The Voices of Risk Management People Who Discriminate Against You are Two Steps Behind You with Robert Cartwright Jr.
Robert Cartwright Jr. is the Division Manager for Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability and the former President and Board of Directors at RIMS. Robert has seen a lot of growth after being in the industry for over 25 years and shares some of the rapid improvements the insurance industry has undergone since he’s been in the field. Everything from being a more welcoming, and diverse, place to work, how he used his work ethic to shine through, and what young professionals can look forward to in the insurance space today.
Key Takeaways:
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A little bit about Robert and how he got into risk management.
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Robert has been at Bridgestone for over 25 years and has seen a lot of promotions and changes since then.
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As a minority, Robert has seen his fair share of challenges and the lack of diversity in the space didn’t help.
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Robert has seen this space completely open up and make diversity a priority. It’s blown him away. It’s a great time to join!
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Robert grew rapidly in his career field; what made him so successful early on?
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Whenever someone asked Robert to do something, he always wanted to know why.
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When Robert understood the reason, he was able to be an advocate for the new solution and get more people behind the change.
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What did it mean to be a black professional 25-plus years ago in health and safety?
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Diversify was always talked about, even back 20 years ago, but it was always just a noun with no action plan. Today it’s much different.
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The people in power are the only ones who can make the change.
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The next generation wants a diverse workforce.
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Nobody walks on water, but when you’re being second-guessed, you do have to be conscious of the details.
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Robert was the first black president to serve on the RIMS organization and it was a huge honor and opportunity.
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Ships are safer in the harbor but that’s not what they’re built for.
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What advice would Robert give his younger self?
Mentioned in This Episode: