2024 AGENDA

All times in CT

• 8:00 AM

  Registration and breakfast

• 8:15 AM

  Women in Insurance Mentorship Network launch

  Celebrate the launch of our new Women in Insurance mentorship program! Join us to find out more about the Network and introduce yourself to your matched mentor/mentee or peer advisor. This is a valuable opportunity to hear from an expert speaker on the best practices of mentoring, reverse mentoring, and how to leverage the benefits of mentorship to make the most of your new mentor/mentee relationship. If you haven’t signed up yet, this is your chance to get involved. 

  

  Camille McKinney

  Executive Leadership Coach
  

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  Camille McKinney

  Executive Leadership Coach
  

  Camille McKinney is an Executive/Leadership Coach, consultant, and speaker who is passionate about elevating the impact women leaders have on people and organizations. After decades working in the corporate sector, she launched her coaching practice to close the gap between learning how to lead and BEING a great leader people want to follow. She believes that leadership is an ‘inside job;’ great leadership starts within each of us. 

  Camille has worked with leaders in a variety of industry sectors, including finance, health insurance, technology, entertainment, human resources, higher education and government. 

  Before becoming a professional Coach, Camille worked for over 25 years as a learning and performance consulting professional in the banking and health insurance industries, where she also led a team of sales training professionals. She brings her experience in leadership, Emotional Intelligence, performance consulting and training to support leaders in revealing their personal leadership advantage, both in business and in life. 

  Camille has a degree in Business Management, has completed Coach U’s Core Essentials and advanced coaching programs, and is a Certified facilitator for Linkage’s Advancing Women Leaders Academy. She is also a Faculty Member of Linkage’s Women in Leadership Institute. Camille is active in the Los Angeles International Coaching Federation (ICF) community, holding various Board roles since 2018, including Chapter President in 2020 and Executive Advisor in 2022. 

  

  Molly Nickoles

  Chief Executive Officer, Waypoint Wholesale, AmRisc
  

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  Molly Nickoles

  Chief Executive Officer, Waypoint Wholesale, AmRisc
  

  Molly Nickoles is the CEO of Waypoint Wholesale, a division of AmRisc Group, where she oversees ten underwriting teams that are responsible for over 75% of AmRisc’s production.  Molly joined AmRisc in 2003 and has played an integral role in the success of the builders risk product, helping to grow the inforce premium to over $300 million. During her 20 years with the company, Molly has leveraged her technical expertise, collaborative leadership style, and passion for employee development to cultivate a thriving team of underwriters specializing in property under construction.  She also helped to launch and is the executive sponsor of AmRisc EDGE, a formal mentorship program. Molly earned a B.A. in Mathematics with a minor in business from The University of Mississippi and started her insurance career as an actuarial analyst prior to entering the E&S industry.  

• 9:00 AM

  Opening remarks from chairperson

  

  Gunjali Rana 

  Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader   
  CNA 

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  Gunjali Rana 

  Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader   
  CNA 

  In her role as Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Gunjali leads the office of DE&I and is responsible for the company’s strategy and execution on all diversity-related issues including diversity recruiting, ERGs, diversity learning and programming. ​ 

  Originally from India and raised in the Philippines, Gunjali has studied in British and US educational-systems and migrated to the USA for her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Economics from Hollins University. She also completed her MBA from New York University’s Stern of School of Business in 2001. ​ 

  Over her 23-year career, she has worked in Sales, Client Service, Capital Markets, Marketing, Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Resources at the NYSE Euronext and Prudential, prior to joining CNA in April of 2022.  

   

• 9:05 AM

  Opening Keynote: Chasing the bright side – Purpose-driven thinking leads to unstoppable growth

  It’s easy to allow negative thoughts to make you feel like you’re constantly moving from problem to problem. A recent American Academy of Neurology study found that prolonged negative thinking diminishes your brain’s ability to think clearly and quickly drains your energy. In this illuminating keynote based on her best-selling book, Chasing the Bright Side, Jess Ekstrom reveals how editing your negative thought patterns to embrace optimism can trigger the growth mindset that will take you to the next level. It’s not about eliminating negativity; but harnessing it to activate your purpose. Jess knows this more than most, having founded two multi-million dollar social enterprises helping women and girls all over the world.   

  • Finding the overlap between passion and profit 
  • Why optimism is the key to positive growth 
  • Identify the five core mindsets and how to use them  
  • How to turn setbacks into comebacks 

  

  Jess Ekstrom

  Social entrepreneur
  Forbes Top Rated speaker, and best-selling author

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  Jess Ekstrom

  Social entrepreneur
  Forbes Top Rated speaker, and best-selling author

  Jess lives by three words: inspiration from frustration.

  Whenever she’s frustrated, she usually finds inspiration in a business idea to solve the problem. Hence, she’s a 2x successful social entrepreneur.

  In 2012, she took a $300 grant and launched Headbands of Hope, a company that provides headbands to kids with illnesses.

  Since then, her company has donated millions of headbands all over the world and has become the official headband provider for the NBA, WNBA, and are now sold in all Kohl’s locations.

  Jess is a Forbes Top Rated speaker with past clients like Zappos, Priceline, Netflix, Canva, Edward Jones, Magnolia, Under Armour, Newell Brands, Leadercast Live, SAS, Harvard, TEDx, and more.

  But her career goals are not just about getting herself on stage, she wants to help more women get on stages as public speakers. And in 2018, she founded Mic Drop Workshop®️, a company with the mission of empowering more women to share their message as a public speaker and author.

  Jess is a 2x bestselling author of Chasing the Bright Side and Create Your Bright Ideas. She’s been featured on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Vanity Fair, Forbes, and People Magazine ran an exclusive piece about her when her book was released. You’ve most likely seen Jess on your TV whether it was an interview on your favorite morning show, shopping on QVC, or watching her run her business from her Airstream in a global Canva commercial.

   

  Some of her recent badges of honor…

  · Chip Gaines said, “Jess Ekstrom is leaving her mark on this world and it’s amazing to watch her do it.”

  · Jess was dubbed The Ultimate Game Changer by Women’s Health Magazine

  · The co-founder of Netflix said, “Jess is a very poised and polished speaker- confident, funny, great connection with the audience and left them inspired.”

  · Jess was tapped to interview the First Lady of Iceland on women’s equality issues

  · Linkedin Learning and TED Education have asked Jess to host courses on the art of public speaking

  · Forbes named her a Top Motivational Speaker

  · Arianna Huffington put her on her 99 Female Disruptors List

  · Becoming a new mom to a little girl and advocating for moms in the workplace

  · And Business Insider said Jess is a “Woman to Watch”

  Jess brings humor, inspiration, and entertainment to every group she addresses. Her motivational, edge-of-your-seat storytelling and infectious energy is a refreshing experience for audiences looking to improve their culture, purpose-building, and fulfillment.

• 9:55 AM

  Speed networking

  Seize the opportunity to meet your peers and get to know more people in the room. Expand your network, make connections, and meet fellow delegates in this structured networking session. 

  

  Gunjali Rana 

  Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader   
  CNA 

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  Gunjali Rana 

  Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader   
  CNA 

  In her role as Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Gunjali leads the office of DE&I and is responsible for the company’s strategy and execution on all diversity-related issues including diversity recruiting, ERGs, diversity learning and programming. ​ 

  Originally from India and raised in the Philippines, Gunjali has studied in British and US educational-systems and migrated to the USA for her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Economics from Hollins University. She also completed her MBA from New York University’s Stern of School of Business in 2001. ​ 

  Over her 23-year career, she has worked in Sales, Client Service, Capital Markets, Marketing, Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Resources at the NYSE Euronext and Prudential, prior to joining CNA in April of 2022.  

   

• 10:15 AM

  Interactive workshop: How to future-proof your business by leveraging your network

  In today’s rapidly changing insurance landscape, your professional network can be a powerful asset in ensuring the longevity and success of your business. This facilitated workshop explores the strategies and tactics for future-proofing your business by tapping into your network’s potential, insight, and energy.  

  • Harness the power of your professional network for business longevity 
  • Leverage both online and offline relationships to adapt to industry changes 
  • Seize opportunities and stay ahead of trends with a strong network 
  • Build a resilient and sustainable business through inspiring connections 

  Facilitators

  

  Karrie Sullivan

  Founder
  Culminate Strategy Group

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  Karrie Sullivan

  Founder
  Culminate Strategy Group

  Karrie Sullivan is an award winning transformation & M&A professional who has a passion for driving results by making the hard jobs look easy. Her career has spanned Top Consulting Firms, Fortune 500 companies, and she was one of the first 35 employees at cars.com. Her team are now advisors and consultants to some of the world’s largest companies on how to use AI and psychology to identify growth mindsets that reduce time-to-momentum in complex transformation. 

  

  Kate Wade

  Managing Director 
  Wade Strategy, LLC 

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  Kate Wade

  Managing Director 
  Wade Strategy, LLC 

  Kate is an accomplished thought leader in both strategy and market analysis. With 20+ years of experience, she has a proven track record of leading cross-divisional teams and executing strategic change. She has led projects providing extensive value in the insurance and financial services industries, both as a consultant and a senior leader on the corporate side. Kate partners with companies to help them meet their goals by solving problems, generating demand-driven growth, and coordinating between different organizational areas to drive change.   

  Kate founded her own firm, Wade Strategy in 2017, specializing in growth strategy and innovation. She also held senior management roles at Allstate, Arthur J. Gallagher, and Accenture’s strategy division. Kate was a strategy consultant at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Cambridge Group (TCG).  

  Kate received an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in Strategy, Marketing Management, and Operations, and a bachelor’s from the University of Chicago in “Law, Letters, and Society” and American History. 

  www.wadestrategy.com 

  [email protected] 

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateewade/  

• 10:45 AM

  Networking coffee break

• 11:15 AM

  Leaders’ briefing: Opportunity by numbers – Revealing data-driven industry insights

  An exclusive opportunity to hear the latest industry-focused trends from three senior insurance leaders. This session showcases data-driven insights on industry challenges and the opportunities they create. Data will empower you as a leader to better understand the market conditions impacting insurance and the tools available to navigate them. Enhance your market understanding for informed business decision-making and gain valuable takeaways: 

  • Insurance trends including pain points and opportunities  
  • An enhanced market understanding for informed business decisions  
  • Insights and tools for navigating market conditions 
  • A data-driven approach to address industry challenges 

  Moderator

  

  Erin Kolar

  Director of Insurance Data Solutions
  SambaSafety

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  Erin Kolar

  Director of Insurance Data Solutions
  SambaSafety

  Erin Kolar is the Director of the Insurance Data Solutions team at Samba Safety, where she has been instrumental since joining in 2020. Leading her team, Erin works closely with insurance clients to implement effective data solutions, fostering relationships and integrating comprehensive data assets. Her leadership ensures organizations make informed decisions through advanced data strategies. 

  Panelists

  

  Kelly Cusick

  Managing Director
  Deloitte Consulting LLP

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  Kelly Cusick

  Managing Director
  Deloitte Consulting LLP

  Kelly has more than 25 years of insurance consulting experience across a variety of personal, commercial, and specialty lines.  She is a credentialed actuary and leads Deloitte Consulting’s Property & Casualty Insurance practice.  

  Kelly advises clients on strategic initiatives related to underwriting, product management, and actuarial functions. She has led a variety of projects including insurance product strategy and competitive analysis, operating model transformation, business and technology capability assessments, and product architecture and business requirements for technology transformations. 

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellykcusick/ 

  

  Lauren Finnis

  Head of Commercial Lines, North America
  WTW Insurance Consulting and Technology

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  Lauren Finnis

  Head of Commercial Lines, North America
  WTW Insurance Consulting and Technology

• 11:50 AM

  Panel: Strategies to empower women in insurance – Unlocking leadership success at every career stage

  Today we’re seeing that career success is not limited by age or experience. What can we learn from each other’s unique perspectives and experiences? How can women take steps to advance at each level – what’s proven? This session explores the strategies and opportunities that individuals can harness to thrive in the insurance industry at every stage of their professional journey. With insights on overcoming the most common leadership pain points, explore:  

  • Successful strategies for establishing a winning career foundation 
  • Your toolkit to overcome leadership challenges and take your career to the next level  
  • Leadership opportunities that will drive your career forward  
  • How to develop your own authentic leadership style  
  • Decisions to make now to establish a business legacy  

  Moderator

  

  Charmaine Rice

  SVP – Learning, Development & Diversity
  AmTrust

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  Charmaine Rice

  SVP – Learning, Development & Diversity
  AmTrust

  Charmaine D. Rice is a collaborative and energetic leader who believes that diversity and inclusion inspire innovation and sustainable success.  Charmaine helps individuals, teams, and organizations optimize performance using her experience in human resources, instructional design and facilitation, leadership and organizational development, mentoring, change management, and team building.

  Charmaine is the Senior Vice President, Learning, Development & Diversity for AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. She is a member of several Insurance industry groups. She is as a mentor, an Advisory Board member, and the sponsor for the DEI Committee for Rising Insurance Star Executives. She serves at the program chair of the Cleveland chapter of the National African American Insurance Agency.  She is a member and ally of the Asian American Insurance Network. Outside of the Insurance realm, Charmaine supports Heart to Heart Leadership in Akron, Ohio as a facilitator and coach and the Northern Ohio chapter of the Ohio Diversity Council as a member of the Education Committee.  In 2020, Charmaine co-founded the Rekindle Fellowship and currently serves as Board President. And, she is a newly certified facilitator of the Dale Carnegie Course.

  Charmaine earned a master’s degree from Cleveland State University in Psychology with a specialization in Diversity Management and Organizational Leadership and a bachelor’s degree from Wright State University in Communications with a specialization in Public Relations. She lives just outside of Cleveland Ohio with her husband Kelly.  Between them, they have three adult sons – an entrepreneur, a middleware engineer, and a third-year college student studying industrial engineering technology.

  Panelists

  

  Suzette LeSane

  Line of Business Leader, Homeowners and Condo Solutions
  Assurant

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  Suzette LeSane

  Line of Business Leader, Homeowners and Condo Solutions
  Assurant

  

  Nancy McMahon

  CEO
  Sapphire Blue

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  Nancy McMahon

  CEO
  Sapphire Blue

  Nancy Mendez McMahon is President and CEO of Sapphire Blue, part of Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers’ healthcare professional and general liability underwriting group.  Sapphire Blue provides coverage to senior living facilities and allied healthcare operations and will soon expand their offerings to include complex alternative risk programs for all healthcare accounts.

  Nancy started her insurance career in 1987 as a reinsurance technician for Alexander and Alexander.  She spent the next 13 years working her way up to Senior Healthcare Underwriter at CNA.  In 1998, she was recruited to start a new senior living insurance program at Mutual Risk Management, a Bermuda alternative risk company.

  After a couple of years, she launched her own managing underwriting company, Sapphire Blue.  Her goal was to provide competitive Professional and General Liability insurance to better than average Senior Living operators.  Her philosophy was to help good operators keep their insurance costs down so that they could direct more assets to improving the care they provided to seniors.

  From 2001 to 2007 she grew her business into one of the leading Senior Living programs in the United States.  In 2007, she sold Sapphire Blue to Beazley Insurance, her largest capital provider and global insurer.  In 2011, she was recruited to start the healthcare underwriting practice at Ryan Specialty.  This year, Sapphire Blue will write over $100M in premium and enjoys the support of some of the most recognized insurance companies in the world.

  Nancy is passionate about giving opportunities to women and diverse candidates.  She is proud to lead an exceptionally diverse team at Ryan Specialty.

  

  Yuna Nordeen

  Vice President, Business Development    
  Arch Insurance

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  Yuna Nordeen

  Vice President, Business Development    
  Arch Insurance

  Yuna Nordeen is a seasoned professional with a rich background in the insurance industry. Currently serving as Vice President of Distribution Management at Arch, she joined the company after making significant contributions as the first Business Development leader for the US operation of Hiscox. Yuna played a pivotal role in spearheading the growth of their digital segment, demonstrating her proficiency in navigating the dynamic intersection between digital and traditional underwriting trading sides of the organization. 

  Yuna earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Music Performance (Violin) at Michigan State University. Subsequently, she obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan. 

  Having resided in Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia, Yuna’s global experiences have shaped her versatile and adaptable approach to business. Her journey led her to make the U.S. her permanent home, and she currently resides in Old Town, Chicago, with her husband and their charming toddler, Ezra. 

  

  Ellina Shinnick  

  Chief Marketing Officer 
  HUB International  

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  Ellina Shinnick  

  Chief Marketing Officer 
  HUB International  

  Ellina Shinnick is Chief Marketing Officer for HUB International. She is based in Chicago and oversees a global marketing organization. Ellina leads the strategy for both the HUB and VIU by HUB brands that span B2C and B2B customer segments.  

  The Marketing organization is responsible for global brand initiatives, local field strategies, performance marketing, strategic partner programs and corporate communications.  

  During her tenure with HUB, Ellina built the Marketing Center of Excellence, growing the organization from 12 employees to more than 100 contributors. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ellina led the charge to position HUB as a partner for its clients and prospects, developing a marketing strategy that provided pertinent content and virtual events to help them navigate the pandemic. She has also been instrumental in helping to advance HUB along its digital journey, investing in the latest marketing technology and skillsets that enable HUB to connect with and serve its ever-changing client base. Additionally, Ellina oversaw the design and launch of multiple HUB brand refreshes, as well as the launch of HUB’s newest brand – VIU by HUB.  

  In 2024 and beyond, Ellina will continue to ground the Marketing strategy in data, insights, and creativity to execute strategies that drive new business revenue, engage customers and employees and position the HUB and VIU by HUB brands for differentiation. 

• 12:30 PM

  Networking lunch

• 1:30 PM

  Focus on DEI – Embracing the new leadership rules  

  What are the new leadership rules? It’s no longer enough to be an exceptionally skilled rainmaker, business strategist, or to master the art of relationship–building with clients. Market–leading insurers of the future will be steered by leaders with additional tools in their leadership toolkit, including change management and DEI strategies. The future leaders of our industry come equipped with new ideas and perspectives. How can we build workspaces that welcome this new generation? What does your leadership team need to do now to ensure your firm remains or emerges as a market leader in the future? This interactive session will explore new approaches to leadership and DEI strategy.  

  

  Margaret Resce Milkint

  Global Insurance Practice Leader
  Diversified Search Group

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  Margaret Resce Milkint

  Global Insurance Practice Leader
  Diversified Search Group

  Margaret Rece Milkint is a talent strategist, DEI champion, and evangelist for talent innovation, transformation, and excellence, serving as the Global Insurance practice leader and a member of the Board practice in Diversified Search Group’s Chicago office. From CEOs to Chief Medical Officers, her expertise spans across the C-suite and boardroom.

• 2:05 PM

  Interactive workshop: Impacting up – How to influence decision-making in the C-suite

  Influencing C-suite decision-makers involves understanding their priorities, building trust, and presenting compelling arguments. To make an impact, it’s essential to align your proposals with their strategic goals and demonstrate how your ideas can benefit your organization. Collaborate with your peers in small groups to discuss how you can influence up for senior leadership buy-in.  

  • Understand the mindset of C-suite executives and their decision-making process  
  • Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with key C-suite allies 
  • Develop critical skills for influencing and negotiation 
  • Craft and deliver robust, persuasive proposals tailored to business priorities 
  • Leverage data, research, and case studies to support your recommendations and your cause 

  

  Harriet Harty

  Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
  ADT

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  Harriet Harty

  Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
  ADT

  Harriet Harty is a dynamic Business Executive with the strong combination of Board leadership experience and financial acumen at Fortune 500 public, private-equity and private companies. Her extensive Board experience includes serving as an Advisory Board Member for M3 Placement & Partnership and After School Matters, and as a Board Member for Sompo International and Women Employed. Most recently, as Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer for ADT Inc., which provides residential and small business electronic security, fire protection and other related alarm monitoring services, Harriet oversaw Human Resources, Real Estate, Facilities, Corporate Security and Employee Health & Safety. In this role, she streamlined and downsized a 375-building real estate footprint by looking at occupancy, negotiating with the landlord and saving more than $6 million. She also built an HR organization from the ground up by establishing a best-in-class Talent Acquisition function, leveraging an HR shared services organization that provided enhanced services to the business in an efficient and effective manner. This followed Harriet’s time as Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer for Sompo International, which provides property and casualty insurance and reinsurance around the world. She oversaw the HR function and served on the Board of Directors.

  Prior to this, Harriet had several leadership roles of increasing responsibility at insurance company Allstate Corporation, culminating in Executive Vice President, Human Resources, when she led and managed an HR organization of more than 600 global employees. She oversaw the recruitment, development and rewards for more than 70,000 employees and exclusive agents, and advised the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Team on strategic business initiatives. Early in her career, Harriet was an Accountant with Sumitomo Electric Carbide. Harriet earned a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) and Certified Benefits Professional (CBP). She received the TopCHRO: Chief Human Resources Award in 2018.

  Outside of work, Harriet has been a Member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the Private Directors Association (PDA), Women in the Boardroom and the HR Policy Association. Outside of work, Harriet enjoys reading, exercising and traveling with her family – including husband John and 21-year-old daughter Carissa (who is enrolled at Elon University in North Carolina).

• 2:35 PM

  Networking coffee break

• 3:00 PM

  Fireside chat: Accelerate through authenticity – Using who you are to drive your business and career

  Embracing your unique values, skills, and passions can be a catalyst for professional success. How can you transform your weaknesses into superpowers for success? This session explores how being true to yourself, developing your strengths, and leveraging your personal story leads to a fulfilling and profitable career. Leaders share their career journeys and stories of how they leaned into and mastered their perceived weaknesses to succeed.  

  • Be authentic while developing your career  
  • Align your career goals with your unique qualities, values, and interests 
  • Use your personal story to connect with your customers 
  • Get comfortable with self-advocacy  
  • Achieve personal fulfillment while reaching career and business goals 

  Moderator

  

  Amy Carnahan

  Senior Vice President
  Gallagher

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  Amy Carnahan

  Senior Vice President
  Gallagher

  Amy Carnahan has spent her career in the insurance brokerage industry working for large, global organizations where she serves as her clients’ partner, advocate, and strategic advisor across all aspects of their risk management needs. Having lived and worked across the U.S., she supports clients in a variety of industries while working with internal teams who bring the specializations they need.   

  Amy began her insurance career in 2003 and joined Gallagher in 2023. She is based in Gallagher’s global headquarters in Rolling Meadows. 

  Amy is a graduate of Indiana University and lives in Riverside, Illinois with her husband and two children. She is on the board of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund and the Association for Corporate Growth’s- Chicago Chapter. 

  Panelists

  

  Margeaux Giles 

  Chief Executive Officer 
  Irys  

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  Margeaux Giles 

  Chief Executive Officer 
  Irys  

  As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Irys Insurtech Inc., Margeaux Giles has over 15 years of executive experience in operations and digital transformation in insurance and finance. In addition to her passion for infusing insurance with cutting-edge technology, she is actively promoting career opportunities for women in technology.  

  Giles is a recognized leader in the insurtech space, with honors including Insurtech Woman CEO of the Year, Inspiring FinTech Female in 2023, and Top 20 Insurtech provider in 2022. She is a Forbes Technology Council member and regular Forbes.com contributor.  

  Before founding Irys, Giles spent more than a decade in executive and C-suite roles in retail property and casualty insurance agency operations. She has also advised small to medium-size enterprise clients on insurance software as a service, and worked with insurance companies on digital transformation, API implementation, and integration. Her career experience includes advising managing general agents and wholesalers on submission and issuance process automation.  

  These career achievements have prepared Giles to lead innovation in cloud-based agency management software. Irys is a next-generation, cloud-based agency management solution that combines artificial intelligence and machine learning with a human-centered approach to streamline agency operations.  

  Giles is a founding member of InsureWomen and InsureEquality, Chair of the Central Florida Chapter of the Association of Professional Insurance Women, and a member of the UCONN Fintech Masters Program Advisory Board. 

  

  Lauren Kim 

  Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group 
  NFP  

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  Lauren Kim 

  Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group 
  NFP  

  Lauren Kim is Managing Director of the Financial Institutions Group for NFP. She leads the group and is responsible for management and growth initiatives in the financial institution sectors, including banking, capital markets, investment management, insurance, and reinsurance. Lauren has deep knowledge and expertise in the financial institutions space. She understands the complex and evolving risks financial institutions face and how to address those risks with insurance and legal solutions 

  Lauren was previously Senior Vice President for NFP, Legal and Technical Leader.  In that role, she was responsible for technical risk consultation, legal and regulatory analysis, thought leadership development, and claims advocacy related to NFP’s financial institutions clients and prospective clients.   

  Before joining NFP, Lauren was the financial institutions claims practice leader with QBE North America. At QBE, she provided superior client service in responding to the complex needs and legal exposures of financial institutions, serving as the subject matter expert in connection with legal and regulatory trends, claims analysis, and projections.  She also worked closely with business partners and underwriters in analyzing coverage and policy terms.   

  Prior to QBE, Lauren was a practicing attorney for close to a decade, specializing in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation; professional liability defense including the defense of broker-dealers, attorneys, and directors and officers; and fiduciary benefit plan consultation and litigation.   

  Lauren earned her Juris Doctorate from Notre Dame Law School. 

   

• 3:35 PM

  Panel: Capturing best practice – Preserving industry wisdom for the next generation

  With the younger boomer generation of insurance professionals set to retire en masse in the next decade, the need to retain industry knowledge and expertise is critical as we transition to the next generation of markets. How can we ensure effective knowledge transfer to the next generations of insurance leaders? Through compelling examples, attendees will gain insights into the strategies and best practices employed by leading organizations to successfully safeguard and pass on invaluable industry wisdom. Gain practical takeaways:    

  • Learn how to bridge the generation gap and transfer knowledge effectively  
  • Explore real-world examples of successful approaches to safeguarding industry wisdom 
  • Prepare for the challenges and opportunities that the evolving market presents through knowledge-sharing 
  • Discover concrete examples of best practices in action to equip your business for the future 

  Moderator

  

  Leanne Berry

  Vice President, Distribution
  Vantage Risk Companies

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  Leanne Berry

  Vice President, Distribution
  Vantage Risk Companies

  Leanne Berry, VP of Distribution, is responsible for leading Vantage Risk’s distribution strategy in the Central Region.  

  Prior to joining Vantage in 2023, Ms. Berry served as VP of Business Development at Arch Insurance. Prior to that, she spent nearly 20 years at AIG in a variety of roles in distribution, product, and claims. Ms. Berry began her career as a change management consultant at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).  

  Ms. Berry is passionate about inclusive leadership and lends her support to a variety of external organizations that share a common vision. She received two global awards during her six-year leadership of AIG’s Women & Allies employee resource group, currently serves on the advisory board of Big Careers Little Kids, supports the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, and is a member of industry organizations including the Association of Professional Insurance Women and Insurance Supper Club. Ms. Berry was named to Insurance Business America’s Hot 100 list in 2024 and is a member of Chief, an exclusive network of senior executive women. 

  Ms. Berry is a graduate of Northwestern University and lives in Evanston, Illinois with her husband and two children.

  Panelists

  

  Ashley Karg

  Partner – US Casualty
  McGill and Partners

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  Ashley Karg

  Partner – US Casualty
  McGill and Partners

  Ashley Karg is a Partner with McGill and Partners, a boutique specialist (re)insurance broker, with a focus on large and complex US casualty programs.  

  With over 15 years of industry experience, she has held several roles including 8 years with Willis Towers Watson as a Senior Casualty Broker, in addition to her time spent with Zurich Insurance Company and Marsh & McLennan. Ashley has worked within a range of industries including Transportation, Healthcare, Retail and Hospitality, and Manufacturing. 

  Ashley earned her MBA at the University of Arizona as well as her Business Administration and Insurance Degree in Calgary, Alberta. Her achievements include the Chartered Insurance Professional Designation (CIP), the Associate Risk Management Designation (ARM), the Canadian Risk Management Designation (CRM), and the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters Designation (CPCU). 

  

  Jen Klobnak

  Chief Operating Officer
  RLI Insurance Group

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  Jen Klobnak

  Chief Operating Officer
  RLI Insurance Group

  

  Beth Marsh

  Manager, Personal Lines Underwriting Operations
  COUNTRY Financial

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  Beth Marsh

  Manager, Personal Lines Underwriting Operations
  COUNTRY Financial

  Beth Marsh is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the insurance industry. Beth is currently the Manager of Personal Lines Underwriting Operations at Country Financial, where she has worked for almost 17 years in various roles. Beth is a strong training and operations professional with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) focused in Social Science Teacher Education from Illinois State University. 

• 4:10 PM

  Closing remarks from chairperson

  

  Gunjali Rana 

  Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader   
  CNA 

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  Gunjali Rana 

  Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader   
  CNA 

  In her role as Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Gunjali leads the office of DE&I and is responsible for the company’s strategy and execution on all diversity-related issues including diversity recruiting, ERGs, diversity learning and programming. ​ 

  Originally from India and raised in the Philippines, Gunjali has studied in British and US educational-systems and migrated to the USA for her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Economics from Hollins University. She also completed her MBA from New York University’s Stern of School of Business in 2001. ​ 

  Over her 23-year career, she has worked in Sales, Client Service, Capital Markets, Marketing, Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Resources at the NYSE Euronext and Prudential, prior to joining CNA in April of 2022.  

   

• 4:15 PM

  Networking drinks reception