When Brian Duperreault, CEO of Hamilton Insurance Group Inc., suggested in his keynote speech at the Bermuda Captive Conference earlier this year that women need to take “stretch assignments” to move up the corporate ladder, it reminded me of all those “extra credit” assignments I completed back in high school. Teachers promised those assignments could help boost my grade point average to ensure I'd make the honor roll and get into college.

Similarly, in the business world, “stretch assignments” are an important part of performance appraisals and can make a difference in determining who qualifies for a promotion, according to Mr. Duperreault. They might include working in an overseas office, leading a team or overseeing a special project, providing exposure to a company's revenue sources, strategic markets or key products, he explained.

Until I read Mr. Duperreault's speech, I hadn't really thought about the Business Insurance Women to Watch Leadership Conference as one of those “stretch assignments.” Four years ago, I jumped at the chance to develop content for the conference because I was personally interested in the subject matter. But now I am reaping the rewards of my labor. Thanks to the success of Women to Watch, on Jan. 1, I will become Business Insurance's director of conference programming, a newly created position.

During my 29-year tenure at this magazine, I've covered the commercial insurance industry from virtually every angle. As a reporter, I interviewed risk managers, benefit managers, brokers, consultants, underwriters, attorneys — you name it. As a bureau chief, I hired and mentored other reporters. And most recently as a senior editor, I've developed more complex enterprise stories.

I often joke that the longest and most successful relationship I've had is with my job. Business Insurance has been there for me throughout many personal struggles, often serving as a second family. I have made lifelong friends with fellow staff members and with many of my sources, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for all that they have taught me over the years. I am looking forward to deepening those relationships as I begin my next chapter at BI, helping to grow its conference and events business.

I also welcome feedback from you, our readers, without whom there would have been no stories for me to write. I invite your suggestions for how we can improve the events we currently offer, as well as any ideas you may have for introducing new educational programming, both in-person and virtual. It is my mission to help all of you — both women and men — to achieve greater heights in your careers, just as you have helped to send mine in this exciting new direction.