Creating an inclusive workplace is a complex task. After all, people are anything but simple. None of us have merely one “self.” Every person is a mixture of intersecting identities that influence how people see us and, conversely, how we see them.
How, then, can a business foster an inclusive workplace, particularly around the holidays? As Stacy Stolen, HR Manager at Alliant National, explains, it requires being mindful of how our biases shape our perceptions while working toward a culture where everyone can be recognized and respected. I spoke with Stolen on the complexities of this work, what Alliant National is doing to promote inclusivity, and takeaways for agencies looking to build inclusive workplaces during the holidays and year-round.
Inclusivity begins with empathy
When asked how she defines inclusivity, Stolen said, “Simply put, inclusion and being inclusive is to have empathy,” adding that, “at a company-level, it takes developing a shared understanding that we all have our own unique experiences that occur within a society filled with inequalities.”
Once this understanding is established, productive work can begin. “We can then start to relate and learn from others. This is important because empathy allows us to humanize one another and feel responsible for everyone’s safety and well-being. We can positively influence our surroundings and ensure everyone feels seen, validated, and heard – even if we don’t directly relate to everyone else’s experience,” Stolen said.
Easier said than done
What makes this easier said than done, however, are social constructs and the unconscious biases they produce. Identity composes a wide range of attributes – from race, sexuality and ethnicity to education level, family of origin and belief structures. Some of these identities, said Stolen, carry more power in the world than others. Depending on how someone identifies, they may find themselves unjustly stereotyped by the dominant power structures of society.
Building an inclusive workplace, then, necessitates building a culture where people can feel safe and supported enough to interrogate their biases and push back on the inclination to stereotype. A first step involves simply accepting that such biases exist and that typically we have little opportunity to reconsider our ingrained beliefs. As Stolen explained, “Quite often, we interact with folks who look, feel, act like us, or have identities roughly like ours. Therefore, we can’t do anything aside from perpetuate these stereotypical beliefs about folks in other social groups. That’s because we aren’t being exposed to anything different to dismantle these inaccurate ideas. We need to break this cycle and cultivate mindfulness to expand our idea of what collective community looks like.”
It also involves seeing this work as more of a journey rather than a destination. “This work requires consistent and intentional engagement with yourself and others that you interact with daily,” said Stolen. “Just like anything else you aspire to change in yourself or in your environment, you must commit that same time and effort in showing up as an ally and advocating for necessary change.”
Taking action
So, what does this look like in practice? Stolen noted that Alliant National’s commitment to building an inclusive workplace involves investing in culture awareness training and dialogue. Additionally, in the New Year, the company is launching an internal committee dedicated to ensuring that its priorities are considered through an inclusive lens.
Stolen described how these efforts are not viewed as one-offs by the company. Instead, they are part of a continuous, holistic and ever-evolving move toward a more inclusive culture. This is an important feature of Alliant National’s larger goal of being a workplace where every employee feels comfortable bringing their authentic self to work and can:
Remain present even when uncomfortable;
Accept that we are all part of the problem and must work to change society for the better;
Learn how to empathize with others’ experiences that are different from their own;
Make mistakes while striving for a better tomorrow;
Educate themselves and those around them; and
Not expect those with the least power in society to do the brunt of the work.
How to promote inclusivity during the holidays and everyday
Holiday periods are a perfect opportunity to promote an inclusive culture, Stolen noted. For many, holidays are informed by cultural identity. It is important to be mindful around language and emphasize respect for all regardless of individual beliefs. “Just because you don’t celebrate certain holidays doesn’t mean that you are exempt from being aware and educated on holidays and religious practices that others celebrate,” Stolen observed.
Of course, there are many other ways to build inclusivity year-round, including:
Researching histories of marginalized groups and investing in cultural awareness development.
Developing ally programs/affinity groups and creating places for folks to find community and to encourage dialogue around challenging topics.
Hosting “Lunch and Learns” that expand cultural humility and awareness. Alliant National, for example, recently hosted one titled, “Challenging Stereotypes and Microaggressions.”
Surveying your workplace to better understand understand your company’s culture better and find opportunities for improvement.
There is no time like today
Building an inclusive culture takes work; there is no doubt about it. But as the holiday season continues, there is no better time to begin nurturing greater respect, empathy and belonging in the workplace. Stolen noted that when companies commit time and resources to encouraging inclusivity, great things can happen. “Workplaces that commit to inclusivity become more instrumental to their employees, customers and communities.”
Longmont, CO — (November 15, 2023) — Alliant National Title Insurance Company, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, proudly announces that it has been certified by Great Place To Work® for the sixth time.
The Great Place To Work certification is based on what current employees say about their experience working at Alliant National. This year, 99% of employees said Alliant National is a great place to work – 42% higher than the national average. In addition, 100% of surveyed employees said that when you join Alliant National, you are made to feel welcome.
“Great Place To Work certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Alliant National stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”
“Alliant National is deeply committed to supporting independent agents and the communities they serve. To deliver on this commitment, we’ve built a culture that is rooted in empowerment and a sense of belonging for all our team members,” said David Sinclair, President and CEO of Alliant National. “We strive to create an environment where every employee feels valued and can realize their full potential. Being certified by Great Place To Work for the sixth time is both gratifying and humbling. I want to thank our entire team for their efforts in building a workplace we can all be proud of.”
According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits and have a fair chance at promotion.
Alliant National supports its independent agents by combining expert residential and commercial underwriting with a passionate heart for service. The company delivers uncommon help that promotes the well-being of agents and the communities they serve.
Alliant National is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. Alliant National serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
Great Place To Work® Certification™ is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience – specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified.
About Great Place To Work®
As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work® brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Their proprietary platform and For All™ Model helps companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified™ or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces™ List.
Thanksgiving is a touchstone for reflection, gratitude, remembrance, and a celebration of the gifts we have received. And, although we aspire to be grateful every day, this holiday is a wonderful reminder to pause, take a deep breath, and give thanks.
The past few years have been marked by unprecedented challenges, including world conflicts, a wildly unpredictable US housing market, the emergence of unregulated title products, and a notable increase in fraud. In the face of those obstacles, we have borne witness to your dedication to serving your customers and communities. Your perseverance and fortitude have been a source of inspiration for me and all of us at Alliant National.
I am truly grateful for the progress we have made together this year. For instance, in this month’s #allnatadvantage newsletter, we learned how the team at Florida’s Brick City Title helped stop a fraudulent cash purchase transaction. Brick City and several other agencies have been recognized this year for their fraud prevention efforts under Alliant National’s Crime Watch program. Their actions are a reminder that daily vigilance is key.
We are also grateful for the agents working with us on our new SecureMyTransaction identity verification product, which we announced in August during our Florida Seminar. Together, we are making significant strides in maintaining the integrity of transactions and protecting consumers.
In both big and small ways, we share an unwavering commitment to helping others realize the American Dream. On this Thanksgiving, I extend my deepest appreciation for your heart of service and gratitude for your partnership with Alliant National.
Longmont, Colo. – (July 19, 2023) – Alliant National Title Insurance Company, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, is pleased to announce the hiring of Sheila Thiele as Underwriting Counsel for the Central West and Great Lakes Regions.
Thiele comes to Alliant National after building a long and accomplished career, having worked in the title insurance field since 2009 in a variety of roles. Before that, Thiele was in private practice, where she focused her efforts on commercial real estate transactions.
“I am looking forward to joining the team at Alliant National,” said Thiele. “Not only is this one of the best groups of professionals in the business, but we also support some of the hardest-working agents out there. I can’t wait to help them with whatever they need to close more business and grow their profitability.”
In her new position at Alliant National, Thiele will be primarily responsible for supporting agent needs throughout Central West and Great Lakes states, includingrisk analysis and insurability determinations. She will also develop continuing education materials and underwriting resources, helping Alliant National’s policy-issuing agents achieve more on behalf of aspiring property owners.
“We are all very excited to have Sheila join our underwriting team,” said Jeff Stein, Chief Underwriting Counsel and Senior Vice President for Alliant National. “Her background as a practicing attorney, agency counsel, claims counsel and most recently underwriting counsel for another national underwriter will be invaluable in helping our agents with any issues they may have.”
Thiele graduated from Missouri Western State University before attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor. She also obtained her Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Bellevue University in 2014. Thiele is a member of the Missouri Land Title Association and lives in Jackson, Mo.
Alliant National supports its independent agents by combining expert residential and commercial underwriting with a passionate heart for service. The company delivers uncommon help that promotes the well-being of agents and the communities they serve.
Alliant National is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. Alliant National serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
Longmont, Colo. – (May 31, 2023) – Alliant National Title Insurance Company, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, is proud to announce the completion of two International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission required annual surveillance audits – revealing no non-conformities. Successful completion of these audits enables Alliant National to maintain its coveted 27001 and 27701 certification status, which demonstrates the company’s commitment to its stakeholders by adhering to internationally-recognized standards for information security and data privacy.
The 2023 surveillance audits were conducted concurrently and involved 138 control point tests revolving around validation, reperformance and observation. By passing these assessments, Alliant National will be able to maintain its 27001 and 27701 certifications until 2024.
“We are very pleased and proud to have completed these surveillance certifications,” said Tom Weyant, Alliant National Vice President of Risk Management. “They signal to our stakeholders how Alliant National is a responsible steward of personally identifiable and confidential information, and on a broader level, how we seek to conduct our operations with the highest possible standards.”
The ISO is the world’s largest developer of voluntary international standards. By successfully completing its audits, Alliant National demonstrated that it meets rigorous international standards in ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, availability, and protection of non-public or personally identifiable information. Alliant National first completed the ISO 27701 audit in 2022 and remains the only title insurance underwriter to obtain and hold this new data privacy certification.
To successfully pass both ISO annual surveillance audits, Alliant National had to undergo testing of more than 130 technical and process controls within the Information Security and Privacy Management System frameworks. To obtain the two certifications there were over 170 controls tested through validation, observation, and reperformance. The audits were conducted by an ISO-licensed and accredited firm, A-lign CPAs of Tampa, Florida.
Alliant National supports its independent agents by combining expert residential and commercial underwriting with a passionate heart for service. The company delivers uncommon help that promotes the wellbeing of agents and the communities they serve.
Alliant National is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. Alliant National serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
