Elite Women in US Insurance: Acknowledging Achievement and Championing Change
The US insurance industry is powered by a significant female workforce. Women constitute 54.9% of the industry’s 1.7 million professionals. However, this does not always translate to leadership positions. A recent survey, Insurance Business America’s (IBA) Elite Women 2025, revealed that 64% of respondents believe there is a shortage of women leaders. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) supports this, showing women hold the majority of roles excluding C-suite positions, where they represent only 22%. The data spanning from 2010 to 2023 highlights that women have consistently held the majority of positions such as claims adjusters, examiners, underwriters, and claims/policy processing clerks. Sales agent roles are slightly different: while women have not always been in the majority, they’ve never fallen below 45.2% of the total.
These historical trends make the accomplishments of IBA’s Elite Women 2025 even more remarkable. This year’s honorees have successfully navigated inherent bias and structural inequalities to become successful leaders and top executives within their organizations. The selection process involved a detailed analysis of the achievements and initiatives of the candidates over the past 12 months. They were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges:
- Jessica Hanson Hanna, American Property Casualty Insurance Association
- Nancy Mellard, Association of Professional Insurance Women
- Jenna Kirkpatrick Howard, Lockton
- Joi Blume, GenStar Insurance Services
- Kathy Quintana, HUB International
- Jennifer Sharkey, Gallagher
Joi Blume observed that, “Studies show that when women are at the table and in decision-making positions, the organization fares better overall, especially as far as financially…this is a pivotal time.” Blume also noted the Elite Women’s impact extending beyond the workplace: “We also saw a lot of things like community involvement, volunteerism, and people who are well respected, not only in the industry, but in their communities.”
Nancy Mellard highlighted the Elite Women’s commitment to supporting others: “They weren’t focused only on their day-to-day job. With most of them, there was a reference to caring for the team and expecting others to advance.” Mellard also pointed out the core strength needed to succeed in the industry: “Without a doubt, it is empathy and that translates to emotional intelligence.”
Core Mindsets of the USA’s Women Leaders in Insurance
Kirsten Handel, Senior Vice President at Alliant Insurance Service, credits her success to being strong. “Insurance is all I’ve ever done, and I grew up through the ranks, and it hasn’t been easy…being strong helps you get through. I was never the smartest, but I worked hard to learn, understand, and adapt in addition to keeping my relationships and building new ones.”
Rekha Skantharaja, CEO of Tangram Insurance, emphasizes resilience. She actively avoids being confined to stereotypical discussions, particularly concerning work-life balance. Skantharaja believes in focusing on impactful industry topics, stating, “We are at an inflection point for women in this industry and it’s time to lean deeply into the areas that have typically been guarded by the men.”
Catherine Lyle, Senior Vice President at Tokio Marine HCC’s Cyber & Professional Lines Group, highlights adaptability and a client-focused mindset. Lyle’s goal is to make the claims process both “efficient and supportive as possible.”
As a mentor, Sharon Novasel of Risk Placement Services (RPS) focuses on “empowering team members to take ownership of their responsibilities and roles.”
Christine Schneider, Senior Vice President of Casualty Claims at Arch Capital, stresses the significance of refining one’s leadership approach. She emphasizes self-awareness to promote collaboration and achieve objectives. Brenda Austenfeld of Ryan Specialty has set standards for her team, setting the expectation to be the best and maintaining excellence.
Stephanie Peters, Vice President of Client Relations at RPS, encourages all women in leadership roles to serve as role models. She talks about her ability to adapt to new roles, and how the support of her team matters.
Overcoming Challenges and Bias
The IBA survey data indicates that 33% of respondents believe they would have achieved greater seniority if they weren’t women. Sharon Novasel recalls her early career and the challenges she faced. “I often wasn’t taken seriously, sometimes mistaken for the manager’s assistant, and was frequently dismissed and talked over in meetings.”
Catherine Lyle reflected on early challenges, observing, “One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming unconscious biases…These challenges also fueled my drive to excel and create pathways for other women in the industry.”
Judge Mellard acknowledges the reduction of barriers compared to the past and encourages women to be more assertive about showcasing their capabilities. She says, “There is greater acceptance of broader skill sets that women bring, but barriers still exist because too often companies are rewarding those who they know as opposed to who you are.” Mellard adds that women need to “do a better job to intentionally and confidently explain their array of skills.”
Nadia Hoyte, Cyber National Practice Leader at USI Insurance Services, describes overcoming self-doubt by understanding its origins. IBA judge Blume encourages allies to be more active in supporting the success of women leaders in the industry.
Mentorship as a Cornerstone of Leadership
A key trait of the Elite Women is their dedication to mentoring others. They dedicate time to support, educate, and develop the next generation of insurance professionals, especially younger women.
Handel emphasizes the growth thanks to her team and her commitment to mentoring some of them. “I’m very proud to be a part of hiring and bringing on some new team members but also mentoring a few of them,” she says.
Lyle shares that it is important for her to be available to mentor “many amazing women” entering the industry. Novasel focuses on offering guidance to those in entry-level positions and encouraging them to challenge themselves.
Leaving a Legacy
The Elite Women 2025 are committed to leaving a lasting impact. They implement strategies that positively influence their organizations and the broader insurance sector.
Skantharaja focuses on instilling a culture of continuous improvement: “You should leave things better than you found them and raise the bar.”
Karen McCarthy-Hawn of Risk Placement Services promotes an ethical approach. She emphasizes that most obstacles can be overcome through collaboration and a commitment to effecting positive change within the industry.
Handel credits her success to hard work. “Grit is still important…You still have to work hard and stay with it.”
2025 Elite Women in Insurance
The following is a list of the women named by Insurance Business America as the 2025 Elite Women:
- Andrea Larkin, Senior Vice President, Head of Financial Lines, Westchester, a Chubb Company
- Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld, Co-President of RT Specialty and CEO of RT National Property, RT Specialty
- Christine Schneider, Senior Vice President, Casualty Claims, Arch Insurance
- Karen McCarthy-Hawn, Claims Advocate Manager and Business Analyst, Risk Placement Services Inc.
- Kristen Handel, Senior Vice President, Alliant Insurance Services
- Lisa Lang, Senior Vice President, National Accounts Casualty, Arch Insurance
- Nadia Hoyte, National Cyber Practice Leader, USI Insurance Services
- Rekha Skantharaja, President and CEO, Tangram Insurance Services Inc.
- Sharon Novasel, Area Vice President of Marketing and Risk Services, Risk Placement Services Inc.
- Stephanie Peters, Vice President of Client Relations, Risk Placement Services Inc.
- Aaisha Hamid, Vice President, DE&I, Alliant Insurance Services
- Aileen S. Berry, Esq., Executive Vice President, Amwins
- Amy Lugar, SVP, People Strategy, HUB International
- Betty Shepherd, Divisional President, Cyber Risk, Great American Insurance Group
- Catherine Lyle, Senior Vice President, Head of Cyber Claims and Incident Response, Tokio Marine HCC – Cyber & Professional Lines Group
- Jennifer Dimura, EVP, National Director of Pharmacy, Alliant Insurance Services
- Jennifer Spence, SVP, Director, Health and Productivity, Alliant Insurance Services
- Julie Whitley, EVP, National Benefits Operations, Alliant Insurance Services
- Leanne Berry, Chief Distribution Officer, Vantage Risk
- Margeaux Giles, Chief Executive Officer, IRYS Insurtech Inc.
- Nicole Blum, EVP, Operations, Amwins
- Nicole Sorrells, Construction Casualty Lead, Vice President, HDI Global Insurance Company
- Sherita Hardy, Vice President, Administration, Amwins
- Susan L Combs, Chief Executive Officer, Combs & Company LLC
- Suzette LeSane, SVP, Global Housing, Assurant
- Tracey Estes, Head of Casualty, MSIG USA
- Yajaira Villegas, Senior Vice President, Professional Lines, Amwins
- Alison Wynne, Senior Vice President, Aviation Practice Leader, Brown & Brown
- Amy Carnahan, Senior Vice President, Gallagher
- Andrea Ash, Chief Operating Officer, Natural Resources, CAC Group
- Angela Dybdahl Oroian, President, Society of Environmental Insurance Professionals (SEIP)
- Angela Taylor, Partner Strategist, Life Insurance Business Development, TruStage
- Annett K. Hoak, Owner/Broker, Focus Benefits and Insurance Solutions
- Beth Diamond, Group Chief Claims and Litigation Officer, Beazley
- Beth Marsh, Manager of Personal Lines Underwriting Operations, COUNTRY Financial
- Bethany Theisen, Client Advocate/Property Team Leader, WTW
- Brittany Stahl, Managing Partner, Higginbotham
- Candace Funsch, Broker, CRC Group
- Catherine (Seto) Marincel, SVP, Executive and Professional Lines, Berkshire Hathaway
- Danielle Lenzi, Vice President, Head of Risk Management and Insurance, Rudin Management
- Erica Rangel, Manager, Professional Liability, Burns & Wilcox
- Jamie Neumann, Vice President, Multinational Practice Broker Leader, Brown & Brown
- Jasmine James, Senior Product Specialist Technical Underwriting Regulatory Affairs, Zurich North America
- Kara MacDonald, SV, Managing Director – Middle Market, Lockton
- Karen Stuttman, Senior Vice President, Liability Claims, AmTrust Financial Services
- Karin Venegas, Managing Director/Regional Sales Director/Practice Leader – Real Estate, Healthcare, Higginbotham
- Kathleen Tierney, President, Berkley One, The Berkley Corporation
- Kim McBee, Senior VP, Specialty Lines Sales Leader, Foundation Risk Partners
- Kimberly Jenis, Chief Financial Officer, Brown & Brown
- Krista Scott, AVP, Territory Leader, Zurich North America
- Kym Clevenger, Principal, Oakbridge Insurance
- Liz Walker, Analytics Solutions Leader, US and Canada, Marsh
- Maribel Arias, SVP, Industry Practice Leader Professional and Services, Education, Cultural Institutions and Retail, Chubb
- Mary Russell, President, Private Client Service, Higginbotham
- Meryl Golden, President and CEO, Kingstone Insurance Company
- Michele Lamarre, VP, Head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, QBE
- Pamela Wheeler, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, NFP
- Ria Thomas, SVP, Head of Cyber Enterprise Resilience, Truist
- Sara Kane, Executive Vice President, CAC Group
- Shannon Groeber, Chief Executive Officer, CFC
- Shantelle Cabir, Senior Vice President, Business Insurance Consultant, Newfront
- Shoshanna Simmons, Senior Director of Captive Management, Foxen
- Stacy Parker, Managing Director – Financial Services Group, Commercial Risk Solutions, Aon
- Stasi Bobo-Ligon, Vice President, Global Relationship Leader, Zurich North America
- Susan Johnson, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, The Hartford
- Susanne Figueredo Cook, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Global Risk Solutions, Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Yosha DeLong, Global Head of Cyber, Mosaic Insurance
Methodology
Insurance Business America invited industry professionals nationwide to nominate exceptional female leaders for the annual Elite Women list. Nominators were asked to offer details of their nominees’ achievements and initiatives over the past 12 months, highlighting professional accomplishments and contributions to the industry at large. The IBA team partnered with an independent panel of judges for the selection process including:
- Jessica Hanson Hanna, American Property Casualty Insurance Association
- Nancy Mellard, Association of Professional Insurance Women
- Jenna Kirkpatrick Howard, Lockton
- Kathy Quintana, HUB International
- Jennifer Sharkey, Gallagher
- Joi Blume, GenStar Insurance Services
The judges and the IBA team thoroughly reviewed each submission, assessing individual contributions to the industry, before narrowing the field to the final 68 Elite Women. Self-voting and voting for relatives were prohibited to ensure impartial selection.
