WFH Journey Edition #13 Diversity Inclusion and Belonging

Our work from home

JOURNEY E D I T I O N 13

Everything Counts.

Everyone Matters.®

MESSAGE FROM:

Bill and Rob Berkley “We have more than a 50-year history of recognizing that our people have truly been our greatest asset and will continue to be long into the future. To ensure the strength of our people focused culture we are pleased to announce the formation of Berkley’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (“DIB”) committee.

Berkley’s DIB Committee will help build on and harness the collective strength across the enterprise so that together we can ensure Berkley continues to support a strong culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. As we have long articulated, we are a company of people and we are a company of inclusion; it is the obligation of every one of us to create a community that truly embraces equality in every sense.”

Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (“DIB”)

AT BERKLEY

DIVERSITY = The Description What it means to Berkley INCLUSION = The Action How to create the desired culture/ environment BELONGING = The Feeling How we would like employees to feel Diversity at Berkley means that each individual is unique and valued. It is Berkley’s goal and commitment to seek out diverse perspectives at all levels and in every part of our organization. Because you, our people, have been our competitive advantage during our more than 50-year history and will continue to be long into the future.

Inclusion at Berkley means we all work together to create a safe and supportive environment where all individuals are treated fairly, respectfully, comfortable and encouraged to share ideas and opinions.

Inclusion requires awareness and action focusing on bringing people “in”. We have a responsibility to speak up when we see this is not happening. When everyone feels comfortable bringing their authentic self to work, only then can we fully contribute to the organization’s success.

Belonging at Berkley is how an individual feels when they are included, valued and recognized. Berkley is a community of people where “Everything Counts, Everyone Matters”.

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THE BERKLEY “DIB” LOGO

Our DIB logo represents how all of us, like the unique branches on a tree, may grow in different directions, come from different social and professional backgrounds, ethnic backgrounds and genders or speak different languages, yet our roots grow as one solid Berkley family.

Do you want to add the Berkley Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (“DIB”) logo to your signature line in Outlook?

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Some companies use the signature manager tool. These companies have their icons set at the company level so individuals cannot change their icons/signature line.

CLICK HERE to see if your company uses Exclaimer, the signature manager tool

TIP: To update the signature manager tool for an entire company, please contact Tammie Heeren and she will help coordinate this change

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For companies that are not using the signature manager tool, individuals are required to change their own icons/signature line

CLICK HERE for instructions on how to change your own signature line

Meet the

DIB TEAM At Berkley we recognize that building for the future and maintaining our competitive advantage requires that we maintain our ability to attract and retain the best talent as part of the Berkley team. Diversity and inclusion are imperative for us to fully support our innovation initiative by maintaining Berkley’s culture where we understand our people are our most valuable asset and “everyone counts”.

By supporting an inclusive organization Berkley will continue to bring together people with different backgrounds and perspectives, we enable new ideas, innovation and a culture in which employees feel valued, respected, supported and empowered. We are committed to not only increasing diversity in our hiring at all levels but also fostering an inclusive environment where all employees can develop and thrive.

We would like to thank the DIB committee members for their passion and support of this vital initiative.

DIB TEAM: Aaron Yip, Carol LaPunzina, Donald Avery, Haydee van Middelkoop, Ignacio Llobet, Kai Kang, Marie Gwin, Tammie Heeren, Trish Conway, and Yaseh Iqbal.

The following pages include a short bio from each of the DIB team members. Please feel free to reach out to anyone on the team if you have input for our DIB journey at Berkley.

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Aaron Yip

Chief Underwriting Officer Berkley Insurance Asia Home: Singapore Years at Berkley: 5

In 1992, I was living in the UK and tried to get a summer job before starting college. I was rejected from every application for weeks! And then, a hiring manager at an insurance company gave me a chance. I can still picture him and remember him saying that he will try me out for a week and see how I do. I was assigned to the call centre and was the only Asian among the team. On my first day, a colleague next to me said “let me show you around and tell you how this works”.

That was another way of saying…welcome to our club and let me teach you the ropes!

Almost 30 years on, I am still learning the ropes because the rope keeps getting longer! But the genuine sharing of knowledge is perhaps one of the most powerful acts of inclusion and belonging anyone can do for another person in the workplace.

On a personal note, Singapore is home. But I have called 7 cities home throughout my life! Born in Malaysia, grew up in Zimbabwe, studied in Hereford and Bristol in the UK, and spent several years working in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Throughout has been the support of my partner of 19 years. Anyone who has worked in multiple cities knows that you can’t pull this off without the support and patience of a wider network of colleagues, friends, family and loved ones!

Why is being on the DIB Committee Important to you?

We may have not called it DIB back in the early 90’s. But I would like to think that the hiring manager many years ago took a chance on me and brought someone different into the team.

That gave me an opportunity and a window into the world of insurance.

Throughout my career, I have had the good fortune to work with colleagues, managers and mentors that have always given people a chance. They have shared knowledge, welcomed people of all backgrounds and abilities. This has led to a vibrant, strong and diverse community that has ultimately helped the business.

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Carol LaPunzina SVP Human Resources W. R. Berkley Corporation Home: New Jersey Years at Berkley: 22

I grew up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, where I was part of a big, loving and loud Italian family. I attended Brooklyn Technical High School (“Tech”) which had only a few years earlier permitted women to take the exam to attend. The year I entered, of the 6000 students that attended Tech there was less than 1000 girls and over 5000 boys. I developed friendships with classmates from every borough of New York City that all cared deeply about learning and going on to college. I attended college and law school locally and upon graduation began working as an associate attorney at a private law firm in New York.

I joined Berkley in August 1998 as assistant general counsel of the reinsurance operations, in 2004 I was promoted to senior vice president and general counsel of Berkley Insurance Company, and in September 2009 I was promoted to my current position. Each of my roles at Berkley has provided the opportunity for me to grow professionally and equally important for me, has been the opportunity to work with an incredibly talented and dedicated group of individuals across the enterprise. I am so proud to be part of this team, my Berkley family, because it truly is the people that make the difference!

As for my other family, I married my husband, John, of 34 years, in Brooklyn (of course) but a few years later we moved to New Jersey to our home which is 4 houses down the street from my sister! We have two sons, Brian (29) and Joseph (26) who are very active. While I am not at all athletic, I do enjoy hiking and biking and since my family shares my love of travel, we continue to take hiking, biking and other adventure trips as a family. This photo is from a family wedding just before COVID. I am so grateful to be part of the DIB committee and support the organization as we move forward together to create an even more diverse and inclusive organization. Thank you for being part of our team and we look forward to hearing from you.

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Donald Avery Vice President Human Resources Supporting Vela Insurance Services, Berkley Select, Berkley Program Specialists, and Berkley Re Solutions Home: Chicago Years at Berkley: 8

I am currently the Vice President of Human Resources within W. R. Berkley supporting the following Berkley Companies: Vela Insurance Services, Berkley Select, Berkley Program Specialist and Berkley Re Solutions. I am currently located in Chicago, Illinois and joined the W. R. Berkley Corporation almost 8 years ago. As a human resource professional, I have become a student of the commercial insurance industry having worked for two other major carriers. I have also specialized in organizational behavior, change management, business strategy and leadership effectiveness.

I have greatly enjoyed over the years providing coaching and guidance to senior leaders and working closely with entry level talent and programs to introduce minorities and women into the financial services sector. Howard University, INROADS, and Women Unlimited are organizations that I have worked with during my many years in the industry. I have also worked with the Upward Bound program for inner-city youth educating them on planning for college in their future.

I am a graduate of Loyola University (Yes, the University that just upset the University of Illinois in the NCAA Basketball Tournament) where after graduating in 1980 I did academic advising for the men’s basketball program before I went into corporate America.

Because my diverse experience in the commercial insurance space and having worked in Atlanta, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Connecticut, Chicago, Toronto and California I have been able to establish relationships across North America while understanding the business needs of an organization to help them attain their overall goals and objectives.

I have been married for 38 years to my best friend, Adrienne and we have 4 adult sons who we have taken great pride in raising them with principles of giving and helping others. We cannot be prouder of the men that they have developed into. We just received the good news that our second son, Mitchell and his wife, Rachell are expecting a baby and we will be grandparents for the first time.

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Haydee van Middelkoop AVP Support Resources, Payroll & HRIS Systems W. R. Berkley Corporation Home: Pembroke Pines, FL Years at Berkley: 9 I was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Raised Catholic, of parents who did not go to church but made sure I attended mass every Sunday (the irony!). Nonetheless, I am very grateful for that as it developed the strong foundation of moral values that help me today get through any situation and challenges I face.

I come from a very humble background; growing up I lived in a neighborhood of zinc houses and non-paved streets. My parents worked really hard to provide an environment of learning and innovation. You have to be innovative when there is no money for new toys each year, or to make hand-me-downs look like new clothes! I learned really early to value everything that was given to me. This helped me understand from a young age the value of hard work, to be honest and loyal, to be grateful, to take nothing for granted, to help others and expect nothing in return, and most importantly to never stop learning. Knowledge is everything and you can never know too much.

When I was 8 years old, my dad got an opportunity to come to the USA to work as an agriculture worker. He took the leap of faith and sacrificed, leaving the family behind. A difficult decision, but one he says he’ll never regret. The sacrifice paved the way for us to move to the USA 13 years later.

Life has provided me a lot of opportunities, for which I thank God every day. My most precious is being a mother of 2 exceptional and authentic little girls: Sofia Isabella (4) and Eva Grace (2). They are my most difficult and precious project/adventure. I learn from them every day: to laugh like no one is watching, to smile even after falling from a slide, to be curious and to never stop asking why.

What do I hope DIB will achieve at Berkley? More opportunities for under-served communities and for us to look for amazing talent from a diverse candidate pool. It would be great to create a Berkley Scholarship Program for high-school students from deprived communities—a pathway to work in the insurance industry. I am proud to be part of an organization that understands the value of people, all people, and that strives to create an environment that fosters acceptance and inclusion, that’s what being a true innovator is all about. I believe the creation of this Committee is the right thing to do, now it’s on us to make things really happen.

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Ignacio Llobet Reinsurance Manager Berkley International Latinoamerica Home: Rosario, Argentina Years at Berkley: 14

I joined Berkley in 2007 as part of Berkley Argentina. Since then, the company has offered me the opportunity of interacting with all the different Operating Units in the region: Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, BLAC and Puerto Rico.

While being an active member of Berkley Uruguay’s Senior Management, my main role is related to ceded reinsurance in the region.

I was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, married now for over 7 years and proud father of 2 year old Joaquin and a daughter to be born in June.

When joining Berkley, I was told that insurance is a Numbers & People Business. Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging is a core part of the latter. Latin America, with its numerous cultures and languages, is a region where the challenge of being a diverse and inclusive organization is always present. Being part of this committee is an excellent way to contribute to creating an excellent “people” organization. Also, it gives me the opportunity of great learning experiences when hearing the other members of the team.

“Being part of this committee is an excellent way to contribute to creating an excellent ‘people’ organization”

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Kai Kang

Chief Actuary Berkley Re America Home: Englewood Cliffs, NJ Years at Berkley: 8 yrs, 6 mos.

I have been an actuary at Berkley Re America, based in Stamford, CT, since 2012. Prior to Berkley, I worked at a primary insurance company in New Jersey, as well as a “Big 4” audit firm in New York city and Chicago. I started my career at a life insurance company in Shanghai in 2001.

I currently live in New Jersey with my wife and two daughters. When I am not keeping busy with spreadsheets, you can find me playing with my daughters in the playground, or hiking on the trails.

Being part of the DIB Committee has exposed me to the contributions we all can make to Berkley, contributions of which I was not previously aware. My goal is to have every person in the Berkley organization feel comfortable, welcome, empowered and appreciated. We are all unique, we are all special, and we all can contribute to the success of the organization by being ourselves. To me personally, DIB is important because it allows me to learn perspective from different background, it helps me to overcome cultural and language barriers, and it allows me to have a more colorful life experience.

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Marie Gwin Executive Director Enterprise Product Support Services (EPSS) Home: Chicago, IL Years at Berkley: 9 yrs., 9 mos.

My career in insurance was not a direct route; I was first a teacher. I started my career in insurance as an underwriter trainee with Safeco Insurance which included classroom training in Seattle, WA. We had to understand all of the commercial policies—general liability, commercial auto, umbrella, excess, property, inland marine, crime, glass and workers compensation. In addition, we were trained on rating, construction, financial analysis, exposure analysis and assessment.

I left Safeco to join Zurich’s head office in Schaumburg, Illinois. While at Zurich for 20+ years I held a variety of positions, including Energy Casualty Practice Leader, Energy Casualty Chief Underwriting Officer, Work Comp Director for Zurich North America (ZNA), Global Corporate Underwriting Manager, Casualty Manager for Commercial Markets and Project Director for implementing a new policy administration system across all of ZNA. I also had the opportunity to represent Zurich on external industry committees, including the AIA (now APCIA) Workers Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors for the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) and the WCRI Core Funder’s Committee.

I joined Berkley in 2011 to start up a renewable energy unit as part of Berkley Oil & Gas. While at Berkley I’ve also had the opportunity to serve in different positions, including my current position as Executive Director for EPSS. No matter my insurance position, I always consider myself an underwriter at heart. Being an underwriter allowed me to interact with so many people in different insurance functions, including face-to-face meetings with agents and customers.

I grew up and continue to live in the suburbs of Chicago with my 17-year-old granddaughter and 14-year-old grandson. I became their legal guardian 5 years ago and have been adjusting to raising teenagers in this day and age. We don’t have any pets as yet, but there are fierce negotiations underway for a dog this Spring.

Being part of the DIB committee is important to me because throughout my entire career, I have often been “the first”, sometimes the first woman and more often the first African-American.

I hope to help create a more inclusive Berkley and a more inclusive world. I truly believe that diversity makes for a better company and a better world.

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Tammie Heeren Business Services Specialist Enterprise Program Management Office Home: Minneapolis, MN Years at Berkley: 28

I grew up in a small, rural community in southern Minnesota in a family that was very blue-collar.

I was the first one in my family to get a college education. I received my MBA from Drake University (thanks to the Berkley tuition assistance program). I earned my CPCU designation in 2007, along with many other designations from The Institutes. I have my certifications in Business Analysis (CBAP), Project Management (PMP), and Change Management (PROSCI). I really enjoy learning new things and meeting new people.

I started with Berkley in 1993 at BIS (Berkley Information Services) as a Product Development analyst configuring policy rates, rules and forms into A+Plus. This gave me a solid foundation in insurance coverages and rating. Since that time, I have also held roles at Tri-State Insurance, Continental Western Insurance, and BTS. Since 2012, I have been working with corporate teams on enterprise-wide projects. The roles I have enjoyed most are those where you need to work together to solve problems or create new processes or products.

I am the mother of four, delightful children, ranging in age from 23 to 33. From what I hear, being a Grandma is even better than being a mom, so I am patiently waiting for that. My husband and I love to travel and have visited all 50 states. Once COVID is behind us, we can again explore countries outside the U.S. Another of my favorite hobbies is scrapbooking; I like creating digital scrapbooks of our travels, but also enjoy creating traditional scrapbooks.

I feel very fortunate to be on the DIB committee; I have already learned so much from this great team. My hope is that we are able to weave our DIB goals into our innovation and core culture so that each person in the Berkley organization feels appreciated for their unique contributions and feels comfortable bringing their authentic self to work every day. I truly believe that this diversity and inclusion enhances our strategy for success.

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Trish Conway

My big sister and I (right) in Dublin Ireland; clothes by Mum!

My big sister and her hubsand, with my wife and I, in The Black Hoof restaurant, Toranto, Canada.

SVP Enterprise Risk Management W. R. Berkley Corporation Home: New York City Years at Berkley: 5

I started in the industry as a cat modeler in a reinsurance company in Dublin, Ireland. Then worked in London for a couple of years. Moved to New York in 2006. Whilst working in cat modeling, capital modeling and enterprise risk management, I seemed to keep landing in the actuarial department wherever I went. I took exams and qualified as a P&C actuary before joining WRBC in 2015. I was promoted to SVP ERM in late 2020.

Grew up in Dublin, Ireland. Played a lot of field hockey and some cricket in my youth. After studying mathematics at Trinity College, Dublin I tried working in pensions and IT security, which I found were not for me. Then, I discovered the wonderful world of (re)insurance. I moved to London for a job. I met my (now) wife who had landed in London via Singapore, Indiana and New York. We moved to New York City together in 2006. We continue to live in New York City with 0 cats (she’s allergic) and 0 dogs (I’m allergic). We recently moved to Midtown East after 14 years living in Downtown NYC. We are greatly enjoying the Japanese restaurants in our new neighborhood.

It is important for me to participate on the committe because…One of the things I love most about my job is the really, really smart people I get to work alongside every day. I hope to be with WRBC for a long time, so I’d really like tomake sure we recruit and retain the best people and develop that talent for the benefit of all of us at WRBC.

DIB TEAM MEMBER

Yaseh Iqbal

Director of Project Management W. R. Berkley Corporation Years at Berkley: 3 yrs., 11 months

My childhood was in Pakistan and I moved to the US in 1996 for college and attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. I lived in the Greater Boston area for over 11 years and since have become a devoted Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins fan.

During my career of over 2 decades now, I have worked across industries including insurance, financial services, health care and IT Consulting. Currently my position as a project manager on the Berkley Data Warehouse implementation has given me an opportunity to get to know our local and international colleagues including working from the London, Continental Europe and Sydney offices. I consider myself an outgoing people’s person and always creatively looking for solutions to problems and striving to do my job to the best of my ability.

I have a beautiful 10-year-old daughter, Izma born on the 1st of January and have included a snap of her from her last birthday. Every year she has a short list of theme ideas and we go through the list to come up with the best picks. This year was a Tik Tok birthday.

Being a member of the DIB committee is important for me as I feel with my diverse cultural and professional background I can contribute towards a very meaningful topic of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. I consider it as a cultural drive essential for an organization and the success of its employees.

DIB

Survey Results

72% of our employees responded to the survey—THANK YOU!

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94% of you told us that that working for a diverse and inclusive

organization is important

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89% of you felt that your environment is open for free expression

of ideas, opinions and beliefs

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67% of you felt that diversity and inclusion awareness is promoted

with actions such as education and training to support a DIB culture and environment

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82% of you feel your leadership team supports a commitment

to diversity and inclusion

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88% of you agreed that our DIB efforts are important in achieving

our overall financial success as an organization

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99% of you strive to treat your colleagues fairly and respectfully

by fostering an inclusive environment

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93% of you felt you are treated fairly and respectfully at work

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86% of you felt that you are comfortable being your authentic

self at work and that you are able to talk about your background and cultural experiences with colleagues

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86% of you agreed that you are provided with equal access to

opportunities and resources to support your career development

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82% of you would be comfortable voicing concerns when you see

behaviour that does not support our DIB definitions or goals

We Heard You!

The most critical immediate need cited by participants in the D&I survey was the need for more employee education in this space. Establishing common language and building awareness will lay a solid framework for our diversity and inclusion initiative. Together, we can build a more inclusive workplace.

We are in the process of building out an introductory DIB curriculum titled “Inclusion Is Innovation – An Introduction”. This will be a 35-minute blend of short videos and e-learning courses that show how a more diverse and inclusive workplace is critical to practicing our innovation behaviors, as well as how unconscious bias can complicate our efforts to achieve true inclusion and effective collaboration.

Going forward, we’ll look to create a more comprehensive D&I education approach for current and future leaders, ensuring that a commitment to diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our culture. For now, it’s important for each of us to take part in “Inclusion Is Innovation – An Introduction” with a true spirit of reflective learning and openness to these critical ideas.

Another way the DIB Team plans to raise awareness is to celebrate specific DIB events. March 8th was International Women’s Day, so this month, we are celebrating the women in our organization.

CLICK HERE to learn more about International Women’s Day 2021 #ChooseToChallenge

#IWD2021

International

WOMEN’S DAY

Berkley Germany #ChooseToChallenge With this year’s International Women’s Day pose, we’re addressing inequality, naming bias, challenging stereotypes and supporting creating a diverse world where we’re all equal.

We are proud to be employed in a company where women make up more than 60 percent of the workforce and are not uncommon in leadership positions!

IWD 2021 Campaign Theme: #ChooseToChallenge A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge!

So, raise your hand up high to show you’re in!

Celebrating

49 YEARS

AT BERKLEY

We would like to thank Pat Maranell from CWG for her many years of service to Berkley

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What do you like about working at WRBC? “I have always liked the people I worked with. Working in the Luverne office is like working with family. We know their families and we care about them. We are always willing to pitch in and help if the need arises.”

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What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC?

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What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“Go for it. I haven’t regretted it. Any new job is a challenge, but there are plenty of people within the office who can give direction and make the process easier.”

“Making it to 49 years. In 2018, I was diagnosed with colon cancer and it still amazes me how my fellow employees/friends stepped up to drive me to Sioux Falls for six months of chemo treatments (at that time, my husband could not drive). Plus on top of that, they had a fundraiser, brought food, flowers, phone calls, texts, cards, visits, and lots and lots of prayers. Someone was always checking up on me. You don’t get that working for a company where the employees are not your friends/family. It was greatly appreciated.”

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Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I don’t have any one person. I would say the whole group in Luverne has kept me sane and has made working at CWG a fun place to work.”

RECOGNIZING Some of our Great Women Leaders at Berkley In the following pages, we would like to highlight the achievements, leadership, and strength of some of our women in the Berkley family.

We are gracious to these individuals for taking time to share their thoughts with us.

Anne Chevalier Chief Actuary Europe, W. R. Berkley Europe AG

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What attracted you to WRBC? “The job offer was corresponding 100% to what I was looking for (develop the actuarial function for Continental Europe and build a team in order to achieve the strategic goal of the profit center and company). During the interview process, I met great people and began to really feel and like the W. R. Berkley style. After flying back from a full day of interviews in Greenwich, I was fully convinced that I wanted to be part of the journey!”

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What do you like about working at WRBC? “I love the content of my job, which is a perfect balance between management and performing hands-on actuarial tasks. I really love working with each actuary in my team and collaboration within the team is great. More generally, the people culture at W. R. Berkley, which encourages entrepreneurial spirit and collaboration, is unique in the industry. This is rare and reflects the motto “Everything counts, everyone matters”. And, as the ultimate goal is to make money, it’s very motivating to work for such a successful company. I’m always proud to say that I work at W.R.Berkley.”

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What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“This was when I took over my first Chief Actuary role 17 years ago. I was very young and naive and came with the mindset that I wanted to show everybody how things can be done better. As my boss at that time was very hands off, he didn’t stop me or coach me in any way. He basically let me run into the wall. I let you imagine the result. Very quickly, I had many people against me. This caused a lot of stress, not only for me but also for many colleagues. I had the chance to be helped by the Head of HR as well as an external coach.

I had many coaching sessions with each of them. With their support I managed to restore relationships and to improve the situation step by step. After 18 months it had really become considerably better. A few months later, the company gave me another chance and I took over the actuarial team of another department. In this new position, I tried not to repeat the same errors and everything went extremely smoothly. This became one of my best professional experience, I stayed in this position 6 years. My manager and my team were absolutely great! I would however not have missed the difficult experience described above, I learned so much!”

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What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC?

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What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

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Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“Come very well prepared and try to find out if this the place you would like to work at.

I would of course tell this person that this is a great company to work for!”

“It is very cliché but I would say that the birth of my three children were moments filled with extremely high emotions which can’t be compared with anything else.”

“I would definitely mention my mother, who unconditionally supported and encouraged me in all the steps I took in my life, and still does so, not only as far as career is concerned but also in my personal life. And the second person is my husband. We have known each other for more than 25 years and I feel that he has always believed in me and has fully supported my choices. His strong, thoughtful and loyal personality has given me a lot of selfconfidence and balance along the way and helped me a lot to build a successful career.”

Ayuko Uehara Japan Desk, Casualty & Financial Lines Underwriter Berkley Insurance Asia Singapore Photo: Ayuko on left with daughter, Yua

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “One thing that has attracted me to Berkley is that they were open to bringing me on as an underwriter, even though I had no prior underwriting experience. Of course, I have had a long P&C experience and I also had marketed new products in Japan for my previous company, but I had never “underwritten” an account myself, but Berkley gave me the chance to try. Underwriting was something I had always wanted to do and I am grateful to be given the opportunity to use my years of experience in a different way at Berkley.

I think that it also demonstrated the open-minded culture of the company.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “We have so many people from different background, if we just look at the countries we are originally from, we have Singaporean, Malaysian, Philipino, Dutch, Indian, Japanese within our 20+ people office that is amazing. What is amazing is not just the number of countries we represent either, we work really well like a family.”

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What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“When I was about to become a “manager”, around 1999 – 2000, the branch manager told me that he didn’t think I was ready because I did not appear strong enough and that I am too close to other ladies in the office and not spending enough time with my male colleagues! So I had to stop going to lunch with my female colleagues to show that I am not “one of the girls”.

In the end, I received a lot of support from a lot of people and became a manager after all.

Although I was sometimes criticized for not being strong enough (a little similar to the criticism against New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern), I have decided not to change my style – it is very difficult to try and become someone that you are not! Also, just like Prime minister Ardern says, I believe that empathy makes stronger leaders. It is just a different style from the traditional style generally employed by male leaders.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “I would say, it is a great company where you find a lot of very dedicated, technical and smart people that you can learn from, if you are prepared to take on some challenges and work hard! You will never get bored working at Berkley!”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“My most memorable experience is that on the day I reached Singapore from Japan to begin working at Berkley, the plan (I thought) was for me to go to the apartment from the airport to meet the real estate agent. When I exited the airport, I saw three people from the Berkley office waiting for me holding up a “Welcome to Singapore” signboard with my name on. That was an amazing surprise and a great start to my Berkley career.”

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Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I have to say that my husband has always supported me, helped me throughout my career and we have always been there for each other. For example, whenever we both have work commitments in the evening, he would offer to take care of our daughter so that I have the option to attend to my meetings.”

“My most memorable experience is that on the day I reached Singapore from Japan to begin working at Berkley.”

Carol Threlkeld Assistant Vice President Claims Berkley Select

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What attracted you to WRBC? “The people and the culture. When you have an operating unit the size of Berkley Select, you get the chance to get to know your colleagues, both within and outside of your area of specialization. There’s no place to hide, so BSL is characterized by people who are committed to the job, the success of the company, and supporting each other in their work.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “At the risk of repeating myself, the people and the culture! Over the course of my career, I have been so fortunate in that I’ve had the opportunity to work with really smart, interesting, and dedicated people. BSL is characterized by that kind of person. For example, I could not ask for a better team than my claims team here. They’re all such rock-stars in their own individual ways. But beyond the claims group, we have amazing underwriters, products, IT, administration, finance, and operations teams. I love that BSL sees value in diversity of thought and different approaches, and that value is reflected in its personnel.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“I think my biggest professional challenge was simply figuring out what I wanted to do in the long term. I have a wide variety of interests, and it’s always been a challenge for me to just pick one. After two degrees in English, I went to law school, and somewhat accidentally wound up in private practice at an insurance coverage boutique firm.

Insurance coverage and claims ended up being such a gift for me, because insurance touches on everything. Each new coverage or claims scenario involves different aspects of the legal, professional, and personal worlds in such interesting ways. I suppose you could say I overcame the challenge of having to pick an interest by choosing a career where I get to indulge my interests in everything.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “I would say that if you are looking for a company where you can really make a difference as an individual contributor, where you can work with some of the smartest people in the industry, and where you can build lasting relationships with fascinating people, this is the place for you.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“Our collective experience over the past year of pandemic has been really memorable.

Looking back on the shift to a fully remote work force, I am amazed in hindsight at how smoothly it all went. I know that our IT teams went into overdrive trying to make everything seamless, and that was largely successful. But beyond that, how everyone came together and put in the effort to make it work is a really memorable and proud experience.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“My mom! She has been a rock for me in my adult life, and a source of inspiration while I was growing up. I remember her completing her doctorate in her forties. I helped her to edit her dissertation, and couldn’t believe how much work she’d put into it while working full time. She showed me that if you like and are inspired by what you are doing, you can manage to keep a lot of plates spinning at the same time. I don’t know that I’ll ever match her drive or commitment, but she inspires me to try.”

“... Over the course of my career, I have been so fortunate in that I’ve had the opportunity to work with really smart, interesting, and dedicated people...”

Chandler Christensen Admiral, Underwriter

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “Something that attracted me to Admiral, that I think is true about all Berkley companies, is the specialization and expertise. I really enjoy being in the dynamic E&S market, and everyone at Admiral is collaborative with their knowledge and experience.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “I love the culture of empowerment at W. R. Berkley! There are a ton of resources and support from coworkers that truly help me feel like an empowered decision maker on each piece of business I handle.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“One of my bigger professional challenges this past year has been converting to virtual working during quarantine. I prefer to work with people face to face, and one of the challenges of communicating via email/chat is you usually miss the tone or intent of the person. I think it’s easy to come across as negative or critical even, so I’ve been working on ensuring I seem personable in my written communication, and not reading anything into other emails. A phone call goes a long way to clear up any miscommunication, too!”

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “Be yourself! I love my team because we are all friends, too!”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

“I love the culture of empowerment at W. R. Berkley! There are a ton of resources and support from coworkers that truly help me feel like an empowered decision maker .”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“One of the most enjoyable things I’ve been able to do since starting at Admiral has been going back to Temple University to recruit summer interns. Since I also came from Temple University, it’s fun to go back and be on the other side of the process now.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“Marina Kogan has been a huge help for me during my career at Admiral. She’s taken the time to clarify what I don’t understand, collaborate with me on new accounts, and help me learn each individual product line better. She is helpful, knowledgeable, and happy to share what she knows with anyone who wants to learn!”

Charmaine Roane Customer Experience Team Leader Berkley One

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “The first thing that attracted me to WRBC was the position title - Solutions Specialist!

Being a problem solver by nature this position sounded like it was made just for me; a compilation of every insurance position I held leading up to that point. Then came my interview – which was, by far, the best I’ve experienced in my entire career. It was a smooth and just a natural conversation. I felt like I could be myself and they just wanted to get to know me more; and vice versa. Maybe it was just fate that brought us together!”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC?

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“I love the culture here and how the ‘open door policy’ applies to everyone. I truly feel that I can call on any colleague, no matter what title they hold, for assistance or guidance.”

“My biggest professional challenge was stepping away from a job of 12 years, a place that allowed me to grow personally and professionally. I recognized I needed more and I decided to take a risk, challenge myself, let go of the fear and follow my faith. Leaving a place of familiarity was so difficult because I am a creature of habit. I learned to fully trust and encourage myself. That was the best decision I could have made—the outcome resulted in me being right here, right now, at Berkley One.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “Working at WRBC has been so rewarding in my short time here. I am honored to be an employee and can honestly say that I feel extremely valued and so will you. If you want to work for a company that invests and trusts in their employees, this is the place to be.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“My most memorable experience was the day I was offered my current position (after only a year with the company). Everything I had sacrificed and worked so hard for had finally resulted in my biggest career achievement! On that day, I realized that one should never give up because there will always be someone who will believe in you just as (or more than) you believe in yourself. It was a life changing experience and I am forever grateful for the opportunity.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“From the very beginning of my career here, Alyssa Acosta has been my biggest supporter! She is a great listener, communicator and teacher. Her patience is remarkable and I’ve learned so much under her tutorage.”

“If you want to work for a company that invests and trusts in their employees, this is the place to be .”

Cindy Foo Head of Underwriting—Asia Berkley Re Singapore

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “In my career, I have worked for large established reinsurers as well as start-up company. It has been great to represent well-established brand-names, yet the challenge of working for a smaller independent outfit excites me professionally. When I was approached for this job, I looked up the company and noted WRBC seems to offer me the best of both worlds. A well-regarded, strong capitalized company with a decentralized and entrepreneurial approach. “

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “I appreciate the people-oriented and consistent unyielding bottom line-focus of the Company. This flows through to our everyday work life. Highest work ethics and productivity is expected of me, but I am also assured of flexibility when that is needed to balance work and family. As long as profit targets are clear, I am encouraged to think-out-of-the-box for solution to achieve this end goal.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“There was a time when we had to review our past portfolio to improve its performance.

This ultimately entailed cutting back our book which was not something our brokers and cedants immediately appreciated. The challenge was to carry out what was needed yet ensure business relationships were kept intact. As a team, we managed to successfully bring our business back to the path of profitability. At the same time, we re-positioned ourselves in the market with clear messaging regarding our risk appetite, coupled with excellent customer service.

Today, the market knows us as a selective player whom they can call to discuss new ideas or opportunities (even if we don’t end up writing it). And instead of shying away from us, I think they celebrate when they manage to place a good piece of business with us!”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “I often refer to WRBC as a “Big-Small-Company”! Big because it is a well-capitalized company with sizeable portfolio. Small because each team that makes up the WRBC is given sufficient autonomy to operate independently in their own market place.

WRBC provides the best of both worlds. The Company demands high standards and in return provides due recognition and a great team to work with.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“Working with our team at Berkley Re Asia is memorable every day! This includes all ups and downs, all laughter and tears.”

“I can only achieve the best in my job with the help of our team. Everyone from our President to colleagues in all departments have in their own way supported me in what I do. I am inspired by all of them and truly believe that only with team work comes success.”

“I appreciate the people-oriented and consistent unyielding bottom line-focus of the Company. This flows through to our everyday work life. .”

Holly Fettinger Vice President, Segment CIO Specialty IT Services (WRBC Support Services)

Q

What attracted you to WRBC?

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC?

“Opportunity that turned into multiple opportunities—plus WRBC has an amazing reputation, who wouldn’t want to work here?”

“I love the versatility of my job; every day I get to work with multiple operating units, helping them achieve their business goals through enabling technology. I have enjoyed being part of the evolution of our IT model and the opportunities I’ve had along the way.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“I would call it an opportunity—effectively managing the expectations of the multiple presidents I support. “

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “In order to be successful at any of the WRBC companies, you have to be flexible and willing to do things that aren’t in your job description. One of the best things about WRBC is the entrepreneurial spirit we are built on, being part of something that you get to help create, processes you build and implement, and results you are directly part of. If people like the same thing day in and day out, WRBC is not the place for them. “

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“I would say my most memorable experience has been having the privilege to mentor people within the organization and to watch their career growth. Mentoring others has been rewarding for me and has also broadened my perspective.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I am so lucky, I have a long list of great people who have mentored me but probably the most steadfast person is my friend, Lynda Braksiek, who I met my first day of work in the insurance industry in 1990. We are still friends to this day and she is my go-to person when I need straight talk, career advice or support. I am a firm believer that having a “Lynda” is essential for everyone.”

“One of the best things about WRBC is the entrepreneurial spirit we are built on, being part of something that you get to help create, processes you build and implement, and results you are directly part of.”

Ileana Torres AVP, Counsel—Claims & Compliance Berkley Latin America, Miami

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “When I arrived at Berkley Latin America and Caribbean I did so at a time when WRBC’s operation in Latin America was burgeoning. The opportunity to join the team that was in place at that time to assist in expanding WRBC’s footprint in that region was both daunting and thrilling, but too promising to pass up.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “Without question because of the people. My colleagues and co-workers at WRBC have not only shown support and belief in my professional talents, but have also shown me personal affection and support. It’s an honor and a pleasure to call them co-workers and teammates.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“It is difficult to identify one main challenge. When working at WRBC challenges are thrown at you every day. Definitely have to be on your toes. I can say, however, that no matter what issue I am faced with, there is always someone at WRBC who I can lean on for counsel, guidance and/or support. To have a network of such capable men and women as part of our team is undoubtedly the most important factor that has allowed me to face all the challenges that I have dealt with during my time here.”

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “Do not be afraid to reach out to people, both within and outside of your Operating Unit.

WRBC is a team and as with any successful team, sometimes you will be leaned upon, but other times you will need to lean upon a teammate. Do not be afraid of that because at the end it will strengthen both you and the team.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“Becoming a mother to my two kids. Hands down. Nothing even comes a close second.”

“My father is my inspiration. Knowing and having witnessed part of his journey from poverty to becoming a successful businessman motivates me to be better every day. To not be complacent, and to always look forward to see what other accomplishments I can achieve.”

“...no matter what issue I am faced with, there is always someone at WRBC who I can lean on for counsel, guidance and/or support.”

Jackie Bourret Senior Vice President, Program CUO Berkley Integrated Solutions

Q

What attracted you to WRBC?

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC?

“Two things. One, WRBC’s reputation as a well-respected and top tier organization.

Second the people I met in the interview process were all very impressive.”

“I work with a world class talented group of professionals. All are very knowledgeable in their respected fields. I enjoy the autonomous environment as it leads to a high degree of accountability and faster decision making. I am able to make an impact.

Each day presents a new challenge and I’m always learning.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“When I was a middle market manager I was impacted when the company downsized the number of management positions. This led me to accepting a Program Manager position with the same organization. That’s where I fell in love with the program space and worked for a very talented leader. I worked with this person two times since and he’s a great mentor.”

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “I have the opportunity to meet a number of candidates. To all I tell them WRBC is an entrepreneurial environment, be ready to be held accountable and roll up your sleeves.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“2020 and the pandemic. Last year was clearly the most memorable between working remote, adapting to new ways to communicate and all the issues with communicable disease. With all the challenges, BPS launched two new programs and completed a remote due diligence on a 3rd. We received the order on the 3rd deal in late December. 2020 was a great year for our organization.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“Early in my career as an Underwriting Supervisor there were few women in leadership roles. I worked for a manager who was very old school. Although I found him sometimes frustrating, I learned a lot of valuable lessons. Many have stuck with me today. One of his sayings was “the customer’s perception is our reality.” Another lesson learned is to ‘let the process work’—thus set aside any preconceived notion of how something will turn out. Both have served me well!”

“I enjoy the autonomous environment as it leads to a high degree of accountability and faster decision making. I am able to make an impact.”

Kate Perlman Senior Vice President, Claims Berkley Re America

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “I joined Berkley Re after working at another reinsurer for 25 years. At Berkley, prior work experience is appreciated. I feel privileged to work with colleagues who have both the technical skills and a passion for what they do.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “At Berkley, “Do the right thing” is more than a slogan. It informs what we do. I work in Claims and our brokers and cedants appreciate that we use this guiding principle when addressing complex coverage matters. Doing the right thing allows for more collegial work relationships both internally and externally. There’s an effectiveness to working this way.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“I’ve faced several significant challenges. Each felt overwhelming. In my experience, the best way to overcome a challenging situation is to seek advice. People have different takes on a problem and by reaching out and seeking their input; I’ve been able to find solutions. Asking for help works.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“Berkley values experience and talent. Our de-centralized structure provides an environment where you can help meet the goals of the operating unit, do your best, and be acknowledged for it. Even if you’re not in management, you’ll have the potential to take on leadership roles to grow your career and develop new skills.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“I’ve enjoyed working on the Innovation process. For our Innovation kick off, we divided into teams and asked each to build the tallest structure using raw spaghetti and marshmallows. Watching our colleagues, work together to create the structures was not only fun but also highlighted that by using our Innovation behaviors, we can accomplish anything. There is power in working together to find the best solution.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“Fun loving, smart, a pleasure to be with and always willing to give me the time I needed for training and counsel.”

“At Berkley, prior work experience is appreciated. I feel privileged to work with colleagues who have both the technical skills and a passion for what they do.”

Kathy Tierney Executive Vice President W. R. Berkley Corporation

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “Definitely the culture and feel of the place. When I was interviewing with WRB I was really impressed with the intelligence and thoughtfulness of the people I met and the diversity of people’s backgrounds-there were many Berkley lifers, and also many who had joined from different companies and even different industries. It felt like a place that would embrace someone coming from the outside. And then on one of my trips to Greenwich I walked past the cafeteria and the Chairman was singing Happy Birthday to someone, as is the tradition here. The combination of ambition and soul in a company is so rare—I was sold.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “The opportunity to be the creator of a business, not just a caretaker. You may feel like you have arrived in this industry if you have had the “big” job running an established business, but it’s much more rewarding to be a builder.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“I came to Berkley to build a business, which was and continues to be a new and big challenge for me. It is really humbling to be the leader of something that only has people, premium, plans, profit if we make it so. You really feel the brick by brick aspect of it, and it requires a very different kind of fortitude. It took a while to see the fruits of our labor, and I am definitely not the world’s most patient person! I remember sitting in the staff meeting in those early days and reporting that we had written 7 clients in the first month we went live. I think my colleagues struggled to make eye contact with me when I gave those updates—thinking about it still gives me hives, the progress felt so glacial! Thank goodness we are now approaching $7,000,000 in premium a month, but there were some stressful moments along the way. I had to really rethink my definition of personal success. But I never lost the feeling that with hard work, great people and clear hearts we could get there.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC?

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“Take the time to understand what is unique about the Berkley organization. There really isn’t another company in the industry like it, in my humble opinion.”

“There have been several great moments, I can’t pick one. The day we issued our first policy with the whole company on the line. The month we booked $1,000,000 and Phil Welt clapped for us in the staff meeting. Super Producers 2020, where the energy was so real and genuine and I felt so grateful to be working with colleagues and agents who are friends. The President’s meeting where one of my colleagues presented and I could not stop smiling with pride. Every time an agent or client tells me that our team is awesome.

One of our team members saying she felt so lucky to be at Berkley, just the other day.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I have been really lucky to have had people who were willing to take a chance on me throughout my career. Probably one of the most memorable stories was very early on in my career, when I had been working as an underwriter for about a year. I had come from a working-class background and was really intimidated by the corporate atmosphere and my lack of sophistication and political savvy. One weekend my office participated in a charity walk and I was fortunate enough (but petrified at the time) to walk with the manager of the office, and it turned out that we had really similar backgrounds, even knew some of the same places and people. Silly as this sounds, we discovered that we had both been involved with the swim team at St. Sebastian’s, a parish in Woodside, Queens. Somehow this made all the difference for me. What does swimming have to do with insurance? Very little. But the connection was enough to make me realize that I was making false assumptions about what kind of person could be successful in corporate America and holding myself back. That manager ended up being someone I worked for again much later in my career and continued to be a support and influence. He taught me that the greatest responsibility of leadership is to make people feel connected and included.”

Lisa Surprenant Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Vela Insurance Services

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “The WRBC brand is widely recognized as one of the top leaders in the insurance industry. After being approached for a position at Vela I did some research on the organization like any candidate would do for a potential new job. As much as I thought I knew about WRBC I was encouraged to learn about the long-term successful growth of the enterprise and I liked the autonomy of each operating unit as well as the broad range of offerings that offered unlimited opportunities. I knew I wanted to be part of this organization.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “The collaborative environment that is prevalent at Vela as well as within the entire WRBC organization. Shared knowledge is very powerful and I’ve found having the ability to tap into fellow colleagues internally and externally as a resource is very beneficial to the execution of my job responsibilities as well as gaining valuable insight about other WRBC OU’s.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“I would say it was many years ago when I was working for another organization that went through a reorg. It was a very stressful, challenging time and I didn’t really know where I’d fit in with the new organization or leadership. I decided at the end of the day that it was time for me to move on which wasn’t an easy decision, kind of scary actually, but at the end of the day it was the right one for me. I learned a good deal about myself at that time and that personal challenges are necessary to move your career forward. I ended up in a position that I truly enjoyed and one that offered me great opportunity to advance my career and gain so much valuable knowledge of our industry.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

“...If you’re looking to work for an organization that acknowledges that their employees are the greatest asset to the organization’s success, then you should join WRBC.”

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? If you’re looking to work for an organization that acknowledges that their employees are the greatest asset to the organization’s success, then you should join WRBC. The educational and career advancement opportunities are no more abundant than they are here at WRBC.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“Here at Vela it would be the comradery that our employees share and the positive workplace environment that each employee helps to create. Colleagues supporting one another in the achievement of corporate goals and sharing the resulting successes.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I’ve felt very fortunate to have had many individuals, including many women, throughout my career who have had a meaningful impact on my ability to be successful.

Whether a professional colleague or a personal friend, they all share similar attributes in the form of mentoring, listening, encouraging, inspiration and positive advice.

I respect each of them and I’m truly thankful for their support. In turn, I always try to pay it forward and offer the same positive assistance to younger colleagues or those just starting out in the industry.”

Liz Falusi Vice President, Underwriting Services Admiral

Q

What attracted you to WRBC?

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC?

“A friend of mine worked here and told me about how much he liked it and let me know about the opportunity that was available and I interviewed and got the job.”

“I like the culture at Admiral and the people. We are lucky to have great people who are passionate about their job and strive to do their best. I have also had the opportunity to share space with people from sister companies and it was great. We had fun events and could reach out to get a different POV on business and/or learn about a line of business. We were very lucky to share a space with a great group of people.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“Too many to list, but to me overcoming challenges is about perseverance. Like the saying goes “it’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock “. You just have to keep trying and learning and you will either overcome it or move on to the next best option.”

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “Be prepared to work hard and learn a bunch of systems, but know it will be worth it.

I had a friend who recently interviewed with a sister company and I told her that WRBC reminds me of a previous employer we both had because they take care of their people and are forward focused. I talked about employee engagement, innovation etc. Lots of things happening and if you want to be involved there is always an opportunity out there. (PS – She got the job!)”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

“We are lucky to have great people who are passionate about their job and strive to do their best. I have also had the opportunity to share space with people from sister companies and it was great.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“Traveling the country (back when we could) to help roll out the paperless underwriting system. This was a big change for us and I got to spend a few weeks in each branch which allowed me to get to know a lot of the people who I had not previously had the opportunity to spend time with.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I don’t know if I can pick a specific person as there have been many. I am always inspired by my team and the efforts that put in to keep the work moving. I am impressed by Curt when he does his Quarterly update videos and interjects humor into them. I am supported by many people in the company who I know have my back and they know I have theirs. To me it’s all about the teamwork and getting the job done.”

Lucille Sgaglione Executive Vice President W. R. Berkley Corporation

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “I chose to join Berkley almost eleven years ago because I was then and continue to be deeply impressed with our operating model. Hiring talented people, placing them close to the customer and empowering our organizations to meet customer needs in a local manner is quite powerful. The insurance industry can be hierarchical and bureaucratic; on the other hand, Berkley highly values flexibility, teamwork and individual accountability.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “I thoroughly enjoy working with committed, talented people focused on contributing to WRBC success. Each day presents new opportunities for me to work across our organization and to observe first-hand the great work being delivered by our teams.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“My career trajectory has been somewhat unusual in that I have had three careers in succession: first as a high school history teacher, second as a practicing lawyer and third, as a member of the insurance industry. Each of these major transitions required that I apply my talents in drastically different environments and as well as develop new skill sets. The challenge for most of us is having courage to step-out of our safety zone and a willingness to be the least informed individual in the room for some period of time. I managed my trepidation and overcame insecurities by believing that all people have the capacity to learn and that failure, if it happens, is usually manageable. As I reflect on the past, I am so very grateful I found rewarding work and meaningful connections in each stage of my career.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “For those considering joining an operating unit, I would stress that each organization within our group has a local culture shaped by collective experiences of the local team coupled with our enterprise widely held values. Each of us, wherever we work, is a valued member of a larger and dynamic organization known as WRBC. I would also stress that Berkley provides great opportunities for self-starters who wish to deliver quality results.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“If you are fortunate, a long career will offer many satisfying experiences. As a former educator, I cherish memories of finding ways to encourage marginalized students and helping them to see they could have productive, successful lives.

It has been rewarding for me to collaborate with others in delivering on our collective promises as part of the Berkley journey. I receive great satisfaction from mentoring individuals in their career progression and cheering for them from the sidelines as they achieve great success.

It is my fondest wish that as I have become part of the fabric of Berkley, I will leave it a little bit better than when I Joined.“

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“During my long career, I have been privileged to work with many terrific people.

While I did not have the good fortune to have a mentor, I did have role models who set high standards, exhibited respect for the individual and invested in their teams.

I have learned new ways of thinking and better ways of operating from so many of my colleagues; they have enriched my performance and my life.”

Margaret Carfora AVP Berkley Public Entity

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “Throughout my career, I have always heard about WRBC and their unique set up around individual companies. I was attracted to the opportunity to expand an existing platform, grow a book of business, and build a team that has the qualities for long term success in the Public Entity space. The ability to bring an existing company forward and help to improve the platform to gain and sustain market share was the perfect next step for my professional development.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “WRBC fosters an innovative work environment where all ideas are taken into consideration. It has been a very entrepreneurial experience and as an employee you can really leave your mark on the business platform. It is very satisfying to see our team collaborate on ideas and implement change that improves the business environment and makes BPE more efficient for our employees and trading partners. “

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge has been balancing professional opportunities while facing multiple health issues over the last 15 years. Having cystic fibrosis and being 16 years out of my bilateral lung transplant, I have experienced numerous health hurdles, including three different types of cancer diagnoses. My health hurdles have always seemed to occur at a time where opportunity to advance my career was knocking at my door. I had to have the courage to make the right decisions at the right time to balance my health and to continue to move my career forward in a way that was fulfilling. While it seemed at times that I had to work harder to prove myself, I never backed down from the adversity in front of me and have always worked to keep my career a priority.”

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “I would tell someone interviewing with WRBC that they have the opportunity to embark on an incredible professional journey with a top-notch organization. This is a corporation that truly cares about its employees and fosters a healthy understanding of work-life balance. I am a mom to four-year-old twins and have always felt supported by the company as a working mom.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“My most memorable experience with BPE thus far was being chosen to attend the WRBC Management I Program in Greenwich in 2019. Being able to meet my peers from different operating units gave me an appreciation for the caliber of employee that WRBC seeks to hire. Not only did I gain a better understanding of the WRBC organization as a whole, I was able to make professional connections and friendships that have positively added to my experience as an employee of BPE.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I wouldn’t be able to just highlight one person that has inspired or supported me throughout my career since I have been lucky to have multiple strong mentors guiding me throughout my career. My mentors have always taken the time to provide professional advice when needed, to help me understand complex insurance concepts, and have helped to prepare me for future leadership roles. I have brilliant female role models in leadership positions in the insurance industry that have provided wonderful examples on how to carry myself with confidence, how to handle tough negotiations, and how to ensure that my career continues on an upward trajectory. I have had incredible support in the insurance industry over the last 15 years and would not be where I am today without the direction and encouragement of all of my mentors. “

Miriam Goddard Director of Underwriting—Specialty Casualty WRB Underwriting

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “I was initially attracted to WRBC and specifically WRBU by the opportunity to develop and grow the Casualty platform at the syndicate. There were strong foundations in place and a culture that embraced both creativity and accountability which makes for a great place to work. “

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “No question … the people. We have a fantastic team of bright, enthusiastic colleagues who work effectively together and are constantly challenging the status quo. It makes for a lively and fun workplace in a very dynamic market such as Lloyds.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“My single largest professional challenge was finding the self-confidence to return to work, having had a long self-imposed absence when my children were young. I was helped enormously by a former peer of mine, who encouraged me to get back into the insurance market and refresh my skills. It took a little while but ultimately it felt like I had never left the business. “

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “This is a company that really values its people and actively encourages creativity and innovation to further our business goals. We set ourselves high standards and we aim to achieve them always. I believe that anyone who joins WRBC will find it an exciting and rewarding place to work. “

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley men Leaders at Berkley

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“Having had a lot of fun on our London to Greenwich charity effort. It really brought the teams together in this strange year we have had. But more seriously the most memorable and remarkable experience was how our people responded to the pandemic crisis and how we as a business pivoted in a week to become a fully remote working operation with barely a ripple of difference felt by our brokers and clients.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I have a small number of very close female peers in the market place and we have collectively supported each other over the past 30 years as our careers developed and often at times when the diversity agenda did not feature highly on most organization’s agendas. I think they would prefer not to be named. The other critical person who has given me absolute support and guidance has been my husband of almost 27 years, Geoffrey.”

“We have a fantastic team of bright, enthusiastic colleagues who work effectively together and are constantly challenging the status quo.”

Olga Selevtsova AU Reinsurance & External Reporting Lead, Finance Sydney, Australia

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “I knew that Berkley was a young player in the Australian market when I applied for the role. This attracted me to the role, as Berkley, as a growing organisation, had a lot of our opportunities for its people. The interview process confirmed that Berkley is a welcoming organisation, with a warm attitude as well as, effective and streamlined processes.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “I enjoy being part of Berkley’s growing and supportive environment. I appreciate Berkley’s support in developing their employees’ skills and creating enrichment in all aspects of our lives. I appreciate being able to contribute to this as part of my role by supporting my multicultural team in enriching their skills and ensuring that they can use their varied backgrounds to help promote the best practice.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“One of the most important parts of my role as a manager is to create and implement streamlined better processes. I have found it vital to be able to communicate with relevant stakeholders about new developments in our field. We have achieved much greater efficiency in our team by understanding stakeholders’ needs and the best tools to achieve them, but it has taken strong communication from all of us.“

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley (cont.)

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “Everyone at Berkley is interested in supporting each other and promoting the growth of the company and of each individual within it. You have to be willing to be open and supportive of Berkley’s vision to be successful here. We all are part of the one family and create an environment where people can thrive. So, we expect everyone to be team players and to consider Berkley as a whole, when making decisions.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“As part of my role in Ukraine, I used to work in the financial and management reporting and collaborated with other professionals from Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, Estonia, Bulgaria and Great Britain. It felt very multicultural to me at the time. Upon moving to Australia and joining Berkley, I started working with a team of professionals from China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam. It has been thoroughly enjoyable and educational to be able to work with people from such a variety of backgrounds and cultures, all collaborating to achieve common goals.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I have worked with many inspiring people throughout my career, and especially at Berkley, so it is very hard to pick one. I remember my first Australian manager who I worked with in the Ukraine and he gave me a “fair go”. I appreciate the fair attitude and everyone having equal opportunities, as well as being open to new challenges, that are part of the ingrained culture at Berkley. “

“We all are part of the one family and create an environment where people can thrive”

Phoebe Bryant AVP, Business Partner Berkley Technology Services

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “When I interviewed to work at BTS, I was impressed by the energy people had. It was good to hear about the vision, values and the culture of the company but, it was great to be able to feel it. I felt the optimism and the determined focus people had. I thought, I want to be part of that!’

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “I work in a fast-paced environment with multiple teams and in different time zones. I like problem-solving and I enjoy the challenges I’m given. Working in information technology comes with adversities but, it’s the people I work with that make the difference.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“I wear many hats in my role so I must be aware of shifting priorities and then navigate in ways that allow me to serve my customers as well as advance the goals that benefit the big picture. My biggest challenge has been leading an initiative that serves multiple purposes across the enterprise. I’ve needed to maintain different expectations, at different levels of the organization, while cheerleading the effort beyond its original timelines. The relationships I built across the organization have been vital in allowing me to work through it. “

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “I would say to someone interviewing with WRBC, be prepared. Be prepared to not only talk about your work experience, but your volunteering, community involvement and hobbies. People matter in this company, so be prepared to have a conversation about yourself.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“The most memorable experience I’ve had so far is when I happened to be in a situation to meet Bill Berkley and speak with him. Up until that time, I had only seen him once at a special event, but now I was having a conversation with him. How often does that happen! It was a great example of the kindred atmosphere that is prevalent in the company.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I am lucky to have had more than one person support me throughout my career.

When describing the people who have inspired and sponsored me I have to use words like insight, courage, and receptivity. I am lucky to be allied with people who have insight to see in me what I can’t see for myself. They have the courage to take risks so that I can be inspired to do the same and, their receptiveness serves as a model that I use to stay open to the opportunities that exist in challenges.”

“The relationships I built across the organization have been vital...”

Renée Lunceford Assistant Vice President of Marketing Midwest Employers Casualty (MEC)

Q

What attracted you to WRBC? “I was attracted to WRBC’s financial track record and the opportunity to work in an entrepreneurial environment that would allow me to expand my skillset, and continue to learn and grow as an insurance professional.”

Q

What do you like about working at WRBC? “There are so many things I like about working at, Midwest Employers Casualty Company (MEC), a Berkley Company. The supportive environment, the amazing people I work with and the opportunities I’ve had to build relationships with colleagues across other operating units has been extremely valuable. At MEC our tagline is “Making A Difference.”

It is a wonderful feeling to come to work each day knowing that my contribution is making a difference in the lives of our customers, our community through charitable giving, and each other through initiatives such as the newly developed Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiative.”

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“I’d say my biggest challenge was reorganizing the Marketing department to better align with our newly defined value proposition which also included adding two new team members to the department. This was a seemingly daunting task that needed to be completed within a short timeframe. I had to consider how the change would be accepted, and how it may affect both internal and external customers. One of the ways I was able to overcome the challenge was to first get past my fear of doing something different and the fear of how the changes would be perceived. After obtaining feedback from colleagues, and mentors, along with a lot of research, I was able to successfully move past my fear about making the change. This is one of the reasons I appreciate our innovation initiative. If something doesn’t work the first time, our culture allows us to try again. Courage, resilience, and reflective listening come to mind when I think about the learning experience this challenge presented during my career.“

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What would you say to someone interviewing with WRBC? “If you’re interested in working for a company that provides many opportunities to stretch yourself, you thrive in a collaborative environment and you are passionate about supporting your community, then this is the place for you.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

“One of my most memorable experiences was during a video project. I interviewed Mr. Martin, a claimant that experienced a catastrophic injury. He was run over by an asphalt paving machine and was not expected to survive. Listening to Mr. Martin share his story was so moving. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place, including the camera crew. This was a different experience for me. I wasn’t reading a file, an email, or listening to a “story” from one of our team members. This day is memorable because I was able to witness first-hand our commitment to helping injured workers achieve the best possible outcome. I believe in what we do and I am proud to be a part of an organization that truly cares.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I’ve experienced the support of many people during my career. Donna Eovaldi, Senior Vice President of Underwriting at MEC has been a wonderful ally for me during my tenure at MEC. She consistently provides practical advice, is a great listener, and will give you her honest opinion. When you’re on the right track, she will let you know.

When you’re not, she will let you know that too and in a way that helps you to think differently and see things from a different perspective. I appreciate her guidance and support through the years.”

Sylvia Luz Rincon President of Berkley Colombia Berkley International Seguros Colombia

Q

¿Qué la atrajo de WRBC? “Me atrajo el reto de empezar de cero un startup. También los resultados de la operación, su desarrollo y posicionamiento mundial. Finalmente, su cultura de descentralización de operaciones y la apuesta de WRBC por la innovación en todos los aspectos. “

What attracted you to WRBC? “I was attracted by the challenge a start-up, from scratch. Also, the Company results, its historical development and worldwide positioning. Finally, the decentralization culture as well as WRBC’s innovation investment in all matters.”

Q

¿Cuál ha sido su mayor reto profesional?

“He tenido muchos retos en mi vida profesional, de los cuales quiero destacar dos. En primer lugar, encargarme de liderar un equipo de profesionales para hacer un startup de seguros en un país en vía de desarrollo y con un marco regulatorio muy estricto. Haber logrado obtener los permisos de operación en poco tiempo fue un reto y un éxito para mí y para todo el equipo que lideré. Además, esta experiencia me enseñó a manejar la incertidumbre y me permitió ver los frutos de haber construido una comunidad a lo largo de los años en el sector asegurador. Por otro lado, en el año 2003 los accionistas de la compañía que presidía decidieron liquidarla. Esto, por supuesto, suponía un golpe muy duro para los más de 300 trabajadores que tenía a mi cargo y sus familias. Así, gracias a la responsabilidad social que sentí por ellos, emprendí un proceso de búsqueda de nuevos accionistas que resultó en la venta exitosa de la compañía en el 2005. Esto me permitió darles estabilidad a todos los trabajadores y entender la importancia de priorizar el sentido social en los negocios, siempre priorizando el bienestar de quienes conforman nuestra comunidad y hacen posible el trabajo maravilloso del día a día.

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

Q

What has been your biggest professional challenge, and how did you overcome it?

“I have had my challenges in my professional life but I would like to outline two of them.

First, being the leader of a professional team to develop a start-up insurance company in a developing country and a highly regulated environment. Having being granted the licenses to operate as an admitted insurance carrier in a short period of time was a challenge and a success for myself and all the team I was responsible of leading. This provided me with a great learning experience: managing uncertainty and appreciate the results of the community I built during all my years in the insurance market.

Second, in 2003 the shareholders of the company where I was serving as President decided to liquidate it. This, needless to say, implied a strong hit for the over 300 employees I had under my leadership and for their families. Hence, given the social responsibility that bounded me with them, I stated a process of looking for new shareholders. The company was successfully sold in 2005. As a consequence, I was able to provide stability to all the employees and understand the importance of the social impact of running a business, always putting first the wellbeing of who are part of our community and facilitate this wonderful daily job.”

Q

Describa la persona que la ha inspirado.

“La persona que me ha inspirado, en todas las dimensiones de la vida, fue mi padre.

Durante toda su vida fue mi gran amigo, mi confidente, mi guía, y un ejemplo para todos aquellos que tuvimos la dicha de conocerlo. Su gran capacidad de trabajo y su conocimiento del país, de las finanzas y de las personas le permitieron ser un ejemplo para muchos y aportar de manera contundente al desarrollo del sector bancario en Colombia durante más de 50 años.”

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career?

“I am lucky to have had more than one person support me throughout my career.

When describing the people who have inspired and sponsored me I have to use words like insight, courage, and receptivity. I am lucky to be allied with people who have insight to see in me what I can’t see for myself. They have the courage to take risks so that I can be inspired to do the same and, their receptiveness serves as a model that I use to stay open to the opportunities that exist in challenges.”

BERKLEY UK & Continental Europe

LINK: Flip all the way through to the last page to see how Gabriella Grinberg (age 7) wants to change the world!

This is International Women’s Month, which takes place every year to celebrate women’s rights and inspire/promote gender equality across the globe. It is a worldwide celebration of women’s achievements, as well as a day of education, empowerment and action.

The International Women’s Day theme for 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge, which highlights the importance of challenging biases and misconceptions in the interest of creating a more inclusive and gender-equal world.

This year, we asked the Company Leaders to nominate women from our businesses who we could interview and celebrate. Here are some interviews for you to read, watch and listen to. We hope you enjoy and are inspired by the interviews of our wonderful women from our Berkley businesses across the UK and Continental Europe.