Conference Agenda
Sunday, September 13, 2009
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Women in Insurance Leadership Awards Reception
This year's 2009 Women in Insurance Leader Awards winners are as follows:
- Julia Boland, senior area IT manager, SVP, The Chubb Corp., Warren, N.J.(Nominated by Chubb Corp.)
- Maureen Hegarty, VP, claims operations, Electric Insurance Co., Beverly, Mass.(Nominated by Electric Insurance Co.)
- Jamie Ohl, SVP & director, retirement plans group, Hartford Life Inc., Hartford, Conn. (Nominated by The Hartford)
- Heidi Peterson, director of underwriting services and administration, Markel Corp., Glen Allen, Va. (Nominated by Camilion Solutions Inc.)
- Peggy Stewart, EVP & COO, brokering excellence worldwide, Aon Risk Services Inc., Chicago(Nominated by Aon Corp.)
- Jane Tutoki, EVP and chief claims officer, Zurich in North America, Schaumburg, Ill.(Nominated by Zurich in North America)
Also receiving recognition are four Notable Achievers, who have successfully driven significant project and/or process improvements within their companies:
- Kendall Blythe, VP of enterprise business and technology services, Tokio Marine Management, New York(Nominated by Hyland Software)
- Darby O'Neill, VP-information technology, Princeton Insurance, Princeton, N.J.(Nominated by St. Nick Media Services on behalf of Vertafore)
- Shawn Pate, VP, software development, Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Co., Boston(Nominated by Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Co.)
- Connie Phillips, president, Connie Phillips Insurance Inc., Frederick, Md.(Nominated by Connie Phillips Insurance Inc.)
Monday, September 14, 2009
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Driving Change: A Leadership Perspective
This panel of women, recognized over the past three years as Insurance Networking News' Women in Insurance Leadership, will provide specific examples on issues such as the techniques used to gain group acceptance when executing on strategy and overcoming challenges with a win/win game plan. Panel participants will provide their own unique perspectives on how creating positive change can foster successful management. This session will allow for audience participation and interaction.
Moderator:
Carrie Burns
Senior Managing Editor
Insurance Networking News
Panelists:
Julie Davis
EVP, Managing Director, Technology Industry Practice
Aon Risk Services West Inc.
Ursuline Foley
CIO
XL Re
Sharon Ritchey
EVP & Director, Global Operations & Technology
Hartford Life Inc.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Fostering Growth
Managing people and projects in order to accomplish corporate objectives is no easy task. In fact, if you ask three professional women from three different sized insurance organizations to describe their management communication techniques and processes, you'll likely get three very different answers. One thing is certain for women in insurance leadership: finding your own distinctive voice and having it heard is the cornerstone to your own achievements, and your ability to create successes around people and projects.
A panel of three such women representing small, mid-tier and large insurance companies will discuss their unique challenges, successes and lessons learned from managing the various elements within their organizations that are required to execute and deliver sustainable growth.
Moderator:
Deb Smallwood
Founder
SMA
Panelists:
Jane Bracken
SVP for Business Unit Enablement
Great American Insurance Corp. (GAIC)
Cathy Ellwood
Senior Director, Financial Leadership Rotation Program
Nationwide Insurance
Donna C. Wilson
SVP, Strategic Planning and Communications
Injured Workers' Insurance Fund
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Networking Break
Sponsored by:
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Microsoft Presentation
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Developing Female Leaders
Learn from the best panel of experts on how to Attract/Retain/Mentor, and Best Practices for Talent Development.
Kris Berry
Co-Chair
State Farms Corporate Womens Networking Group
VP, Creative Services
State Farm Insurance
Janice M. Tomlinson
EVP, International Field Operations Manager
CHUBB
4:45 PM - 5:45 PM
Networking Reception/Wine & Cheese
Sponsored By:
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
Industry Innovation Lunch: Developing Women - Traditional and Innovative Approaches
Why is it important for women to develop women? Why is it important to mentor women and develop female leaders? IBM will explore these questions and provide some IBM examples of our commitment to women, our employee-based initiatives and innovative programs. Discussion points include programs to foster a community of financial services women within our customers. We believe that developing the careers of women within our organization isnt simply a recipe for good corporate citizenship; it's also a recipe for radically expanded economic and societal opportunity.
Andrea Bunker
Business Development Executive
IBM Financial Services Sector
Lisa Gable
Diversity Center of Competence
IBM Global Women's Initiatives
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Communicating Your Business/IT Agenda to Create a Win/Win
Clarity in communication between the insurance business & IT areas is essential in order to execute, deliver and drive results. In today's economy climate and changing competitive landscape, there is no room for misalignment or missteps between business and IT. Flawless execution is demanded and required.
A panel of leading women analysts in insurance will discuss how, while working at insurance companies, their own personal successes translated into strategic insights, research-based best practices and advice. During the panel we will explore effective ways business and IT can co-join, collaborate and communicate priorities, needs and requirements to achieve full execution of the IT agenda.
Moderator:
Pat Speer
Editor-in-Chief
Insurance Networking News
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Networking Break
Sponsored by:
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
Creating a Positive, Lasting, Professional Impression
Insurance executives, both male and female, understand the importance of making a good first impression. While there are several factors that contribute to making that first impression a solid one, linking professional appearance with career objectives and fulfillment is another matter. According to Pivotal Edge, Inc. dba Fashion Fit Formula, men tend to look better in their clothes and get promoted 2-1 over women. Men have a uniform of a suit and tie where women have so many options which also translates to opportunities for making mistakes. This session will provide the group as well as a one-on-one focus on the critical relationship between a woman's clothing and her bone structure. This interactive session has already been appreciated by women professionals at American Airlines, Booz Allen Hamilton, the International Business Women's Congress, Kaiser Permanente and Unisys Corp., among others. The Fashion Fit Formula has been featured on NBC, ABC and CBS in cities from coast to coast.
Kathy McFadden
President
Fashion Fit Formula
Janet Wood
CEO
Pivotal Edge