Berkley Journey Issue #17 DIB Pride

PRIDE MONTH

OUR

JOURNEY

TOGETHER

E D I T I O N 17

Happy PRIDE Month!

At Berkley we want all our employees to bring their authentic self to work.

We celebrate the unique perspectives, experiences, and ideas of all our employees that help make Berkley a wonderful place to work and a stronger organization.

Berkley continues to foster a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging for every employee.

During Pride Month, we hope you will join us in being an ally supporting the LGBTQ+ community. We would like to share a few ideas to Be An Ally.

1.

Be open-minded and non-judgmental in your conversations with others.

2.

Reflectively listen when someone tells you about their experiences.

3.

Educate yourself on LGBTQ+ history and terminology.

4.

Add your pronouns to your email signature or share your pronouns

when introducing yourself.

ADD YOUR

Pronouns to Workday

Another example of how to be a Berkley Ally, is to use the person’s chosen name and pronoun, a form of mutual respect and basic courtesy. People want to be seen for who they are.

As part of our efforts, we have implemented the option for employees to include their pronouns in Workday as well as the name pronunciation phonetic. Show your support and to take part of this initiative, here is a quick guide on how to update your pronouns and update your name pronunciation in Workday.

The New

Workday Homepage is LIVE!!!

The New Workday Homepage is LIVE! When users access the system, they will now see the new Workday homepage design. A pop-up will appear for all users when they login introducing the Global Navigation Panel (how users can access their Apps from anywhere in Workday).

An announcement is posted in Workday with the link to a 3-minute video tour of the Workday homepage features and functionality.

Additionally, the Workday auto-responder has been updated to include guidance on how to find your Workday Apps from the Global Navigation button in the top left corner or the View All Apps link in the Quick Tasks section.

Health Advocate for Everyone Take pride in your health and well-being

Pride month is celebrated in June in honor of the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City. During that event, the LGBTQIA+ community protested for the right to socialize without harassment.

Today, Pride celebrations continue globally as jubilant expressions of how far the LGBTQIA+ community has come. The events also recognize the continued fight for equality and justice, drawing attention to the remaining disparities and discrimination many people still face, including obstacles to obtaining the healthcare they need.

Visit our blog to learn more: blog.HealthAdvocate.com

Health Advocate can help you Our health and well-being experts are trained on LGBTQIA+ issues so they can deliver the right information and support. Contact us today!

Also, check out these helpful resources: • Human Rights Campaign (HRC) offers a comprehensive approach to health, wellness and inclusivity to help LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide.

• The American Psychological Association addresses specific mental health topics.

• The SAGE Project focuses on LGBTQIA+ elders, including helping them access senior care and finding support.

• The Trevor Project offers crisis interventions and community resources for youth.

• PFLAG is an organization for LGBTQIA+ people, their parents, families, and allies.

We’re here when you need us most Health Advocate is committed to embracing diversity, equity and inclusion as we provide personalized support to improve your health and well-being. Connect with us today.

We’re not an insurance company. Health Advocate is not a direct healthcare provider, and is not affiliated with any insurance company or third party provider. ©2022 Health Advocate HAM-2104026-17.1FLY

I

Managing Self It’s the Right Time to Learn More About ‘Managing Self’

Learn more about the Behavior of Management Self The Innovation Behavior of Managing Self is the foundation for the 7 Berkley Innovation Behaviors. When we are able to manage ourselves, we gain the confidence to be better at not knowing than knowing. That in turn will allow us to be fully engaged in and open to all the possibilities that surround us; to listening and learning from others and from our experiences, without judgement and without ego.

When we allow ourselves to be fully present, we open up a world of opportunity and growth before us—we are able to think critically, to connect emotionally and intellectually with others, and together produce outcomes that make us better as people and as an enterprise.

To learn more about Managing Self, check out these Innovation Leadership Series videos from Kathy Tierney and Herbert Flournoy. You can also take the next steps in your Innovation journey by learning more about the behavior of Managing Self, and completing Behavior Certification 1.0 and Behavior Certification 2.0.

Leadership Series by Kathy Tierney, Berkley One

Leadership Series by Herbert Flournoy, Berkley Technology Underwriters

The Edge

Have you listened to The Edge yet?

The Edge is an internal Berkley Innovation Podcast that launched in 2022.

New episodes will be launching monthly, so keep an eye on your inbox for updates from Berkley Innovation!

The Edge Insiders will get early access to new podcast episodes, and will also have a chance to access future exclusives.

Sign up to become an Insider!

Celebrating Some of Our

GREAT PEOPLE at Berkley

The following pages will highlight their careers in insurance, experiences and people that have inspired them. We are grateful for their time and shared thoughts. We hope you will be inspired through them.

Aaron Yip Chief Underwriting Officer Berkley Insurance Asia Singapore Tenure with Berkley: 6+ years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“My stepfather suggested I consider the insurance industry and he specifically told me to work for an American company, because he felt they believed in merit and performance-based recognition! So after graduating in 1995, I applied and got a role at Johnson & Higgins as a Client Executive in their FINPRO department. It was a new department and I was their second hire. I spent 6 wonderful years there before moving to Chubb, Singapore as a Trainee Underwriter in Financial Lines.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“It has to be the early years of establishing Berkley Insurance in Asia. None of us had ever started an insurance company! We had to get the license approved, build a team, build the culture and of course, grow the business in a responsible manner.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

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

“Reinventing yourself and building up trusted relationships in a new environment.

In 2009, I was seconded from Singapore to Hong Kong and Shanghai to help manage the portfolio post the Global Financial Crisis and aligning a new strategy for our business.

In order to build trust and relationships you need to be 100% authentic with yourself and with your team members. You can’t do that by hiding an important part of yourself.

So I am always thankful to my colleagues who welcomed me and my partner of 20+ years into the “insurance family!”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “I’ve had the good fortune of having a number of mentors throughout my career and people who have been allies. They have come from different backgrounds and experiences which has helped me to navigate the key milestones in my career. One of which was coming out. The advice that was given to me was to be mindful that my manager would need time to digest the news and to be patient.”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Don’t wait too long to open up – people are more open minded and accepting than you might think.”

“In order to build trust and relationships you need to be 100% authentic with yourself and with your team members.”

Al Gliane Senior Risk Services Representative Continental Western Group Tenure: 2.5 years

Photo of Al (left) and Mike (right) dressed up for a 1920 themed party

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“I backed into a loss control position in Chicago. I had just graduated from college with a degree in Computer Engineering, but was unable to get a job in that field. I applied for a trainee position at Chubb in downtown, and was hired. A few months later, I was offered a position in my field by Sears, but I liked my new job which came with a company car, so I decided to stay in insurance and loss control.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“The whole pandemic experience. Truly an unprecedented and challenging experience which required resilience and understanding from everybody.”

Q

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

“In 2014 I accepted a job as a safety consultant, even though most of my experience was on the property side. I had to learn fast on the job, but it was a very worthwhile and rewarding experience.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “My current manager at CWG, Austin VandeBerg, has been very supportive both professionally and personally.

I am a person who prefers to remain on the sidelines, but Austin has always promoted my abilities and contributions, resulting, among other things, in my becoming Subject Matter Expert in Workers Comp.

Austin connects on a personal level, and whenever he comes to Chicago for a visit, he always invites my partner when we go out for dinner. Both I and my partner appreciate that.”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“I would tell myself to remain in contact with friends and associates throughout your career. The relationships are very important.”

“...remain in contact with friends and associates throughout your career.

The relationships are very important.”

Carolyn Collova Human Resources Manager Acadia Insurance Tenure: almost 18 years

Photo of Carolyn with her wife Sharon

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“After graduating, my best friend convinced me to interview at a regional insurance brokerage firm in Philadelphia where she was working. I was offered the job after the first interview and started as a Claims Assistant in 1985, ultimately working my way up to a Claims Supervisor before moving to New Hampshire in 1998.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“My most memorable experience has been Acadia’s 25th anniversary event that we celebrated in 2017. It was amazing to see the majority of our employee population gathered in one place to celebrate this milestone and our success. Rob Berkley even came to congratulate us!.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

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

“Kay Whitmore. I had a 30-year claim career, 10 of which had been spent at Acadia as a Workers’ Compensation Claim Director, when I was given the opportunity to move into HR. Without Kay’s trust in me and my skills and abilities, I wouldn’t have taken that leap and I’d be missing out on a job that I love!”

Q

What advice would you give your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Trust your instincts, learn everything you can about all aspects of the business and don’t be afraid of change. Without change, there is no growth.”

“Trust your instincts, learn everything you can about all aspects of the business an don’t be afraid of change.”

Chris Finkley Chief Underwriting Officer Berkley Human Services Tenure: 6.5 years

Dinner celebrating their 37th anniversary

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“Insurance was not an industry I had much interest in. When I thought about it, I thought of the State Farm guy! That certainly wasn’t how I saw myself.”

Having determined that my goal to be an Accountant wasn’t going to happen, I took a job as a ‘figure clerk’ at a company that specialized in Agribusiness (think HJ Heinz, Stokely VanCamp, Beatrice Foods). The job entailed calculating the values of the buildings we insured using our internal inspection report diagrams and Marshall & Swift estimation books (along with a ruler, calculator and a sharp pencil). I would compare our estimate to the policy limits and alert the Account Manager and Underwriting Manger to discrepancies.

Reading the policy language to determine terms of coverage to ensure I prepared the correct estimate intrigued me. After 18 months, I transferred into the Underwriting Department as a Technical Assistant. In this role, I worked directly with our underwriters and learned the technical side of rating and underwriting. I got to learn more contract stuff (a favorite college course) as well as learn the difference in the operations we were insuring. I was hooked!

“...my biggest ally, has been my husband of 38 years.

I have learned with patience comes outcomes.”

Q

What has been your more memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“The Berkley Universe feels so large at times, but what stands out most at this point is participating in the Berkley Management I program. Having the opportunity to listen to the Chairman tell stories was unforgettable. He has such an engaging style when he’s talking!”

Q

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

“I think the biggest challenge for me was how to continue to advance my career.

I didn’t have the same background as many of the people our company hired to train as underwriters. I did have a desire to learn and to grow. I worked with an amazing underwriter that mentored me. I read the Commercial Lines manuals and knew all the rules. I asked for opportunities to grow—working on smaller projects and continued to learn until I achieved an Underwriter position.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “I have truly been fortunate to work with some talented people in this industry. I’ve had great mentors in the business that taught me ways to view risk and responses to that risk.

My biggest inspiration, though, indeed my biggest ally, has been my husband of 38 years.

He helped me see my strengths and supported my goals. He believed in my ability when I had doubts. He helped me develop better people skills and think in longer career terms. He continues to support my career today!“

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“The best advice I could give my younger self is to be patient. In my youth, this was not one of my strengths but I have learned with patience comes outcomes.”

David Silva Senior Creative Marketing Director Preferred Employers Insurance Tenure: almost 4 years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“The majority of my career has been creating marketing content for various retail brands. When an opportunity opened in Insurance, I was intrigued with the challenge: how do you promote something that you cannot physically touch.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“Meeting with other Berkley marketers in Connecticut. Our stories (and challenges) turned out to be pretty much identical; that meeting surfaced a true sense of community. Since then, we’ve had numerous Cross-company conversations, interactions & collaborations.”

Q

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

“The need to consistently stay relevant has pushed my creativity to the max and I’m grateful for that challenge. Perseverance can overcome anything.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “Though I do not know them personally, Michael Beirut, Debbie Millman, Oprah and Simon Sinek have been my guiding lights.”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Don’t be stubborn. Be flexible. Be open to all opportunities—your world, creativity, and skills will be limitless after that.”

“Meeting with other Berkley marketers... surfaced a true sense of community.”

Isaac Merchant Chief Actuary Berkley Oil & Gas Tenure: 10+ years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“My first role was as a Finance/Actuarial cooperative intern. I learned about actuarial science in high school while talking to my counselor about career options. Math was always my favorite subject, so I was looking for a profession that allowed me to leverage technical skills. The objective exam process was also very appealing to me. It ensures fairness for everyone who wants to pursue the career.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“By far my most memorable experiences have been working with the Berkley Oil and Gas community outreach team, BOG Cares. Magic happens when the company gets together and supports a cause for which we are the most passionate. We have numerous events that benefited employees impacted by Hurricane Harvey, children in need of clothes and supplies and nationally by way of blood donations and more.”

Q

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

“I often coach colleagues during mental or physical health crises. It’s so tough for me to see others struggle. However, what has been consistent for every one of those difficult moments is how inner strength and perseverance always win in the end.

Often what gets us through difficult times is simply changing our perspective!”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “I had a colleague, that I’m still friends with to this day, who advocated for me early on in my career. His advice is still relevant…”beat to your own drum”. He was the first person I saw who proudly displayed rainbow flags and pictures of his partner on his desk.

This was during a time when the world was still undecided about LGBTQ+ human rights.

It took an incredible amount of courage for him to stand out in this way. He inspired me to forge my own path”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“I’d tell him to always listen to that voice inside and keep putting one foot in front of the other. The difficult challenges are the ones that you will grow from the most.

Be the person who takes the risk, you will be happy you did.”

“Often what gets us through difficult times is simply changing our perspective”

Lindsey Williams Special Projects Analyst Preferred Employers Insurance Tenure: 6+ years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“I was looking for a career I could grow in to. My first job while in college was a credential coordinator at a paramedical company that specialized in life insurance and wellness examinations.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experiences at Berkley thus far?

“My most memorable experience was the first time being in person at a PI Planning meeting for the UWM project in DC. I was able to meet folks from numerous OU’s in person for the first time after working together virtually for over a year.”

“If you keep your intentions pure and stay true to yourself, you will build lifelong relationships with allies.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

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

“My biggest professional challenge was when I worked for a company that didn’t allow me to express myself fully. I felt like I had to mute my personality and be someone I wasn’t. When I came to PEI, it was a culture shock. They allowed me to embrace my true authentic self and grow not only personally but professionally.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “The Vice President of Human Resources at my first insurance related role has been my biggest support since day one. He taught me early on to never stop growing and always embrace who I truly am. I will always remain grateful to him and belief in me.

Since working at Berkley, I have gained a numerous number of allies, not only at PEI but from Key Risk, BAMTECH, BTS, BNET and BIN.”

Q

What advice would you give to your self starting out in the industry?

“If I could go back and give my younger self advice about starting out in this industry, is to always lead with love. If you keep your intentions pure and stay true to yourself, you will build lifelong relationships with allies.”

Melissa Elke AVP - Actuay Berkley Technology Underwriters Tenure: 3+ years

From left to right: daughter Eloise, Melissa, daughter Myla and wife Ellen

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“I started my career as a high school math teacher but realized working as an actuary would be a better fit. The analytical nature of actuarial work was what drew me in.

I studied for my first actuarial exam while teaching summer school, passed, and got a job that fall. My first role was in a centralized actuarial group where I built reserving tools for business insurance.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“One of the operating units I support, Berkley Risk, writes a large portion of their business in Minnesota healthcare WC. At the start of the pandemic, the state of Minnesota signed into law a presumption that frontline workers who test positive for COVID-19 contracted it at work, making them eligible for WC benefits. I built a model to estimate the impact this would have on the profitability of our existing book, which would also inform whether we should continue to write any new business. Once my model was finalized, I monitored actual case rates of our insureds versus what my model predicted as the pandemic progressed. It was such an interesting project to work on, and I learned a great deal from it.”

“Ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

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

“The actuarial exams are definitely a challenge. Staying motivated to self-study on top of working full-time proved difficult for me from time-to-time. I found a core group of fellow exam takers to push each other to get in our study hours, commiserate with one another, and make the experience more enjoyable. This helped me successfully finish my exams. The actuarial exam process can become competitive, with people comparing hours studied, exam scores, etc., but this collaborative approach was what worked best for me.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “My wife, Ellen, is also an actuary, at a non-Berkley company. We’ve been friends for 10 years, married for 4. I am inspired by how hard she works and how successful she has been. She has always supported me with advice or an ear to listen, whichever I need in the moment. When I was contemplating leaving my previous employer & coming to Berkley, Ellen helped give me the courage to take the leap.”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.”

Nicole Fagan Senior Claims Support Specialist Vela Insurance Services Tenure: 3 years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“I received my Associate’s Degree when I was 17 and my Bachelor’s Degree when I was 20. I wasn’t ready to begin my Master’s Degree or certain that I wanted to continue within the world of academia so I took a break. My sister worked for a third-party administrator who was looking for people to help with data entry. I started there and the rest is history. My first official role was working in the mailroom and I made my own game of seeing how quickly I could deliver the mail every day.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“I believe that every time I have an opportunity to spend time with my colleagues I am rewarded. I have been fortunate, through various projects, to work alongside people I wouldn’t normally encounter within my role. Vela has always given me the freedom and support to explore new ways of uniting us all. Perhaps the most memorable was working on the internal photo series project I led where I interviewed different people virtually at Vela and posted some of their words alongside their photo screenshot. It was a delight to hear their journey, capture their story and feel so connected.”

Q

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

“I grew up in Orlando and queer spaces like Pulse were a safe haven for me after I came out as a teenager. I struggled with navigating coming out professionally. I only did if I felt extremely comfortable with the person so most people did not know. The majority of people in a professional setting assume that I am straight which gives me the ability

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

(continued) to disclose my identity or not. It can be scary when you aren’t sure how you are perceived and if your safety is in question. After the June 12, 2016 shooting at Pulse that killed 49 people, wounded 53 people and traumatized our entire community, the world felt so frightening. I remember traveling for work shortly after and being in a room full of people that I barely knew. I found myself wondering if I was safe with any of them.

I took some time to reflect and decided to be more open and live more authentically.

I no longer hide who I am in a professional setting. I believe that if you can muster the courage to be yourself then you will send a message to others that, regardless of what happens, you will find support and love on the other side.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “I have always felt at home with Stephanie Hillman at Vela. She has always been a constant source of warmth, encouragement and support. Stephanie has taught me so much from a technical perspective but also a great deal about strength, humility, leadership and the art of tact. You can no doubt find Stephanie with her eye on many projects, serving as a model for success. When I talk to her about my goals, she is there to dream with me, offer meaningful insight and help chart out a course pragmatically. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without her guidance, mentorship or friendship.”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Know your worth and run towards the people that will help you grow. I experienced a lot of fear in taking certain steps because I couldn’t see the big picture. It is critical to seek out viewpoints from every angle and to challenge your own beliefs. The right people will help you in achieving this. What do they say? We must always challenge our beliefs, never our values.”

Randall Buda AVP, Actuarial Services Union Standard Insurance Group Tenure: 9+ years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“I first became interested in the actuarial career path in college, when a math professor went off on a tangent on actuarial science and careers in math. I had never heard of the career before. That of course led to the insurance industry, where I started as a summer intern at USAA in San Antonio and worked there 13 years and achieved my ACAS credential.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“I enjoyed the collaboration working on Advantage program rollout in my first years at Berkley, which included several visits to Greenwich. It was great meeting folks from various Regional companies and working to build a small commercial product.”

Q

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

“Passing the actuarial exams back in the 2000s was a huge challenge, mainly due to the time required to be successful on a first exam attempt. Many times, several attempts were required due to just coming up short.’

RECOGNIZING...Great Women Leaders at Berkley

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “Not really career-oriented, I’ve always enjoyed sports and am a big fan of the San Antonio Spurs, and specifically Gregg Popovich. He has led the Spurs to five NBA championships and most importantly, always a class-act who speaks freely and has strong moral values.”

Q

What advice would you give your younger self starting out in the industry?

“For the actuarial student out there (or anyone taking professional education exams), study hard enough to pass the first time…saves a lot of time in the long run!”

“For the actuarial student out there (or anyone taking professional education exams), study hard enough to pass the first time…saves a lot of time in the long run!”

Rolan Ibanez Associate, Insurance Operations Berkley Canada Tenure: 13+ years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“My father worked in the Insurance industry and he would always talk about how much he loved it. I thought it could be a good career for me. My first role was as is currently, Associate, Insurance Operations.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“The Berkley summer parties, specifically the themed ones such as the Scavenger Hunt. Very memorable, and also the Christmas party, where I danced the night away.

I had a good time and it was a great way to bond with co-workers.”

“View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

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

“Adjusting to working from home daily, the absence of not interacting with others due to the pandemic and adjusting to on-line meetings. But I am now adjusted and comfortable.”

Q

Describe a person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “I’m very inspired by my current manager. He is a real team motivator, very approachable and pleasant to deal with. He inspires me just by the way he approaches problems and guide his team. “

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Ask for help, listen to people and take advice. View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Finally, have FUN!”

Sean Stewart AVP, Enterprise Data & Solutins Development E&S Tech Tenure: almost 15 years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“My introduction to the insurance industry was by chance, but I really enjoyed the work and I never looked back. I was working as an I.T. contractor during the run up to Y2K, and I landed at an insurer that needed to upgrade their claims administration system and make it Y2K-compliant. When the project was completed (and we all survived Year 2000) I was offered a permanent position as a software developer. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to build upon my technical skills and industry knowledge, and now I’m in a position to mentor others.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“The Berkley Excess & Surplus Lines segment recently launched a new technology organization, and now I have the opportunity to be part of the startup! I’m really excited to come in on the ground floor of new organization with other folks across the segment, to learn from them and help build a team that can take the E&S companies to the next level and beyond”

“I’ve found a common thread in these allies: They listen, and then they encouraged me to use my voice.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

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

“I’ve spent my professional life in technology, and change in this field is constant.

So, keeping up with the latest software and methodologies is always a challenge.

But what I’ve found to be even more challenging (and rewarding) is learning about this industry. In I.T. we support all areas of the business, and I’ve learned about accounting, billing, claims, underwriting, compliance, human resources, premium audit, operations, etc., and that’s not always easy for folks who develop software.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “I’ve had some great mentors throughout my career – both peers and managers—and I’ve found a common thread in these allies: They listened, and then they encouraged me to use my voice. They wanted to hear my perspective even when it didn’t align with their own views. I was typically the quiet person in a large group, and then I’d follow-up afterward one-on-one with the leader or another participant. I didn’t always have the self-confidence to “put myself out there”. So, the people that have inspired me are the same people that set a great example of putting their ideas out there.”

Q

What advice would you give your younger self starting out in the industry?

“My younger self was focused on technology; I didn’t understand that industry and institutional knowledge is just as important. I’d definitely tell my younger self to dive into insurance, because the combination of tech skills and business knowledge is POWERFUL!”

Sophia Pettersson Regional Chief Executive Officer of the Nordic Region W. R. Berkley Europe AG Sweden Branch Tenure: 3+ years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“My first role in the insurance industry was as an Environmental Underwriter at AIG. During my fist years in the insurance industry I attended an international trainee program in New York; this was a very good start of my insurance career as I learned a lot and developed an understanding for the international world of commercial insurance. What attracted me was the variety of opportunities and the diverse, international environment I entered into. As a 25 year old Swede; starting my insurance career in the financial district of New York city was very exciting.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“The strongest and most memorable experience from my time with Berkley is the feeling of pride and success that we as a team in Berkley Nordic felt after a couple of years of hard work of changing our strategy and developing our culture together and seeing the positive results in the numbers but mainly in the positive feed-back and reactions we are getting from the market, confirming that we are making a difference and our strategy and all hard work and efforts are paying off.”

Q

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

“My first year at Berkley was probably my most challenging one. I started a new role, in a new organization during a challenging time with a lot of change; both in strategy, staff and in business appetite. My focus during this time was on people; trying to listen, communicate clearly and to stay calm and supportive.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “In my first leadership role I was managing northern Europe and my closest colleague was another young female who managed southern Europe. From the outside we understood that people expected us to compete against each other but that was not the case at all.

Despite very different personalities; me being a typical Swede, calm, rational, organized and her being typical southern European; emotional, loud, and efficient—we complemented each other in the best of ways and always supported each other.

Even though we now work at different companies we still stay in touch and continue to offer support and advise. She is a great leader who continues to inspire me.”

Q

What advice would you give your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Always be yourself and trust that you will form better more long-lasting relationships with the people around you, both external and internal, if you are true to yourself.”

“Always be yourself and trust that you will form better more long-lasting relationships with the people around you.”

Tonya Lusk Director of Marketing and Business Administration Berkley Financial Specialists Tenure: 10+ years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“After graduating high school (which was a very long time ago) I went on to college majoring in mathematics. During my freshmen year one of our guest speakers was employed as an actuary at USF&G. And of course, at that time I had no idea what an actuary was or did. This peaked my interest with insurance and by the end of my freshman year I was hired as an Actuarial Assistant part-time at another insurance company.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“My most memorable experience at Berkley was the first office relocation we did a few months after I started. This was the first time I actually spent any time with some of my co-workers outside the normal business day and I knew instantly this was the place I wanted to be. It was a lot of work but so much fun—let’s just leave it at that!”

“...just say yes and then figure out how you are going to do it later.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

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

“One of my biggest professional challenges I’ve overcome happened when we were getting out of the P&C market and needed to reduce staff. Our President asked me if I would be willing to step in and take on additional responsibilities in areas I had minimal knowledge about. I looked at this as an opportunity but had no idea how challenging this would be with the additional pressure and responsibility. In order to overcome the challenge, I knew I had to put in the time while keeping up with my current job responsibilities. So for almost a year – I worked 12 -13 hour days, adding in weekends here and there, reading training manuals, learning new systems, reviewing presentations, going through files and emails, and attending trainings. Knowing that my colleagues were counting on me, my determination got me through each and every day.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “The person who inspired me the most during my career is Dr. Andrew Ross, former President and CEO of The Children’s Guild Alliance. I had the privilege to head up The Upside Down Organization under his leadership for almost 10 years. Dr. Ross is a visionary with great integrity who values the diversity of perspective. He always put others before himself—something I don’t see very often. The greatest lesson he taught me was to just say yes and then figure out how you are going to do it later.”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions—the best answers come from your experienced coworkers.”

Travis Moose Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Berkley Key Risk Management Tenure: 14 years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“My mother is the principal of a successful financial planning firm and I always wanted to follow in her footsteps, this led me to study finance and banking in college.

The business school at the university I attended also has a well-known risk management and insurance program; I decided to double major and found the insurance coursework much more interesting. My first role was an underwriter trainee. I’ve spent most my career in progressing underwriting roles with a shift in focus in recent years to sales and marketing.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“There are too many to count, however I’ve been lucky enough to attend a few leadership and development programs, two of which were in Greenwich. These courses are among some of my most memorable experiences. The structure and content is both impressive and meaningful, additionally the networking and fellowship with colleagues from other operating units is something I always look back on fondly.”

“Be humble, humility and confidence can coexist.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

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

“In 2016 our operating unit started a new division, Specialty, that challenged our long-established norms of distribution, geography, service model and industries we serve. Along with a handful of talented colleagues, I had the honor of getting this new division up and running. This became one of the most fun and challenging things I’ve tackled in my career. I learned many things that ultimately helped us be successful including how to lean into what you don’t know rather letting it make you uncomfortable. I also learned the importance of getting the right people in the room —specifically ones that are smarter or more talented than you.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “There have been many, inclusive of supervisors, coworkers, executive leaders, all of my current & past teams and even agents & brokers. There are a handful of specific people that come to mind, I’ll mention two. First, Janice Duggins, who was a constant leadership presence for most of my career serving as a RVP at Key Risk until her retirement in 2019. You would be hard pressed to find someone that could so perfectly balance challenging and supporting you. She was instrumental to my development and success and remains my friend, mentor and cheerleader to this day. The second is Mike Gilmartin who I met a little later in my career when he joined Key Risk to help build the aforementioned division. Mike and I developed a quick mutual respect for one other. Mike is the type of person everyone should have in their circle, he’s kind, enthusiastic, intelligent and trustworthy. I’m lucky to have Mike not only as a colleague, but also as a friend and ally.”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Be confident, anytime you doubt yourself you’re likely the only one. Be humble, humility and confidence can coexist. Build your advisors and teams with smart, virtuous people you both trust and admire. Be authentic, people respond well to that and if they don’t that says more about them than you. Focus on the positive. Practice gratitude. And, sometimes, cut yourself a little slack.”

Trish Conway SVP—Enterprise Risk Management W. R. Berkley Corporation Tenure: 6.5 years

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“My first role in the industry was as a catastrophe modeler in a small reinsurance underwriting branch office of a U.S. company in Dublin. I didn’t even know what reinsurance was before I applied for the job! I had been working in IT after university, then had gone traveling in Australia and was trying to figure out what to do next when I landed back in Dublin. I saw the job advertisement looking for an academic background similar to mine, and it sounded interesting. It was a great start in the industry, sitting in an open plan office with some very experienced underwriters and a very smart and generous actuary. I learned a lot from them all.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“Hard to name one. I really enjoy getting out and visiting our operating companies.

You learn so much more when you are out there in-person. And they really are all unique.

The birthday celebrations in 475 Steamboat Road can be very memorable as well!”

Q

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

“Qualifying as an actuary. I had started exams when I first left university while working in pensions but pretty quickly figured out that wasn’t for me. I went back to the exams after I moved to the US and was in my 30s. It wasn’t easy finding time to study as well as fulfilling the responsibilities I had in work at that point in my career. I am very grateful to my wife for being patient during the many hours I spent studying through that time.”

CELEBRATING...Great People at Berkley

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “There are so many. I have been blessed with a few really incredibly generous bosses and colleagues, starting with my boss and colleagues back in my first job in the industry in Dublin, and continuing to today. I have been and am very lucky to work with people willing to share their knowledge with me’.”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“Find a way to join W R Berkley Corporation.”

“I’ have been and am very lucky to work with people willing to share their knowledge with me.”

Wendy Gregg Director, Claims Berkley Agribusiness Tenure: 10+ years

Emy, Coy (5), Children’s Father, Caelan (7), and Wendy; this beautiful family was consciously created with a known donor who is a personal friend of the family. While he doesn’t live with them, they all raise the family together.

Q

How were you initially attracted to the insurance industry and what was your first role?

“In early 1990 I was looking for something to make a career of rather than being satisfied with a job. A friend was working in the claims department of a Des Moines insurance company and recommended that I apply for a position in their customer service unit.

I was able to gain the position and it turned out to be pivotal to the rest of my career.

In that position we were required to learn about agency operations, underwriting, and claims. It enabled me to assess my own personality and skill set. It was not long before I felt a pull toward the handling of claims.”

Q

What has been your most memorable experience at Berkley thus far?

“Outside many business-related opportunities and wins while in my various positions with Berkley, I would have to say my most memorable experience was one year when completing training and signing my understanding of Berkley policies. It was the first year when I saw sexuality listed as a protected class among age, race, sex, religion and all of the generally accepted classes against which discrimination was prohibited. The acceptance and inclusion I felt was immeasurable. The world is often tumultuous and I have seen much change since 1987 but this is the first time I genuinely felt protected by my workplace. Bravo!”

Q

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

“The year I graduated from high school my parents both lost their jobs. They had worked at the same factory for over 20 years and it was suddenly closed. Being the youngest of 4 children raised in a blue-collar family there was no college savings accounts and we could not gain much financial help for at least one-year post graduation because the

(continued) grants consider the parental income from the prior year. Rather than go to college, I went to work. Once I found a home in the insurance world, I still felt hindered by my lack of a 4-year degree. I had been able to gain positions with increasing responsibilities and experience but knew that completion of a degree would be important to my growth and was important to me as a form of achievement. An opportunity presented itself when a company sought me out to fill an open position. From both the monetary and responsibility perspectives, it was a lateral move. I had not been seeking a change in career and indicated that I would likely remain employed in my current position. The hiring manger asked what was important to me outside of money. I seized the opportunity to gain that degree and negotiated the terms of my program. I quite happy when they said yes and thus began my 10-year stint with Continental Western Group. I completed my degree in psychology which I apply every day in my work every day.”

Q

Describe the person that has inspired, supported or allied with you during your career “It is really difficult to name a singular person for this role. I have been encouraged and supported by so very many people throughout my career. Greg Johnson (recent CWG retiree) provided me with my second career at Berkley and the opportunity to gain my degree. He never wavered in his support of my aspirations. Carline Harris also provided me with a beautiful role model for female leadership. She readily shared her knowledge of the industry and embodied the ability to lead with grace. I aspire to be more like both of these role models as I continue to grow. In my current role, Brad London, Brad Waline, and Jon Williams continue to provide me with innumerable opportunities for growth.

Being with Berkley Agribusiness and helping to build its programs has been such an exciting time in my career.”

Q

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in the industry?

“The advice I would give to myself would essentially be the advice my mother gave to me which led me to my current position.

• Never stop learning – read everything you can get your hands on and soak

up all the guidance provided to you.

• Work hard. If you want something push yourself and work for it. It is the

only way to make dreams into reality.

• Believe in yourself. You are the keeper of your worth which will set the

stage for how you are received.”

W. R. Berkley Corporation SOCCER TEAM

Eli Aliyev, Alexa vanDuynhoven, Kaitlyn Adamini, Chris Gale, Luis Palacious, Tejas Patel, Tino Ciambrielli, Tom Walters, Yaseh Iqbal, Wasif Hanif, Joshua Cadwallader, Manpreet Dhaliwal, and Kai Kang

A morale boosting win for WR Berkley’s soccer team as they triumph 3-2 against Stamford Police. This season has been the first foray into competitive action at Chelsea Piers with some ups and downs along the way!

BERKLEY 2022

U.S. Group Wellness Program

STEP 1 Click here to log on to the wellness platform.

You may be asked to complete a standard CAPTCHA to access the website.

Not registered yet? Click here to register.

For further registration instructions, click here for the 2022 Program Highlights Flyer.

STEP 2 Once on the platform, access this button:

STEP 3 To earn the discount on the price you pay for Berkley medical insurance in 2023, complete the three program components listed: 1. Complete the health assessment for 50 points, and 2. CHANGE! Complete the Annual Physical Exam Attestation for 50 points

(we removed the biometric screening form used in prior program years), and

3. Complete the Tobacco Certification (employee and if applicable, spouse)

for 1 point.

You must earn 101 program points by 09/30/2022 in order to satisfy the program requirements. From the platform home page, hover over the Home menu tab > Click Rewards to view your status.

Need More Info?

Go to Workday > Benefits Application > External Links Scroll to the bottom of the links list: • The full 2022 Program Year details are accessible under ‘Wellness Program Year Details’ or by clicking here • Frequently Asked Questions are available under ‘Wellness Program FAQs’ or by clicking here

Questions/Support For a full program demonstration, click here (6 minutes viewing time)

EMAIL: support@virginpulse.com PHONE: 888-671-9395, representatives available 8 am - 9 pm M-F ON-PLATFORM CHAT: representatives available 2 am - 9 pm ET M-F

Additional Wellness Resources: Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Our EAP is available for benefit-eligible employees and others in your household as a confidential, round-the-clock resource offering support and resources to help with any issues, including mental health.

Don’t forget the EAP offers counseling services, including 3 free face-to-face sessions per year. Employees may access The Hartford’s Ability Assist® EAP services 24/7 via a toll-free line: 1-800-96-HELPS (1-800-964-3577) or by registering or logging in to www.guidanceresources.com. (Registration instructions can be found on the EAP flyer: Visit Workday > Benefits Application > External Links > Employee Assistance Program (The Hartford). Access is subject to state availability.

Cigna Behavioral Health (Virtual): If enrolled in the Cigna medical plan, you have access to virtual care that includes behavioral and mental health care. Access is available 24/7/365, including weekends and holidays. Visit www.mycigna.com and click on “Talk to a doctor or nurse 24/7” or call 888-726-3171.

W. R. Berkley Corporation SOFTBALL TEAM

Front row (L to R): Yaseh Iqbal, Mark Masiello, Will Berkley, Justin Wietfeldt, Josh Cadwallader, Bob Metrey Middle row (L to R): Wasif Hanif, Charlie Gorski, Marco Torres, Jonathan Brauer Top Row (L to R): Chris DiDomizio, Mike Stockdale

The “Berkley Bombers” softball team is back in action after a pandemic driven two-year hiatus. WRBC has been a part of the Greenwich Industrial league for nearly 30 years, and we’re excited to field a team again with a few familiar faces along with many new faces.

W. R. Berkley Corporation SUMMER PICNIC

The Greenwich employees spent some time at Stamford, Italian Club enjoying each other’s company, playing some games, and having a picnic.

They have not been able to get together for the past two years, so this was very special.

CLICK on the photo to watch the video.

Thanks to Anthony Abatino for collecting the photos, footage with his drone, and for creating this short video for all of us to enjoy!