Moving onwards and upwards in insurance with Christina Christopher
As part of International Women’s Day 2025, AIA Canada is recognizing women from across the auto care industry, highlighting their experiences, achievements, and success in their careers. Throughout her career, Christina Christopher has enjoyed her time working in the auto industry and aims to show why working in it is so rewarding.
Christina Christopher, Aviva
Christina’s successful career in the auto care and insurance industry, spanning over 18 years, is driven by her curiosity and constant desire to learn more. Starting as an automobile telephone adjuster, she built a solid foundation in claims knowledge and gained hands-on experience at hail drive-in centers. In 2009, she joined an image appraisal team and earned her appraiser’s license shortly after. Over the next decade, she took on various appraisal roles, learning from and collaborating with skilled colleagues who helped shape her understanding of auto repair.
“Much of my success in this industry comes down to my passion and eagerness to learn,” Christina shares. “Starting out as an automobile telephone adjuster and working my way up to a leadership role, I have always been one who is asking questions and seeking guidance, even when it felt uncomfortable. This mindset has really been key to my growth and achievements.”
Recognizing challenges and moving forward
As a woman in a male-dominated field, Christina acknowledges the challenges of pointing out a lack of experience or knowledge. Yet, she firmly believes that asking questions is vital for growth. Her willingness to embrace vulnerability and seek guidance, even when it felt intimidating, has been a key part of her professional development.
Early in her career, Christina questioned her place in the industry, particularly as she lacked the passion for cars that many of her colleagues shared. However, she discovered her true motivation: ensuring the customer is always the focus.
Christina’s dedication to customer-centricity stems from advice her father gave her when she first entered the industry: “Do not screw anyone over.” While blunt, this advice became her guiding principle. “Regardless of what role I have had, I refer to that advice, and it has become a motto–maybe crass, but ‘do not screw anyone over’ simply means do the fair and right thing.”
This principle has shaped her approach to every role she’s undertaken, reinforcing the importance of fairness, integrity, and customer trust in an industry that affects so many lives.
Optimistic about the future of the industry
Reflecting on the evolution of the automotive industry, Christina is optimistic about the increasing opportunities for women in various roles, from production to executive leadership. She is inspired by the growing presence of women across the industry and their ability to bring unique perspectives and strengths to the table.
“As someone who has followed a unique path in the automotive industry, I am confident that the opportunities for women in this field will continue to grow exponentially,” Christina says. “By highlighting and leveraging female-dominant skills and interests, we can drive significant transformation in this ever-evolving industry.”
About Christina Christopher
Christina Christopher is Aviva’s Western Canada Partner Relationship Manager in the Auto Supply Chain. With nearly two decades of experience in the industry, Christina is not afraid to ask questions, embrace a new challenge, or take initiative on new tasks or projects that may arise.