"It wasn’t sympathy that got me elected but ability," says Bermuda Premier Paula A. Cox

Insurance, like global politics, is still man’s world. Back in February, we ran a cover story about the hurdles and opportunities that exist for women in risk management and insurance.

With this in mind, I asked Bermuda Premier Paula A. Cox for her thoughts on the matter during our interview at RIMS 2011 Vancouver. Space concerns in our July/August issue didn’t allow for the entire conversation to make it into the “View From Bermuda” Q&A in print, so below are her thoughts on the role of women in government and business.

Risk Management Monitor: As a woman who has been successful in government and business, have you ever had to face challenges because of your gender? How were you able to overcome them?

Paula Cox: There are still too many boardrooms, when you look at the board of directors, where there are far fewer women who sit around the boardroom table. I don’t think that that is an indication that there is a lack of skill and ability among women.

I think that people are accustomed to doing business with those they feel comfortable with, and if a woman hasn’t made herself proficient on the golf course, perhaps she’s not necessarily going to get in the frame where some of the decision-making occurs. So I think it is [important] to try and demystify and debunk the myths that women aren’t capable or able to deal with the issues as are their male counterparts.

From a political perspective, there is a certain inherent chauvinism in politics worldwide. It is not unique in that regard. But the majority of the electorate and the thinking voters are women, and I think that it is going to be ability and sensitivity to the issues that get you elected.

That’s what occurred in October [in Bermuda] in terms of internal elections. I was the only female candidate, and I can assure you that it wasn’t sympathy that got me elected but ability. From my perspective, to be successful as a leader, my job is to do my job and not worry about keeping my job. That’s not my focus. There could be 20,000 people coming behind me who want to be a leader. That’s not my issue. My issue is to do my job.

I think you have to know why you want the job. I certainly don’t want it for glamour and style or for the money because none of those would be delivered by the role. It’s because I want to make Bermuda a better place, and it requires nothing more than hard work and having a team that is prepared to work with you.

You give me those skills and my gender is really irrelevant.