Kashmeera Kanji, Head of Market Analytics and R&D at Discovery Life
My diverse career trajectory, spanning various roles in the worlds of consulting, reinsurance, and now insurance, provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the industry and the evolving role of women within it.
My career began at a small actuarial consultancy called 5th Quadrant, which was eventually acquired by Willis Towers Watson. This role was instrumental in shaping my understanding of the industry, providing a broader perspective on the actuarial field beyond number-crunching. Working alongside professionals from diverse backgrounds, including actuaries, doctors, dentists, and lawyers, I gained invaluable insights into the multifaceted nature of the financial services sector. This exposure has been a constant throughout my career, showing me the importance of working within diverse teams to gain a holistic view of the industry.
My passion for research and development (R&D) is evident in my current role. While developing innovative products is crucial, it is equally important to ensure these products are marketable and meet customer needs. This approach ensures that the entire R&D process is centered around distribution and customer engagement, making it a critical component of Discovery Life’s strategy. The success of a product is not solely determined by its features but by its ability to resonate with and be accessible to the target market.
GOOD
DRIVING
GETS YOU MORE!
More tyre discounts and up
to 100% off tyre purchases through your Discovery Insure Funder Account.
Discovery Insure Ltd is a licenced non-life insurer and an authorised financial services provider. Registration number 2009/011882/06. Product rules, terms and conditions apply. Full product details including limitations can be found on our website, www.discovery.co.za or you can call 0860 751 751.
I like taking a dual approach: evaluating how existing products are perceived and developing new products that meet emerging needs. A key highlight of my work is the annual release of Discovery Life’s claims statistics, which serves as a “report card” for the company. This transparency not only showcases Discovery’s commitment to our clients but also provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of our products. Similarly, an exciting recent research project focused on the 10-year anniversary of Discovery International’s Dollar Life Plan and explored how external factors like political and economic volatility influence consumer behavior, particularly in the uptake of offshore life insurance products. This research was aimed at creating awareness around offshore life insurance.
Empowering Women in Financial Planning – A topic of interest to me is the issue of financial inclusion, particularly for women. Women constitute the larger proportion of the unbanked population globally, which limits their access to financial products. I am committed to raising awareness about the importance of financial planning, especially for women and vulnerable groups. There is a great need to plan for the future, whether through insurance or other financial products, to protect wealth and provide for future generations.
For young women entering the financial services industry, I must emphasize the importance of planning for one’s financial future, regardless of one’s career path or personal circumstances.
The value of diverse thinking and the unique perspectives that women bring to the industry is invaluable and I would like to see greater female representation and participation in financial planning and product development.