2013 40 Under 40: Shawn Ram
West Region Reprints
Managing director and national technology practice leader
Aon Risk Solutions
Age: 36
As the San Jose, Calif.-based national technology practice leader for Aon Risk Solutions, Shawn Ram has worked to understand the needs of the ever-evolving technology industry while developing products that can protect the intellectual property of such companies.
Tech firms “are literally doing things that have never been done before,” Mr. Ram said. “So just having some sense of where the technology industry is going, what's driving that growth, and the impact it has on risk and finance and legal matters is something that can be challenging.”
Last year, Mr. Ram led Aon to partner with RPX Insurance Services Inc., a unit of San Francisco-based RPX Corp., on an insurance policy that protects technology firms from “patent trolls,” nonpracticing companies established solely to sue other firms over their patents. Aon exclusively distributes the insurance, while RPX underwrites the coverage.
Jeff Stephens, San Francisco-based senior vice president for advertising firm InPowered, has worked with Mr. Ram at various tech firms, and said Mr. Ram has been a “proactive” partner over the years.
“He definitely understands the insurance market and works hard for his clients. We feel like we have an advocate in Shawn,” Mr. Stephens said.
Mr. Ram joined Aon after graduating from Brigham Young University with degrees in English and finance. Though he started by working in Aon's directors and officers insurance practice, Mr. Ram said his transition into the tech arena several years ago was a natural fit for him.
“I've always loved technology,” Mr. Ram said. “Often times, I would be reading and studying and doing my due diligence on technology-related matters ... just because I enjoy it. It's just a lot of fun.”
