Tracy Harrington Cloud
Senior vice president, international distribution and broker management
Axis Insurance, a unit of Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.
London

It is important for women in the insurance industry to share their achievements and not underplay their successes, according to Tracy Harrington Cloud, London-based senior vice president of international distribution and broker management at Axis Insurance, a unit of Bermuda-based Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.

When Ms. Harrington began her insurance career 30 years ago, she was one of few women in the London market, and she cites being able to “stay the distance” as a source of pride.

She followed in her father’s footsteps by coming into the industry, and over the course of a varied career has built teams and processes — often from scratch — in a number of organizations.

She has worked at various brokerages and insurers, and notably was Sydney-based QBE Insurance Group Ltd.’s first-ever client relationship manager in London and built an insurance consulting team at Marsh Ltd.

In her current role at Axis, Ms. Harrington is tasked with helping to change the insurer’s culture to make it even more relevant to its policyholders and brokers, among other things.

She sees the value in relationships, still such an important part of the industry.

Ms. Harrington, who joined Axis from Marsh in 2016, was one of the pioneers of the brokerage’s Women at Marsh networking events that were set up to empower and inspire women. And she continues to mentor a woman who started at Marsh as a graduate even now that she herself has moved on to Axis.

Women entering the insurance industry should make sure their voices are heard, Ms. Harrington said.

“Make sure you have a voice — if you have an opinion, share it,” she said.

“It is not always easy, but you should try not to be intimidated by other people regardless of their role or gender,” Ms. Harrington said.

Away from work, Ms. Harrington says she likes to meditate to keep a healthy mind and remain focused.

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