Spotlight on…is an initiative of WICI (Women in Credit Insurance) aiming at highlighting females working in the Trade Credit Insurance business. Every month, a new interview article will be published on ICISA website.
This month on our spotlight we have Mary Prescott.
What are the biggest challenges facing our industry?
Awareness of the product is certainly one of the biggest challenges. In social settings outside of the industry, when people ask what I do for a job, many people have never heard of credit insurance. This makes it more challenging sourcing new recruits into the industry. We need to ensure we get the message out and show not only what a dynamic, evolving and interesting environment it is that we work in but the value of the product too in providing protection against bad debt, stimulating growth and profitability and facilitating access to funding.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learnt during your career?
You need to be agile and adaptable to change. Challenge yourself to deal with those aspects that you are not comfortable doing. We need to be open to learning all the time. So often I hear very experienced people in the industry say they come across new challenges all the time. It is the same experience for me, even after 20 years in the industry, I am often presented with a scenario not encountered before. This provides a great opportunity to find solutions for Clients and be creative.
How did you get to where you are today?
No leader gets to where they are without a great team behind them. Obviously it takes hard work, motivation and resilience but no one does it alone and I am really grateful for the great team I have around me and the help and support that is offered up and down the hierarchy.
What is the best advice you would give to an aspiring leader?
Go for it! Ensure your current leader is aware of your ambitions and discuss the actions needed to achieve the next step. Listening to feedback and taking advice is extremely important. Constructive criticism is very helpful in self-development so ask for feedback when this is not readily given. Be proactive. Set yourself targets of where you wish to be in the next 3-5 years and don’t be shy in voicing your goals.
What helps you unwind/destress?
Nature and travelling. I recently visited the Iguazu falls which is stunning and I felt completely at peace in the national park. Yoga, spending time with family and meeting up with friends also helps me unwind.
