With a passion for risk management and helping others secure their futures, Victoria Thoma has  built a career as an insurance professional. Currently, she is Commercial Lines Account Manager at AssuredPartners in Wilkes-Barre.  Before stepping into the industry, she spent five years traveling across the country with her husband and their dogs, gaining unique perspectives and experiences that she now relies on to shape her approach to problem-solving and client relationships. Whether navigating policies or new destinations, Victoria brings adaptability, curiosity, and a commitment to making informed decisions.

In your professional and personal lives, what achievements and successes have made you feel powerful?  How can other women learn from these stories?

I was the first woman in our office to obtain my Transportation Risk Specialist (TRS) designation.  Not only am I forging my path in the male-dominated industry of insurance, but I’m also finding my footing in the equally male-dominated industry of trucking.  Just because an industry is dominated by men does not mean that women cannot find their success in them.  It’s important to believe in yourself and seize opportunities to further your knowledge along the way.

What does “Accelerate Action” mean for you and how can you use your voice to help Accelerate Action?

To me, Accelerate Action means keeping the conversation going and continuing to lift one other up. I will continue to use my voice to accelerate action by supporting the women in our community, fighting for equalities, and advocating for those that haven’t quite found their voice yet.

How have you acted as a mentor to other women, either in your personal life or in the workplace?  What makes this kind of mentorship important?

In my workplace, I assist in training new employees and act as a resource for them. I strive to ensure that all employees feel empowered in this industry.  In my personal life, I try to always lend a helping hand, a listening ear, or a shoulder to cry on. I will always show up as my authentic self regardless of the situation because I think that being true to yourself is the first step to empowerment.  I think not only having mentorship, but also a sense of community, is essential to foster growth and strength.

What barriers have you faced in your life (professionally and/or personally that you feel comfortable sharing) and how did you overcome them?

Professionally, working in a male-dominated industry has been a challenge.  I needed to learn how to make my voice heard and how to advocate for myself. Personally, mental health and prioritizing myself have been a struggle, but I have created my own “village” that I lean on often and they have been paramount to both my personal and professional successes.

As a powerful woman, what would you tell a woman who is struggling in her career and/or having a hard time moving ahead and achieving her goals?

Keep going, advocate for yourself, and be your own biggest fan.  My best piece of advice is to find your village, whether they’re coworkers, family, or friends.  You need a community that will hold you high and support you the entire way.

About Dress for Success

Dress for Success ® is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to nearly 150 cities in 30 countries. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 2,000,000 women work towards self-sufficiency.

Since Dress for Success Luzerne County became operational in December of 2010, the program has reached 2,500 economically challenged women from the area by providing clothing, job interview support and workforce guidance. Dress for Success Luzerne County continues to create programs to enhance economic and social development, encouraging self-sufficiency through career development and employment retention.