This year's theme for International Women's Day 2026, 'Give to Gain', resonates deeply among the finance and accounting leaders we connect with every day. The idea is simple yet powerful — when we invest in others, mentor the next generation, and give our time and knowledge generously, the returns are felt across entire industries.

At Lyneer Search Group, we work alongside exceptional women who are shaping the future of finance and accounting within the insurance and financial services industries. This year, we're proud to celebrate their voices, their leadership, but above all, their humanity.

The Numbers Tell Part of the Story

Women now make up 55% of the overall finance and insurance workforce in the United States — but representation drops sharply as you move up the leadership ladder. In 2023, women occupied just 18% of C-suite roles globally in financial services. And while insurance leads the financial services sector at the entry level — 66% of entry-level insurance employees are women — that percentage falls significantly at every subsequent rung.

In specialized finance and accounting roles, the picture is similar. Women represent approximately 49% of accountants and auditors, yet hold just 22% of senior finance positions worldwide. The talent is there. The ambition is there. The gap is in the pipeline — and closing it requires exactly the spirit that IWD 2026 calls for: a commitment to give, so that everyone can gain.

Voices from the Industry

This year, we asked inspirational leaders, professionals, and advocates — to share what "Give to Gain" means to them.

Giving Different Kinds of Support

"Early in my career, I learned that leadership often means giving different kinds of support to different people. Learning how to invest time and energy in encouraging high performers while also coaching and supporting those who were struggling. Learning how to lead with accountability and empathy in those moments shaped how I show up as a leader today."– Andrée Bourgon, Co-Founder, COO and Head of Finance at Ascendex Underwriters

Leadership that is guided by accountability and empathy – like that of Andrée, is the foundation for success and the kind of culture where women — and everyone — can do their best work. When leaders take the time to meet people where they are, whether that means challenging a top performer to stretch further or holding space for someone who is finding their footing, they are doing exactly what "Give to Gain" calls for: investing in people with intention, knowing the return will be felt across the entire organization.

Andrée's reflection captures something that data alone cannot measure — the compounding value of human leadership. In an industry like insurance, where finance and accounting professionals are navigating complexity, regulatory pressure, and rapid change, the leaders who give their attention, their honesty, and their belief in others are the ones who build teams that last.

Giving as a Mentor

"I was fortunate early in my career to work for people who saw my potential and gave me opportunities that I did not have the experience for, but knew I could do it and told me, 'Don't worry, I can teach you.' I make sure to pay their generosity forward by supporting and mentoring others to not be afraid to take risks in their career and take on opportunities they have never done before." – Josephine Pappas, Insurance Industry Ops Leader.

Josephine's story is a reminder that the single most powerful thing a leader can do is see someone's potential before they see it themselves. Giving someone an opportunity — even an uncomfortable one — is often the turning point that defines a career.

Connect with Josephine.

Giving Access

"Over the course of my career placing women in finance and accounting roles across the insurance industry, the most rewarding moments aren't the placements — they're the calls I get years later when someone tells me that role changed everything for them. Giving women access to the right opportunity at the right moment is the greatest investment I can make. When we open doors for talented women, the whole industry gains." -Sandra Burreci, Executive Search Professional

Sandra brings more than 20 years of executive finance and accounting recruitment experience to Lyneer Search Group, having placed professionals across the insurance, financial services, and wealth management sectors. She has seen firsthand how one strategic introduction — one door opened at the right time — can set the trajectory of an entire career.

Connect with Sandra.

Giving Defines Us

"Giving back passionately with my time to be on the board of a global anti-human trafficking organization, in helping others who cannot help themselves, has been (and continues) to be one of the most meaningful and fulfilling endeavors and purposes of my life."  LoriAnn Lowery-Biggers, CEO of Triumph Capital Holdings

LoriAnn reminds us that "Give to Gain" extends far beyond the workplace. When women in positions of influence step outside their industry to champion the most vulnerable, the ripple effect is immeasurable. Giving doesn't diminish us — it defines us.

Support LoriAnn's mission.

The Business Case for Giving

The insurance industry sits at a unique inflection point. With a well-documented talent shortage and a wave of retirements on the horizon, the pipeline of women in finance,  accounting, underwriting, and actuarial roles isn't just a diversity issue — it's a business imperative.

Companies that embrace gender diversity in leadership perform better financially, make more innovative decisions, and are better equipped to serve a diverse client base. The data is clear: when women gain, organizations gain.

But progress requires intention. It requires the Josephines who mentor across generations. The Sandras who open doors and advocate fiercely for talented professionals. The LoriAnns who give their time to causes that matter. And it requires organizations that create the conditions — the promotion slates, the sponsorship programs, the equitable review processes — to make that progress real.

A Note to Every Woman in Insurance Finance

To every woman building a career in insurance finance and accounting: your work matters, your perspective is indispensable, and your advancement makes this industry stronger.

To every leader reading this: give generously. Mentor boldly. Sponsor relentlessly.

The gain belongs to all of us.

Lyneer Search Group specializes in executive finance and accounting recruitment for the insurance, wealth management, and financial services industries.