Women of Warranty Launches at ASTI 2023
In February the Women of Warranty group launched their first event at the Appliance Service Technical Institute in San Antonio, Texas. The demographics of our industry are shifting, with more women and young people taking on roles. Angie Breedlove with the Xcelerator Group has formed a new association, Women of Warranty, to encourage and foster diversity and parity in warranty, services and especially in leadership positions. The group will emphasize mentorship, networking and educating more women and men about an industry that we love.
The warranty and service contract industry has undoubtedly been growing and changing in recent years. Workplace demographics are evolving, and more companies than ever before are emphasizing diversity and equity in their workforce. As conferences are coming back after years of pandemic, many are noticing more young people and women than ever before. And as the technological aspect of the industry grows, new interest in warranty and services does as well.
Her vision for the group is to create a community from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, all working together towards a common goal. We are all successful when there is a variety of perspectives and ideas shared, and the discussions and debates are rich and productive. Furthermore, this success will also be reflected in the outcomes of the industry as a whole. With a diverse group of individuals collaborating and bringing different ideas to the table, innovation and progress will thrive. Companies and organizations will be more successful, and the products and services they offer will better meet the needs of a diverse customer base. Dawn Taylor, Chief Revenue Officer at After, Inc Taylor went on to say, "More women and younger people are becoming interested in our industry. I think part of this is the rise of insurtech and how that has bled into what we're doing. Many companies in warranty and service contract now are developing technology. We have a platform, a product registration, a plugin, big e-commerce marketplaces that enable online retailers to sell service contracts with just some configuration, versus weeks and weeks of IT integration.
The goal, in the end, is that women become "a larger percentage of people at the table," especially in management and executive roles. Ms Breedlove notes, “women do most of the jobs in the company. They pay the claims, the answer the phone, they order the parts, but they're not in charge of the warranty departments. Only around 25% of women are in leadership positions or own a business." Taylor echoed that sentiment that more young women are being promoted because they have bosses who are women. Simply seeing women at the executive level shows younger women that it is possible for them to have those kinds of roles. Breedlove said, "If you never see it yourself, how do you know you can do it?"
