Early in my career as a young actuary in Brazil, I was often the only woman at the table. It didn’t faze me. I was driven, trusted my technical skills and believed the world was limitless. Twenty years later, after pivoting to consulting and leading benefits for more than 350,000 employees across 100 countries, I learned a truth no spreadsheet could hide: awareness is priceless — and inequity is expensive — for people, performance and business outcomes.
In the U.S., racial and ethnic health disparities cost the economy hundreds of billions each year. Worldwide, untreated depression and anxiety drain another trillion in productivity. Adults with disabilities still face higher unmet health needs and families everywhere are cutting essentials like food and care as living costs rise.
