EXECUTIVE PROFILES
WOMEN IN REINSURANCE
INSPIRING LEADERS SERIES
Discover the most inspiring leaders of our industry as WiRE interviews respected leaders who inspire action at every level, who advocate diversity & inclusion, who empower and influence others with their admirable passion, commitment and values.
Luck favors the prepared. Luck may open the door for you, may get you that chance introduction, but if you are not doing your homework, honing your craft and developing your skill set, you may not be in a position to take that opportunity. Take charge of your own development and be curious about the industry around you – that way you are ready for when opportunities knock.
Josh Brekenfeld
Director of Global Corporate Development
Aspen
Sharon Joanne Ooi
Managing Director, Head of Property & Casualty Underwriting Asia Pacific,
Swiss Re Asia Pte. Ltd.
Be open, unassuming and respect differences. It is so important that everyone feels they have a place in the organization. And there is a clear business case for this – if you are happy, you deliver better results at work.
Maurice Williams
Managing Director, Willis Re
There should be no ceiling or obstacle to women succeeding in all areas and at every level of our industry. Somewhat fortuitously the pressure to achieve self-declared targets around gender-parity in leadership will open more senior doors to women in the short term. But the playing field was designed by men, to suit men, and is blatantly uneven. This needs to be overhauled with a particular focus on supporting parents through child-bearing and rearing years in an even-handed manner.
Dominic Christian
Global Chairman Reinsurance Solutions, Aon
D&I demands that anyone is allowed to express who they really are and gain confidence that they can thrive at any level. It isn’t about ticking boxes or following impersonal processes. Whatever your age or experience have a mentor and mentor someone.
Claudia Salem
CEO Property & Casualty, Asia Pacific, Allianz SE
Career journeys today require lifelong learning. To stay on the cutting edge you have to work hard and continue to invest in yourself, talent alone is not enough.
Vanessa Teo
CFO & COO, Great American Insurance Company
Women are increasingly gaining influence and recognition in the corporate world. Multinational companies are increasingly committing to gender diversity and this is a big opportunity for women to take lead roles or roles which were traditionally dominated by men.