Spencer Board Member Highlight: Johnell Holly

Tell us a little about yourself! What led you to your current position as Senior Vice President, Central Division Manager at FM Global?

I’ve been with FM Global for 20 years and am proud to be a part of an organization where I could achieve both my personal and professional goals. I’ve enjoyed most of all being able to have great relationships throughout my career and support others in achieving their goals. I believe that my military background plays a key part in how I operate. But, being a part of a great organization, is key to being able to have the opportunities to leverage it. Find a place to work that you enjoy and most other things will come together regardless of how far you go.

How do you think having diverse and equitable representation in the workplace helps current and future employees? Did this play a part in your decision to enter the insurance industry?

People generally and subconsciously gravitate to things that are more familiar to them. That, unfortunately, means unfamiliar opportunities might get missed. Having a more diverse workforce leads to greater diversity of thought and experience which translates into more ideas and opportunities…things that may have never been considered. This environment is the best for driving greater equity and inclusion, and subsequently, greater opportunities for success for any organization.

How do you think the insurance industry has done thus far in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion? Where/how do you think the industry can improve?

Our industry has been incredibly successful despite its efforts in DE&I. We have generally depended on organic diversity which has gotten us this far. But, we all know the saying, “What got you this far, won’t get you to where you want to be!” There is now a clear focus throughout the industry on DE&I, and this, will take our industry to the next level. We must continue to stretch ourselves in searching out and developing talent pools to fuel this effort. Spencer plays a key role in this, but Spencer cannot do it alone. Every organization must embrace this endeavor.

What made you interested in serving on Spencer's Board of Directors? How did you get involved with Spencer?

The insurance industry was never a job that, like most of us, I grew up excited about. The words were never spoken, “When I grow up, I want to be an insurance agent!!” But, it truly is a great industry and one that is crucial to all businesses. Our industry will soon have a huge gap in its workforce with many of our senior colleagues coming up on retirement. We absolutely need to focus on creating and energizing a talent pool to fill the impending gap. There is no better way for me to expand on our corporate initiatives in this effort than to be a part of Spencer, an opportunity afforded to me through FM Global’s role as a key partner of Spencer for more than 13 years.

How do you see Spencer advancing ongoing efforts of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the risk management and insurance industry?

Spencer has recently completed a review and refresh of its strategic plan. There is a clear focus on furthering its contributions beyond its already crucial mission “to fund the education of tomorrow’s risk management and insurance leaders” and specifically focus on DE&I. We have a clear path toward broadening our student base in terms of geography and demographics. I am very excited for what this will do for our industry going forward.

Thank you to to Johnell for being an integral part of the Spencer Board of Directors and for participating in this Spencer profile!