Black History Month 2023 Employee Spotlight – Sekeya Kouadio-Payne
Q: Tell us your name and your role in Definity?
A: I am Sekeya Kouadio-Payne, Director of Pricing for our Personal Lines (Auto and Property) products in Alberta as well as our Petline portfolio. In this role, my key accountability is to help the business achieve its operational plan by guiding a solid pricing strategy. I work in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team that includes actuaries, data scientists, and insurance product managers, taking advantage of diverse talents to shape our pricing strategy.
Q: What is a fun fact about you?
A: My dad named me after his grandfather (Seke-Yao). What I recently found out is that my wife also has the same name as my great-grandfather’s wife.
Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?
A: I see Black History Month as a time to acknowledge and honor the achievements, contributions, and legacy of Black Canadians and their communities who, throughout history, have done so much to shape Canada’s heritage and identity, making this country a culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous place to live in. This includes people from all spectrums, from activists and civil rights pioneers to leaders in politics, science, culture, and more.
Q: Definity is committed to creating a more inclusive workplace. During your time here, how have you seen it evolve and what do you think we should next?
A: I’ve been with the company for the last eleven years or so, and I’ve always felt it is a safe and inclusive place for all, including the BIPOC community. This was true when I joined years ago, and it is definitely still true today. I’m so happy to see that the workplace keeps providing equal chances to everyone. What should be next in our journey is to have more role models across the enterprise that BIPOC community members can more directly identify with or be inspired by.
