Pia Flanagan is the head of mass markets for life insurance and financial services company, MassMutual. She joined the company in 2013, after practicing law in New York City for over 15 years and becoming a partner at an AM Law 100 law firm. She is responsible for identifying and developing strategies to reach, engage and serve more Americans with solutions that meet their financial needs.
A Career Aligned with Passion
“After I made partner at my law firm, I began to rethink my career goals,” Flanagan reflects. “I wanted to align my profession with my passion and engage in work that is both meaningful and impactful. I’ve always been interested in the finance sector, specifically empowering women to achieve greater levels of financial security. And, I desired an environment that valued diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). For me, MassMutual ‘checks all the boxes.’”
Flanagan’s transition to MassMutual was influenced by her connections within the industry and the company’s dedication to DEI. “I knew the former general counsel at MassMutual and through their diverse legal team, I saw the value he and the company placed on DEI. “At its core, the company helps people secure their future and protect the ones they love,” she continued. “It takes its mission seriously. Those values very much align with my personal ones, and it’s rewarding to know that my work is making a difference in the lives of others.”
Intentional Supplier Diversity
When asked about what sets MassMutual’s supplier diversity program apart, Flanagan emphasized its intentionality. “Our program is unique because it’s intentional. We’re not just throwing money and contracts to diverse suppliers. Our team carefully screens applicant partners to make sure they’re a good fit—both for us and for them,” she said. “We educate potential suppliers about the opportunities here, and we also coach them on how to meet our procurement standards. We want to set them up for success, not just here but for the future of their businesses.”
Meeting Women’s Financial Needs
Flanagan leads the Mass Markets team with a customer-centric, data-informed approach. “[This] allows us to understand the specific needs, priorities and behaviors of not just women but other target demographics,” she said. “Done through a balance of both quantitative and qualitative research, we share our key learnings with stakeholders. We’re strategic in our partnerships, often leveraging resources across the organization to determine ways to better meet the needs of women and other underserved consumers,” Flanagan concludes.
Supporting Women-Owned Businesses
MassMutual’s commitment to supporting women-owned businesses is evident through its partnerships and initiatives, according to Flanagan. “First, we understand the needs of women-owned businesses and view our relationships as partnerships. We collaborate with organizations such as WBENC that support women-owned businesses, so that we can better understand the challenges they face and identify value-added programming to help them grow their businesses.”
A Genuine Culture of DEI
The authenticity of MassMutual’s DEI culture is what Flanagan values most. “The diversity culture at MassMutual is genuine. Our DEI programs were formalized long before the racial turmoil of 2020. As I mentioned before, we’re intentional and have integrated DEI throughout our business,” she said. “We’ve found that doing so not only gives us great business advantages but puts us in a better position to support our employees, customers, vendors and communities. It’s really an evolved strategy!”
Leading the Way in Diversity
Flanagan concludes with a powerful reflection on the role of women in driving DEI efforts. “If you look around, you’ll find that women are leading the diversity efforts of so many companies. We’re nurturers by nature. We are at the forefront of culture making. At MassMutual, this means creating a place where people belong, where they’re respected and where everyone has a place at the table, regardless of level or title. DEI may fall in and out of fashion, but I know for certain that we will persevere.”
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This article was originally published on diversitycomm.net.