AGENDA

• 8:15 AM

  Registration and breakfast

• 9:00 AM

  Opening remarks from Chairperson

  

  Denise Campbell

  SVP – Client Executive
  Marsh

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  Denise Campbell

  SVP – Client Executive
  Marsh

  Denise Campbell started her professional journey working in the A&R department of Atlantic Records after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology at NYU. Motivated by her desire to work in what she considered a more stable industry, she began a role with AIG’s multinational department as an Administrative Assistant in 2008. From there she would take on many roles within the firm before her final role as an AVP, Client Director before leaving AIG to join Marsh as a Client Executive in late 2020.

  At AIG, Denise led the Black Professionals Employee Resource Group, for two award winning years, after which she served as Business Advisor to the ERG along with her former Co-Chair until her departure in 2020. Today she sits on the leadership for the Marsh African Heritage Colleague Resource Group.

  In addition to her work within her companies, Denise serves on several non-profit boards. In 2020 she was elected President of the National African American Insurance Association New York TriState Chapter. She held a position on the Insurance Federation of New York Advisory Council until 2019 and is currently serving on their Board. She also serves on the Board of the Water Street Club. Through these organizations she works tirelessly to bring diverse talent into the insurance industry and provide them with the exposure and knowledge they need to stay and advance their careers. She’s been acknowledged by Insurance Business America in their Leading the Change and Hot List editions in 2020, and had a profile done on her by Advisen during Black History Month, 2020.

  Denise also has a Certified Project Manager Designation from the Project Management Leadership Group, Inc.

• 9:05 AM

  Keynote address: The Virtues of Leadership and Success: How to Perform Your Best, Make Your Mark, and Grow

• 9:50 AM

  Panel: Standing out from the crowd with your personal brand

  Every insurance leader needs a strong personal brand that evolves as you advance in your career. It’s a matter of continually crafting and curating the skills and experience that make you, you! In this session, gain advice on how to best articulate your personal brand, in and out of the office, and how it can be the key differentiator in your career.

  • How to make a strong, lasting impression – from the office, in the boardroom, or at your dining room table
  • Improving your digital footprint: leveraging popular social platforms like LinkedIn to market and build your brand
  • Tips for engaging internal sponsors to be your advocates
  • Using your everyday creativity to help you emerge as an authentic leader

  Panelists

  

  Nirali Shah

  Partner ‑ Financial Lines
  McGill & Partners

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  Nirali Shah

  Partner ‑ Financial Lines
  McGill & Partners

  Nirali is a Partner in McGill and Partners Financial Lines group and is based in New York City. Nirali has nearly 20 years of industry experience and a proven track record of success in a variety of roles.

  Her substantial experience in handling complex risks and background as an underwriter greatly helps clients shape an ideal risk mitigation strategy. Nirali’s focus is on Financial Lines insurance, including D&O, Employment Practices, Fiduciary, Crime, E&O and Cyber Insurance.

  Prior to joining McGill and Partners, Nirali was a Director and the U.S. IPO leader for Willis Towers Watson. In this role, Nirali was responsible for creating and executing strategy for IPOs (including SPACs and de-SPAC transactions) across practices and industry classes. Nirali personally handled placement of numerous IPOs, SPACs, and de-SPAC transactions, including some of the largest global transactions that have happened in the last 3 years. Additionally, Nirali created content and resources providing insights on D&O insurance in the context of these complex transactions.

  Nirali previously worked for Marsh & McLennan, with a focus on large and complex business. During her time with Marsh, Nirali also led multiple teams and was responsible for portfolio and talent management. She also contributed to technical policy language efforts and insights in conjunction with the D&O Product leader.

  Before her time with Marsh, Nirali spent 10 years at Chubb & Son as a Senior Underwriter. Her underwriting background spans multiple industry classes as well as product segments. Nirali also served as a Multinational Placement Expert as well as a Technology Segment Expert in a national capacity. She was also engaged in helping to create a new D&O policy form with the legal and product teams at Chubb.

  Nirali has her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Rutgers University and her Juris Doctor from New York Law School.

  

  Stephanie Lynch

  Head of Reinsurance
  At-Bay

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  Stephanie Lynch

  Head of Reinsurance
  At-Bay

  Stephanie Lynch is Head of Reinsurance at At-Bay, leading reinsurance strategy and placements. Before joining At-Bay, she served as VP at Safety National Re, where she focused on underwriting its professional liability portfolio. Earlier in her career, Lynch worked in an actuarial reserving and financial reporting capacity before transitioning to underwriting, focusing on professional liability at Arch Re.

  

  Ayesha West

  Head of Cyber Liability underwriting
  Everest Insurance

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  Ayesha West

  Head of Cyber Liability underwriting
  Everest Insurance

  Ayesha West is the Head of Cyber Liability underwriting for Everest Insurance where she oversees all aspects of underwriting, strategy, and partnership development. Ayesha has kept Everest on the leading edge of innovation in coverage and services, as well as in harnessing the benefits of big data in risk selection, risk mitigation and portfolio modeling.

  Ayesha obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the Fordham University School of Law and earned a B.B.A (cum laude) from the American University in Dubai with concentrations in Accounting and Finance.

  

  James Riviezzo

  Executive Vice President – Growth & Partnerships
  Briza

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  James Riviezzo

  Executive Vice President – Growth & Partnerships
  Briza

  James Riviezzo currently serves as Executive Vice President of Growth & Partnerships for Briza -a Toronto-based, early stage technology company which has built the first unified API for smallbusiness commercial insurance in the United States. James joined Briza in December, 2020 as thecompany’s first Head of Business Development. As a member of Briza’s Senior Leadership Team,James owns the full customer lifecycle for Briza’s carrier, brokerage, and technology partners -championing Briza’s customers in decision making across the organization. Growth &Partnerships encompasses defining and maintaining Briza’s revenue strategy, including GTM,marketing eectiveness, sales execution, partnership management, pricing, contracting,business intelligence, and customer success.

  James brings over 20 years of financial services salesleadership experience to Briza. Prior tojoining Briza, Mr. Riviezzo spent over six years atAmerican International Group (AIG) as Directorof the firm’s US Client Engagement Practice. Priorto AIG, James led marketing, sales, and clientrelations for the Northeast region of the UnitedStatesfor Safety National Casualty Corporation,and began his insurance career as a broker withMarsh,USA.

  James attended the University of Miami and receivedhis BA in Economics from MerrimackCollege, and a Performance Leadership Certification from Cornell University. James resides inNew York City, where he is actively involved with several civic, nonprofit and charitable groups,including the WSIA, NAAIA, City Harvest, and The John Street Insurance Association.

  James can be reached via: [email protected],linkedin.com/in/jamesriviezzo,or @BrizaAPI

  Secure time on James’ calendar here:https://calendly.com/riviezzo

• 10:35 AM

  Networking coffee break

• 11:00 AM

  Creating a space for everyone

  It takes one leader to start a shift in a company’s culture – to encourage active participation by all members of your team, to build an inclusive culture, and to support the celebration of diversity. This session will highlight effective and innovative strategies for creating a workplace that is both welcoming and empowering – and the prominent role you can play in driving them.

  • Building a supportive environment for both emerging and established leaders in insurance: What does it take?
  • What are the best strategies for crafting a hybrid culture that encourages participation by everyone?
  • Communication that fosters openness and empowers your tea

  

  Amy Friedrich

  President of U.S Insurance Solutions
  Principal Financial Group

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  Amy Friedrich

  President of U.S Insurance Solutions
  Principal Financial Group

  Amy Friedrich is president of U.S. Insurance Solutions with Principal Financial Group®. As of 2021, U.S Insurance Solutions serves nearly 100,000 employers and more than 3.5 million people. Friedrich leads 3,500 employees responsible for group employee benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and nonqualified deferred compensation, along with the distribution arm, which includes Principal Securities®, the broker-dealer organization, and network of affiliated financial professionals. Friedrich joined Principal® in 2000 in a performance improvement role for Corporate Strategic Development. Later, as a director in that division, she helped define a long-term strategy for the specialty benefits division and in 2004, she moved into that area. Since then, she’s held many leadership roles, including second vice president in 2006 and vice president of group benefits in 2008, a role in which she led the segment to above-industry growth. She took on oversight of individual disability insurance in 2015 when she was named a senior vice president. She assumed her current position in 2017. In 2021, Friedrich was listed as one of a named inventors on a granted patent covering a system and method for benefits enrollment.

  She is active in community organizations including United Way and the Greater Des Moines Partnership. She’s also a member of the Board of Trustees of: Buena Vista University, LL Global (the parent company of LIMRA), LOMA, and Secure Investment Institute®; Friedrich is also a member of the Forbes Business Council focused on small and medium-sized businesses.

  She holds an undergraduate degree from Buena Vista University and a master’s degree from Purdue University.

• 11:35 AM

  Panel: Achieving growth and exposure in a hybrid working environment

  This session tackles the paradox of flexibility and exposure in this new working environment. As organizations are returning to the office in some capacity, many are also offering more work from home options. With that flexibility, some may be wondering if there are trade-offs to choosing more flexible work opportunities.

  • How are those that take advantage of working from home missing out on key exposure opportunities that could impact their career?
  • How can meaningful exposure to leaders, team management and growth opportunities still be available to those who choose a more flexible work schedule?
  • What types of solutions allow for equitable opportunities for all types of work styles?

• 12:05 PM

  Lunch networking break

• 1:05 PM

  Panel: A guide to proactive problem-solving

  What separates an impactful leader from others is their ability to effectively problem-solve – to communicate transparently, consider the different perspectives and stakeholders, and challenge the status quo. This session will feature industry leaders who will unpack problem-solving in a workplace setting, and practical tips for finding the best solution to any task or project.

  • Building a team culture that considers different stakeholders – both internally and externally
  • What are the six key problem-solving skills all leaders should master?
  • How can you become an effective problem-solver, regardless of your level of leadership?

  Moderator

  

  Ashley Hunter

  Founding Partner
  A Hunter & Company

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  Ashley Hunter

  Founding Partner
  A Hunter & Company

  Ashley M. Hunter is the Founding Partner of A. Hunter & Company, a global risk management advisory and consultancy firm.

  Prior to founding A. Hunter & Company, Ashley was the Managing Director of HM Risk Group,  an international insurance brokerage and risk management firm. In her role as Managing Director of HM Risk Group, Ashley assisted startups and corporations with alternative risk transfer schemes and reinsurance placement globally. Under Ashley’s leadership, HM Risk Group became a leader in the development of niche insurance products for the sharing and assistive reproductive technology industry. In addition to working with industry leaders, HM Risk Group was instrumental in the creation and development of policy forms for several multinational insurance companies. Prior to founding HM Risk Group, Ashley worked in various management positions for State Farm Insurance Companies and AIG Insurance Company. Ashley contributes on risk and the implications on emerging markets to global publications and is a frequent panelist and speaker at industry events. Ashley is an active member of Professional Liability Underwriting Society, Women in Private Equity and The Waters Street Club. Ashley currently serves as a Board Member for International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT), as Director for Affordable Central Texas, and is a Trustee for Zach Theatre in Austin, Texas. She was previously a gubernatorial appointee and served on the board of Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. Ashley has an MBA from Texas A&M University. She also has a BM in Music Theory and Composition from Centenary College of Louisiana and is an accomplished concert violinist.

  Panelists

  

  Marya Propis

  Executive Vice President | Retail Distribution
  RT Specialty

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  Marya Propis

  Executive Vice President | Retail Distribution
  RT Specialty

  Marya Propis serves as Executive Vice President, Retail Distribution for RT Specialty. She has over 27 years of experience in the insurance industry as a sales and distribution executive, focusing on the development and implementation of corporate and field broker engagement strategies. Marya’s broad range of experience includes growth and sales strategies, the development and delivery of sales training programs, and go-to-market initiatives. Her product expertise includes both the domestic commercial and personal lines segments, and she has extensive experience working in the surplus lines industry.

  Marya joined RT Specialty in September 2020 when Ryan Specialty acquired All Risks, Ltd., the then largest privately owned wholesale broker in the US. Prior to joining All Risks, Ltd., Marya spent 13 years with AIG, and she began her insurance career in 1995 in her hometown of Buffalo, NY.

  Marya earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and communications from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, where she is currently a trustee. Marya also serves as immediate past Chair and Board Member at Large for the Spencer Educational Foundation and has dedicated herself to education and leadership initiatives, supporting women in leadership and emerging industry talent.

  

  Rachel Simon

  SVP, Executive & Professional Claims
  Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

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  Rachel Simon

  SVP, Executive & Professional Claims
  Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

  Rachel is responsible for leading a team of claims professionals who handle complex claims under professional and commercial line coverages in the Executive and Professional Lines claims division of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance.

  After practicing corporate defense litigation for a few years, she landed at a law firm specializing in insurance coverage where she became a partner. In 2013 she left private practice to go in-house, continuing to focus primarily on claims management in both technical and leadership roles. She joined Berkshire in 2021 and is having fun building an amazingly talented team. Rachel is passionate about focusing on issues that impact women in the workplace and is involved in DEI initiatives at Berkshire. Rachel is a graduate of Fordham Law School and Fordham University. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.

• 1:55 PM

  Making an impact with emotional intelligence

  Emotional intelligence is a key determinant of a successful leader, especially in an ever-evolving insurance industry. The ability to connect emotionally with your team benefits everything from engagement to overall team productivity. This session will feature an EI expert on strategies for leading with empathy and making a meaningful impact within your team.

  • What does emotional intelligence look like in the workplace?
  • How can EI play a key role in communication in a virtual office
  • How can you leverage empathy to impact and empower your team?
  • Effective strategies for improving mindfulness and avoiding burnout

  

  Payal Beri

  CEO & Founder
  RK Empathy

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  Payal Beri

  CEO & Founder
  RK Empathy

  Payal, an organizational psychologist, and former clinical therapist elevates leadership through the lens of empathy and emotional intelligence. She helps organizations and leadership recognize how emotional intelligence transforms a culture of innovation and creates customer experiences through creating a psychologically safe culture that puts its people first.

   

  Through her 15+ years of experience as a former clinical therapist and global leadership consultant for fortune 500 companies, she teaches her 3 pillars of leadership that help leaders transform emotional intelligence from an abstract thought to a tangible experience that directly impacts the growth of their company and the community they serve.

• 2:30 PM

  Networking coffee break

• 2:55 PM

  Panel: Lessons learned from a multigenerational workforce

  For the first time, five generations are interacting within the workforce. While it’s easy to focus on potential conflict, there is a unique opportunity for insurance leaders to take advantage of the varied perspectives and experiences each generation offers. This session will feature a panel of different generations who will share their own experiences, and strategies for leveraging diverse thoughts and collaborating effectively.

  • How to incorporate team strategies such as knowledge sharing, clearing defined expectations, and active listening
  • What are we learning right now from each generation?
  • Understanding your team and how it translates to your client base

  Moderator

  

  Lael Chappell

  Director, Insurance Distribution – Property & Casualty
  Coalition, Inc.

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  Lael Chappell

  Director, Insurance Distribution – Property & Casualty
  Coalition, Inc.

  Lael Chappell is a results-driven leader specializing in risk advisory / insurance distribution while also being recognized as a transformative advocate in the digital evolution of the insurance industry (Insurtech). Lael is a global-focused executivewithextensive broking and underwriting expertise including the structuring and negotiation of alternative risks, integrated risks, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and real estate solutions.

  Lael is currently the Director, Insurance DistributionatAttune Insurance (AIG, Two Sigma, Hamilton Insurance) and is responsible for identifying partnership opportunities and coordinates the execution of the distribution strategy for retail brokers, wholesale brokers, and agency networks nationwide. Lael joined Attune in 2019 from Willis Towers Watson where he served as a Client Director within their Real Estate & Hospitality Practice. Prior to Willis Towers Watson, Lael spent time at Marsh & McLennan focused on client development for their National Brokerage Practice. Lael started his career at Zurich where he participated in their Associate Rotational Program before joining their Strategic Risk Solutions Group as a Deal Architect -Excess Liability Underwriter.

  Lael completed a dual Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Finance and in Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Georgia while also completing a certificate program for Personal Success & Organizational Leadershipfrom their Institute for Leadership Advancement. Lael has also completed a certificate in Investment Banking with a concentration in Private Equity and Real Estate Financing at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Laelhas earned full alumni status at Harvard Business School after completing the Program for Leadership Development andis a 2020 Masters of Business Administration graduate ofthe EMBA Global Asia Program jointly conferred by Columbia Business School, London Business School, and the University of Hong Kong.

  Panelists

  

  Virna Rhodes

  SVP & Manager, Workers Compensation Claims
  Liberty Mutual Insurance

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  Virna Rhodes

  SVP & Manager, Workers Compensation Claims
  Liberty Mutual Insurance

  Virna leads the Workers Compensation Claims and Managed Care organization for Liberty Mutual Insurance and Helmsman Management Services. Her organization includes approximately 1600 employees across the United States who partner with customers, agents and brokers to help injured workers recover from workplace accidents and receive appropriate medical care for their injuries. These teams receive 300,000 new claims and pay nearly $3.6 billion annually.

  Virna has been part of the Liberty Mutual leadership team since 2013 and has held a number of positions across personal and commercial claims units. Most recently she led the GRS NA Claims Shared Services team. She has also served as Assistant Vice President, Casualty Claims – Northeast and Regional Vice President, Safeco Claims – Northeast. Prior to joining Liberty Mutual, Virna spent over twenty years in claims leadership positions at Allstate Insurance and Farmers Insurance. Virna is currently the Co-Chair for the [email protected] Commerce & Partnerships Committee. She also serves on the board of directors for both the Inspira Health Network (NJ) and the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).

  She graduated from University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a B.S in Information Systems and obtained her MBA from the University of Baltimore. Virna is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and now resides in New Jersey with her family. She is very involved in her community and volunteers with three civic/philanthropic organizations (Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Jack and Jill of America, Inc., The Links Incorporated).

  

  Elissa Doroff

  Head of Claims, Americas
  Mosaic Insurance

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  Elissa Doroff

  Head of Claims, Americas
  Mosaic Insurance

  Based in New York, Elissa brings more than 15 years of industry knowledge and works with Mosaic’s brokers and insureds throughout the Americas to guide coverage under the company’s six product lines. She started her insurance career as claims counsel with AIG and later was cyber and technology product manager at AXA XL. Elissa also has extensive experience counseling companies and proactively mitigating risk from her tenure on the broker side, including roles at Marsh and Lockton. Prior to 2006, she began her legal career in tax with Deloitte

  

  Kelli Kresowski

  Program Manager, SVP
  AmRisc

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  Kelli Kresowski

  Program Manager, SVP
  AmRisc

  Kelli Kresowski initially joined AmRisc in 2007. She’s responsible for managing the AmRisc Online team and product. Kelli began her insurance career as an Underwriter Assistant with U.S. Aviation Underwriters in 1999. After 3 years, Kelli moved to Houston, where she gained 5 years of valuable experience in Account Management with Hotchkiss Insurance Agency, Gallagher Healthcare, and Aon.  

  

  Kelly Doherty-Schaffner

  Executive Vice President, Head of North American Claims Group
  Allied World

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  Kelly Doherty-Schaffner

  Executive Vice President, Head of North American Claims Group
  Allied World

  Kelly is Allied World’s Executive Vice President, Head of North American Claims. In this role she oversees all North American Professional Liability, Healthcare and Casualty claims, as well as Programs claims on a global basis. Prior to assuming this role, Kelly managed Professional Liability and Healthcare within the North American Claims Group. Before joining Allied World in 2007, Kelly managed a professional liability claims unit at Chubb handling D&O, fiduciary and financial institution errors and omissions claims. Prior to that, Kelly managed life and healthcare litigation at Cigna. In 2020 Kelly was named to Risk & Insurance’s ‘Executive to Watch’ list. She has a B.A. in English from the College of the Holy Cross and her J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

• 3:45 PM

  Closing keynote: Leveraging industry trends

  In this session, hear from key industry leader on some of the most pressing industry trends that are currently shaping the insurance market – and what you need to know to remain an informed and effective leader today.

• 4:10 PM

  Closing remarks from Chairperson

• 4:15 PM

  Networking and drinks reception