BRITTANY LANNAN Senior underwriter of professional liability, Everest Specialty Underwriters Everest Insurance Age: 33
Brittany Lannan joined Everest Insurance in 2019 to help launch the lawyers’ professional liability policy. Her responsibilities include growing the lawyers’ professional liability business, developing and strengthening relationships with brokers, and using her specialized industry knowledge to effectively address clients’ needs. Prior to joining Everest, Lannan spent five years as an underwriter at Sompo International and three years as an accountant at QBE. “Having spent a few years in the back office of an insurance carrier, I was eager to be a part of generating the revenue I saw in those reports,” she says. A self-described “big fan of data,” Lannan began to harness the power of data as an underwriter to analyze her book of business and identify trends to better inform underwriting decisions. Coupled with her interest in building and cultivating relationships, it made for a seamless transition from accounting, she says.
CHELSIE TYSDAL Associate managing director Burns & Wilcox Age: 34
Chelsie Tysdal oversees Burns & Wilcox’s Los Angeles office and manages the commercial insurance department; she also specializes in commercial insurance and has one of the fastest-growing books of business in Los Angeles. With a background as a competitive athlete, Tysdal understands the importance of teamwork and enjoys the industry’s competitive nature. A firm believer in leading by example with integrity and determination, she actively encourages her associates to go above and beyond and ensures they are recognized for their excellent performance. “I want to see more diversity throughout the insurance industry, mainly at the top level,” Tysdal says. “Diversity is key to the future of the industry, as well as attracting top talent. Achieving more diversity also assists in retaining top performers [and] promotes openness and a willingness to see things from a different perspective, thus reducing groupthink.”
FELA ABIOYE Executive team lead The Hartford Age: 35
Fela Abioye has spent the last decade in the insurance industry, the majority of it at The Hartford. He started his career as a workers’ compensation claims representative in Texas before being promoted to a workers’ compensation team leader, overseeing a satellite claims office in Las Vegas and a remote claims team. After six years in claims, he transitioned to commercial middle-market underwriting. In addition to recently being promoted to executive team lead at The Hartford, Abioye currently serves as vice chair and volunteer chair for the Houston associate board of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation and is a board member of the Houston chapter of the National African American Insurance Association. He’s also working on securing his CPCU designation. Last year, Abioye completed a program called Acceler8, which focused on social interaction, emotional intelligence, leveraging one’s network and developing an entrepreneur mindset. He says it helped him sharpen his interpersonal skills, enhancing how he communicates and positively impacts those around him.
www.ibamag.com
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