were too afraid to say anything. She asked them to send her someone who cares about this and wants to do something. [5:31] In six months, Elisa found a team of five and a board of twelve and they launched Insure Equality. The inaugural Insure Equality Summit 2023, “A Shift in Perspective,” will take place in Chicago on September 15th. Elisa says it has been a joy, an honor, and a privilege to put together an incredible network of speakers and coaches. [6:08] The summit features speakers from over 25 states with 17 coaches dedicating their time to help folks navigate their careers. It will be at the Morgan Arts Complex on September 15th. An art gallery is the place to talk about perspective and leave your typical mindset! It will be an incredible day wit