As we step into Women’s History Month, Engle Martin’s Women’s Empowerment Network (WEN), a team member resource group, is thrilled to share a series of celebration and recognition of the invaluable contributions of women within our organization. Throughout March, we honor all the remarkable women who form the cornerstone of our organization, each exemplifying resilience, dedication, and unparalleled leadership.
This year’s Women’s History Month theme, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” perfectly aligns with our mission, and we are excited to highlight the remarkable stories and achievements of women who embody these values. Engle Martin’s WEN team resource group is dedicated to fostering the professional and personal growth of our team members. WEN’s overarching goal is to cultivate a cohesive community that fosters development, collaboration, and progression beyond conventional gender norms.
Kicking off our series, we proudly introduce Hayden Robin, our esteemed Claims Administrator, whose journey and insights promise to inspire and empower us all. Join us in exploring Hayden’s experiences and invaluable perspectives.
What is your role at Engle Martin, and how long have you been with the organization?
My role at Engle Martin is a Claims Administrator for the Austin, Houston, and Brownsville Texas offices. I have been with Engle Martin for almost three years.
Who is the most influential woman you know? How does she inspire you?
The most influential woman I know personally is my mother. She has been an inspiration of mine since I was a little girl. Her role as a mother and as a wife have molded me into the mother and the wife that I aspire to be today. She has put her family first in every single thing that she has ever done. Her family is her entire world. Her heart, her kindness, her perseverance, and her work ethic are an inspiration to me. She is truly one of the greatest people that I know and it’s such a privilege to be her daughter and have her as my role model.
The second one would be Princess Diana, known for her kindness and selflessness. She was the perfect role model for the younger girls of that generation, and in fact, for individuals of any age. Her advocacy for diversity, underprivileged societies, and humanitarianism not only drew attention to marginalized cultures but also inspired countless others to emulate her compassion and dedication.
This year, the theme of Women’s History Month is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion”. How does that resonate with you?
“Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” resonates with me by thinking that’s exactly how it should be. Growing up in today’s society, we are taught that a woman can do everything that a man can do, but what sticks with me the most is everything that a man cannot do, a woman can. Women are the most beautiful, infatuating beings on the Earth. We have the power to quite literally, do everything we put our heart and soul into. Women don’t need to be made stronger; it’s simply the world we live in and how it perceives that strength, and how some try to diminish it. Any woman who has found her voice in her lifetime should never be silent. There are some women who go their entire lives just being in the passenger seat of their own life while allowing society to be in the driver’s seat. As a mother to a 1-year-old little girl, I feel as though it’s even more important to advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion while she is so young because truthfully, it starts in our home. I cannot allow society to teach and parent her for me and show her the ways of the world.
Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?
I have never faced any barriers personally as a woman, but I think that’s because the jobs I have had throughout my life have been more inclusive and supportive of women, and I have been so blessed with that. However, once you find the right place for you, I don’t think those issues will remain issues. I believe God places us in every single phase and chapter of our lives so that we can go through them to help us reach our ultimate goals.
What is the most important piece of advice you have been given?
The most important advice I have been given is from my mother and that is “you are only as good as your word, and there is a reward and a consequence for every action…sometimes the reward is that there is no consequence.” I was taught at a young age that your word is one of the most important things you can give someone. It ends up telling the kind of person you are, the type of employee that you are and the level of trust that someone can put into you. Once your word doesn’t mean anything to someone, what do you have left?
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about a career in the insurance industry (or any industry)?
I was a woman who never had a clear direction in life in terms of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. So, to any woman who finds herself in the same situation, or to any woman who simply wants to explore different options until she finds her passion, or even to those women who already know exactly what they want to do—never be closed off to trying something new. I never imagined myself working in the insurance industry, but I’ve discovered a love for it that I never expected. There are countless opportunities out there that can align perfectly with your goals. I love being educated in my career because it has greatly benefited my personal life as well.
