Brandon Okita
Vice President of FIA Insurance Services and Chair of the Big “I” Diversity Council 

This past fall Brandon Okita became chair of the the Big I Diversity Council. As the chair, Brandon is committed to help foster and promote diversity and inclusion intiatives across the Big I as we work  in collaboration to engage and develop a sustainable diverse independent agency network in partnership with our state associations, insurance companies, and multicultural industry affinity groups.

Tell us a little bit about your agency, FIA Insurance Services

In 1946 our agency was founded and just for historical terms that was the year after World War II. We're a Japanese American agency and there is still a lot of  not so nice feelings towards Japanese Americans were we are in Southern America. So it was difficult for a lot of Japanese Americans to obtain insurance. So we were founded more out of necessity. We worked with one carrier that was willing to go essentially go out and sacrifce themselves and possibly get berated for helping out the Japanese Americans who were considered the enemies of the war. So that's how our agency was founded we were discriminated against so we initially started our agency to help out a lot of Japanese Americans.

As an instrumental supporter of the Big "I" Diversity Council, why do you think building an agency culture of diversity and inclusion is another important step agencies should take to become even more competitive? 

Oh, it's a necessity nowadays more so than anything, just beacuse if you look at our world around us now it's an inclusive society that we live in. If we were to keep doing things the way they've always been done we would not thrive. Just look at technology, if we kept doing things the way we used to do with the same technology agencies would not be able to thrive or develop the way they are now.  So it's taking that same lens and view. We need to make sure that we are making sure that our agencies are inclsuive to all so that we are growing and attrating the right fit for as far as our society goes. 

What advice do you have for people afraid to make mistakes in their journey to diversity and inclusion?

We all make mistakes, and we can't be afraid of that. If we don't take risks and make changes, we'll be left behind. The agencies that are succeeding now are the ones that are willing to make changes to be more inclusive. They're not afraid to take risks and make mistakes because they're committed to learning from them and making things right. So, don't be scared to make mistakes because everyone makes them. Just be willing to learn and improve, and you'll be on the right path.

What are tips would you give to those on their journey to becomming more inclusive? 

Be true, be open and go out with an open arms and have that open vision and mind. Don't be so tunnel-visioned doing things the way you've always been taught to do it but do things the way they should be done.