A lot can happen in two years.
A celebrity couple can go from loved-up to broken up, a TV show can go from a must-watch to an absolute flop, or we could just find our world entirely turned upside down by a global pandemic.
Chances are, whether you’re a famous face or just a regular Aussie, in the past two years, some big things have happened.
Just ask car insurance brand, Stella. During the rollercoaster that’s been the start of the 2020s, the business has made some big moves.
The business has disrupted the car insurance industry by putting women first when it comes to designing products and experiences with women at the centre of everything — all while making a positive difference in the lives of women across the country beyond insurance.
Stella Insurance: Made for women, by women
As an insurance brand made for women, Stella has one core mission: to change the game for women.
The business works in collaboration with their customers, listening to what they want from their insurance, and delivering a more intuitive and rewarding experience. Their products are specifically designed with women in mind (who are, statistically, safer drivers), putting them back in the driver’s seat when it comes to making financial decisions.
Their seamless tech and experiences allow women to get insured in just four minutes (so they can get back to their busy lives), all without the need to pick up the phone or provide unnecessary details. Plus, their premium benefits, optional extras and rewards are all targeted towards women and their needs.
For example, Stella’s policies offer up to $2000 for certain baby gear stolen from your car or damaged in an incident. They also offer domestic cover, which means no excess will be applied to a claim for reported damage to your car that arises from a deliberate act by a current, or former, spouse or partner^.
“It’s been wonderful to see thousands of happy customers make the switch to Stella and provide so much positive feedback about their experience,” says the company’s CEO and Founder, Sam White.
However, the road to success over the past two years hasn’t always been as smooth.
Stella Insurance CEO and Founder, Sam White.
“Launching in the pandemic meant that the available market was much smaller than we had counted on, so we had to pivot and adapt to make sure we would still achieve our goals,” says White.
“I’ve learned how much a small, determined group of women can do, and how important truly honest and vulnerable conversation is in a team to create trust and intimacy in challenging circumstances.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I would say the same is true of a business. As a founder or CEO, you are often the person that people see or praise when things go well (the opposite is also true, of course). But for me it really is about the team.
“I’m blessed to have a team who have taken my vision and brought it to life, truth be told far better than I could have ever dreamed. When I say this is just as much their business as mine, possibly even more so, I mean it. They have invested their blood, sweat and tears to get us where we are today.”
Her advice for others wanting to design disruptive products and brands?
“Act like no one is watching,” she says.
“By that I mean, follow your gut and make sure you don’t let the setbacks drag you under.”
Driving positive change
Stella Insurance‘s purpose has never just been about changing the insurance game. They also want to change the game for women, full stop, in all parts of life.
A core part of the company’s business is their hands-on partnership with Women’s and Girl’s Emergency Centre (WAGEC). With 1 in 4 women experiencing some form of violence from an intimate partner, WAGEC offers housing and support for those in crisis, helping to create safer futures for women and their families.
Stella Insurance has been partnering with WAGEC since their inception, and this year, they’ve upped their commitment.
In the last year alone, WAGEC has supported over 1200 women and children in crisis, and provided over $400,000 in material donations, including food and household items, technology, transport and grocery vouchers and other essential items.
Stella and WAGEC have a shared vision to help end gender-based violence in a generation. Stella commit $5 from every new car insurance policy to WAGEC’s Donations Program, raising over $35,000 this year alone.
“Support from Stella Insurance is helping…provide essential material items to women and children who have experienced homelessness, domestic violence and social disadvantage,” says the WAGEC team.
“Ongoing partnerships are important because they help to ensure the sustainability of programs and resourcing that is critical to giving women and children what they need now and into the future so that they can thrive.”
With such incredible achievements under their belt in just two years, we can’t wait to see what Stella can do in the years to come.
Brought to you by Stella Insurance.
^ Normal underwriting terms and conditions, limits and exclusions apply. Any advice provided is general only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be right for you. To decide if this product is right for you, please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Target Market Determination (TMD) available at stellainsurance.com.au. Stella Underwriting Pty Ltd (ABN 72 633 811 319) is an Authorised Representative (AR 001282046) of Allstate Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 82 073 267 053, AFSL 239010) which is acting (under its own AFSL) on behalf of the product issuer, QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545).
