Vanessa Sims

Vanessa Sims joined WSIA in October 2021 and is Director of Talent & Culture.  She directs WSIA’s strategy to develop a broad pipeline of talent and enhance workplace culture in the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines insurance segment.  Vanessa serves WSIA members as a resource and provides leadership to ensure a broad culture perspective is embedded into WSIA’s services. She also serves as staff liaison to the WSIA Talent Advocacy & Engagement Foundation. 

Prior to joining WSIA, Vanessa worked for UMB Financial Corporation as Director of Inclusion and Diversity responsible for design and implementation of the I&D strategy. Vanessa has also served in various human resources and operations leadership roles at State Street Corporation and DST.

Vanessa has served as a volunteer board member for several community impact organizations including Jackson County CASA, Prospect Business Association (PBA), and the Loose Family Foundation (Chair). A graduate of Central Missouri State University, Vanessa received a Bachelor of Science in Organization Communication and completed her Master’s in Leadership from Webster University.  She has earned the Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) designation through the Society of Diversity’s Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC). She has also served as an adjunct professor at Rockhurst University and has been recognized by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce with the ACE Champion of Diversity Award.

Vanessa and her husband, James, reside in Kansas City, MO and get joy spending time with their children and grandchildren.