InsurTech Expert and Insurance Strategic Advisor
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Who are you and what do you do?
I advise P&C insurers, tech companies, InsurTechs, and others in the ecosystem on innovative strategies. As a Partner at SMA, I lead our research on business and technology strategies. I am a futurist/visionary who is able to translate future scenarios and possibilities into actionable strategies for today. My clients include P&C insurers of varying sizes and lines of business and tech/InsurTech companies across the landscape.
1. What was the journey that brought you to your current role?
My early career was very technical – debugging mainframe operating systems and installing/maintaining many hardware/software systems. I then spent 25 years with IBM advising insurers on tech strategies, then for the last 15 years of my career there I had global roles as the insurance strategist and insurance marketing leader. Now I’ve been a Partner with SMA for 12 years, leading up to our acquisition by ReSource Pro at the end of 2020.
2. How do you get things done?
Tasks that will take less than 5 minutes go to the top of the list for the day. Otherwise, I often tackle bigger tasks according to my physical and mental state – determining how much brainpower and energy is needed!
3. Who are your role models and why?
I have great respect for Ginni Rometty – I worked for her in the 90s when she ran IBM’s global insurance business before she became CEO. She taught me much about being a consultant.
4. What’s the one secret about your field or industry you wish everyone knew?
Insurance is really exciting! There are so many cool things happening in the industry. And besides that it is a very friendly, collegial industry.
5. What are your predictions for the industry for the next few years?
Transformation will accelerate across many dimensions of the industry. The distribution will continue to expand and evolve. Intermediaries will still be vital, especially in commercial lines, but they will have gone thru digital transformation as well. Product, underwriting, claims etc. will all be more automated and more AI drive, with industry professionals taking on an elevated role.
