Profile
“Every step taken in shaping Equiton has been infused with the experiences and insights gathered throughout my career. Seeing our vision come to life fills me with immense pride”
Helen Hurlbut
Equiton
Marie-Chantal Côté has navigated a purposeful career path, seizing exciting opportunities and projects aligned with her goal of helping Canadians live healthier lives.
The senior vice president of group benefits at Sun Life views her accomplishments through a people-centric lens. Building diverse teams, creating spaces for employees to identify with their leaders, and championing mental health and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity stand out as her most significant career achievements.
Her most substantial professional quality is thinking outside the box. She is the voice at the table, challenging the status quo and advocating for innovative solutions with a fresh and creative approach, resulting in groundbreaking initiatives in women’s health, gender affirmation, and mental health coaching.
“I choose to be authentic in my leadership style and approach every day,” explains Marie-Chantal. “That includes being open about belonging to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, sharing my mental health experiences, being transparent about my wins and successes and my misses and learnings.”
Marie-Chantal prides herself on creating psychologically safe work environments where everyone can thrive by demystifying that executives are superheroes. Clarity of vision, ambitious goals, and surrounding herself with diverse colleagues underpins her approach. A commitment to asking hard questions and natural curiosity is the cornerstone of her leadership style.
Her relentless focus on driving Sun Life’s business and the industry forward has brought various innovations to market, including Sun Life’s Mental Health Coach, Gender Affirmation, Family Building Program, and Lumino Health Virtual Care.
BPM recognized her outstanding achievements and industry impact by naming her to its inaugural list of Elite Women for 2024.
The biggest challenge in her role involves tackling complex problems with multifaceted roots and equally complicated solutions. She emphasizes the importance of collaborating with her colleagues and being willing to be challenged as key to problem-solving.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with many great leaders across my career who have often believed in me before I did,” she notes. “I’ve had mentors and sponsors who guided and advocated for me, and I continue this tradition of mentoring people at all levels.”
In contemplating changes in her industry, Marie-Chantal emphasizes the importance of addressing the gender health gap, recognizing it as a critical issue impacting women in the workplace. She envisions a collective effort from providers, sponsors, and advisors to support women's health in the workplace.
“I hope my legacy is that I created space for all Canadians to feel seen, included and supported,” she adds. “I’m proud of the products and solutions we offer at Sun Life to support all Canadians, and I’m proud to be a leader open to listening to different perspectives.”
Marie-Chantal leads all aspects of Sun Life’s group benefits business in Canada. She joined the organization in 1998 and has held progressively senior roles across the business.
She is an executive leader for the Sun Life Pride network and was the co-chair for its Empowered XChanges network, empowering women to reach their professional ambitions. She also serves on several industry and community boards of directors and holds a dual MBA from the Université du Québec à Montréal and Université Dauphine in Paris and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in journalism from Concordia University.
1155 Metcalfe St., Montreal, QC H3B 2V9
514 451 3119
Marie-Chantal.Cote@sunlife.com
linkedin.com/in/marie-chantalcotemba
sunlife.ca
Marie-Chantal Côté
Senior Vice President, Group Benefits
Sun Life
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“We continually invest efforts in fostering and nurturing a culture that promotes collaboration and teamwork as we continue to evolve and expand”
Helen Hurlbut
Equiton
1998–2015
2015–2018
2018–2019
2019–present
2021–present
1998–2010: Technology Consultant, Business Systems Consultant and Business Systems Analysis Practice Manager
2010–2013: Director, PMO, Project Management and Business Systems Analysis
2013–2015: Associate Vice-President, Group Benefits Application Services
1998–
2015
2015–2017: Assistant Vice-President, Project Management Office, Client Solutions
2017–2018: Assistant Vice-President, Client Experience and Product Development, Client Solutions
2015–
2018
Assistant Vice President, Digital Solutions, Group Benefits
2018–
2019
2019–2021: Vice-President, Market Development, Group Benefits
2019–present: Board Member, Chair of the Client Services Committee Retraite Québec
2019–
present
2021–present: Senior Vice President, Group Benefits at Sun Life
2023–present: Member QIS (https://qisante.ca/)
2021–
present
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
Kuhn says, “I would say my career has been one of more of chance and opportunities than a set plan. And it’s interesting how one decision has a ripple effect on putting you on a different path than maybe where you thought you would be.”
He highlights his spell at Endurance as his biggest professional achievement to date.
“It took some time, but we took them from really being viewed as a reinsurance company to being viewed as a global insurance company.”
It’s this type of innovative attitude that is powering Westfield Specialty forward so successfully.
Kuhn explains, “Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio.”
Part of this has seen the firm acquire the existing Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 1200 in February 2023. It is also Kuhn’s ingenuity that has allowed Westfield Specialty to outperform expectations in challenging market conditions.
“I would say it’s been the understanding that there is a limited window of time. We're in this unique market, we need to be fast and decisive to take advantage of market opportunities before the market begins to move away,” he comments. “Additionally, I'd like to say we move with a lot of speed, but we do it in a thoughtful and methodical approach, not just to be the first.”
“In terms of leadership, I like to think I’m recognized for being assertive yet supportive – a blend of high expectations and drive while understanding the crucial elements that contribute to people’s success,” she reflects.
Scaling Equiton up to a team of 185 employees and counting has presented some of her most significant challenges. Recognizing the need for robust teams to support and sustain this expansion, she and partner Roque have prioritized the creation of strong leadership structures.
“Maintaining this growth while preserving a cohesive and collaborative company culture remains paramount,” adds Hurlbut. “We continually invest efforts in fostering and nurturing a culture that promotes collaboration and teamwork as we continue to evolve and expand.”
Reflecting on the legacy she’d like to leave, Hurlbut notes she aspires to establish a thriving company that allows all individuals to build successful careers.
“I aim to provide opportunities to excel, enabling team members to carve their mark on the industry as they advance and grow professionally,” she says. “I hope to also leave behind a legacy of empowerment and progression for women in our industry.”
That dedication to mentorship, particularly for women and marginalized groups, is evident through her roles at the Women Presidents Organization and within Equiton, where she champions diverse talent and fosters an inclusive environment.
Her commitment extends to community support, exemplified by Equion’s charitable endeavours, reflecting her ethos of giving back and making a meaningful impact.
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
Kuhn joined Westfield Specialty in the firm’s first year (2021) and has established the company’s presence in the specialty market. By the end of 2023, the firm is expected to surpass $1.3 billion in GWP after writing $300 million in 2021.
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