Women to Watch: 2008
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 | Sarah DalgarnoChief Risk Officer Arthur J. Gallagher (UK) Ltd. London 40 Sarah Dalgarno plays a significant role in implementing Arthur J. Gallagher U.K.'s international strategy and development plans. She is responsible for regulatory matters, compliance and governance of the company's U.K.-regulated businesses, as well as its expanding international operations. With more than 20 years of insurance market experience, much of her early career was spent working on aviation and property claims. In 2001 and 2002, while at the U.K. Financial Services Authority, she worked on the so-called Tiner Project under former FSA leader John Tiner, which has been credited with significant reforms and strengthening the way insurers are supervised in the United Kingdom. Ms. Dalgarno, who joined Gallagher in 2006, is an associate of the London-based Chartered Insurance Institute and is a regular commentator on regulatory developments and market reform. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE INDUSTRY: "I wasn't really settled on my intent of any one particular course of careers, and I was pretty open-minded. I saw an advertisement for an (insurance company) that was looking for a new intake of staff. I went to sit in on an entrance test. I did that and was invited in for an interview. Once I started talking to some of the people recruiting, it sounded like an interesting industry. What grabbed my imagination was the idea of working in claims. I liked the idea that your day was quite unpredictable." THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED: "It's essential to learn how to keep more than one ball in the air at a time. I think that's true in our industry and many industries. You don't come into work and tend to one thing at a time. Learning those skills early in your career is very important. You also have to be able to respect and trust the people you work with. If you don't fully trust and respect the people you work with, you need to do something about it. You're never going to work successfully as a team if you don't trust one another. A lack of trust becomes quite destructive" ADVICE FOR THOSE STARTING IN THE INDUSTRY: "Always keep an open mind about what you might do within the industry as your career develops. For people starting off, they shouldn't think that if they start in one area today, they will be doing that in 30 years' time. Look to the future." WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE PROFESSIONALLY WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP: "I always assumed I would--like a lot of people in my family--work in some sort of science-related role. Everyone in my family is either a nurse or engineer or someone who teaches science or engineering." |
 | Christa DaviesChief Financial Officer Aon Corp. Chicago 37 The company's first female chief financial officer, Christa Davies is responsible for helping Aon's president and chief executive officer drive strategic business decisions and working with the heads of Aon's global business units to improve the quality and effectiveness of financial management information and compliance. Formerly the CFO of Microsoft Corp.'s platform and services division, Ms. Davies managed three publicly reported segments of business with annual revenues of $28.6 billion during fiscal year 2007. She also has held positions at Rolls-Royce Group P.L.C. and McKinsey & Co. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE INDUSTRY: "I joined Aon a little over a year ago. I was the CFO for the platforms and services division at Microsoft. I really joined Aon because I thought it was a terrific firm, amazingly well-positioned in the industry, and really leading the industry in terms of risk management. I think the management team here, led by Greg Case, is amazing, and I thought I would learn a lot working with that caliber of team." THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED: "In taking on roles, focus on who you work for and with, rather than what the role is itself. What I've observed is working with great people allows you to learn a lot more and that is how I have managed my career." ADVICE FOR THOSE STARTING IN THE INDUSTRY: "Surround yourself with great people. I think from great people come great opportunities. Great people tend to work at great firms. If you are surrounded by people you can learn a lot from and you focus on learning and the impact you can personally have on the firm, then I think you'll maximize your career opportunities." WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE PROFESSIONALLY WHILE GROWING UP: "I did not know what I wanted to do while growing up, and I've changed professions quite a few times. I did a degree as an aerospace engineer and at one stage wanted to go work for NASA. I've worked in management consulting. I worked in technology for a very long time with Microsoft, having run a sales team and being a CFO and running a product development team. I've done lots of different things. I've never quite known what I wanted to be, but I've loved being a CFO and I can imagine...being that for a very a long...time." |
 | Judy GonsalvesSenior Vp, Excess Liability Division ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. Hamilton, Bermuda 42 Charged with managing ACE Bermuda's excess liability division since 2004, Judy Gonsalves was the first Bermudian woman to reach that level in the company's Bermuda-based insurance operations. She started her career with ACE 16 years ago as underwriting assistant in the same division. To ensure the advancement of other employees, Ms. Gonsalves has been responsible for the management and coordination of the underwriter trainee program at ACE. She cultivates a learning culture through benchmarking, team building, strategic planning, learning exchanges, process improvement, and coaching. She serves on the ACE USA Learning Council and the Liability Product Board and was a member of the original steering committee for the ACE Women's Forum. She is actively involved in the ACE Women's Forum Networking Committee in Bermuda. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE INDUSTRY: "(After acquiring multiple degrees in economics and psychology) I had plans to take a year off (from studying) and then go back to graduate school. I figured I'd come back to Bermuda and work for a year and make some money. Within a couple of days I had about 10 interviews and they were all with insurance companies. I didn't know anything about the industry and what careers were available. I started in the (American International Group Inc.) captive fronting division. I did an in-house training program with (the company) and then started my insurance qualifications. After awhile, I thought, "I'm making money and I'm liking insurance from the learning and studying perspective, so I'll stick this out and put grad school on hold." Then, after three years with AIG, I got a call from ACE looking for an assistant underwriter in the excess liability division. I interviewed with them, got the job, and the rest is all history." THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED: "The best quality in an underwriter is to be curious. I thought that was a great piece of advice. If you're curious about things and you want to learn about things, you're going to ask questions and you're going to learn more. Don't ever let your fear of failing prevent you from trying something or limit what you're going to accomplish. Don't let that fear of failing keep you from pushing yourself." ADVICE FOR THOSE STARTING IN THE INDUSTRY: "Be patient. It's hard sometimes when starting out to be patient, but it takes time. Not everyone can run the company at the same time. Be patient for the growth, the promotions and the development. You need to show you're working hard and it's deserved and it will come. Take some risks along the way in your career. If the opportunity comes up for you to move into another role--something that is out of your comfort zone--jump at it and jump at it when it's offered. Seize opportunities when they come along. Sometimes you take a risk in doing that, but a lot of times that brings some pretty positive things your way." WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE PROFESSIONALLY WHILE GROWING UP: "I actually wanted to be one of two things--a lawyer, or a psychiatrist or counselor or social work type. In hindsight, both are kind of helping professions. I don't know if I thought that at the time. I've always loved watching courtroom dramas. I thought I would be a criminal lawyer and save the world and defend the downtrodden. With psychology, I loved to dissect things, why people think the way they do, feel the way they do, and do what they do." |
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