NEW JOB TITLE: Chicago-based president of Snapsheet Inc.

PREVIOUS POSITION: Chicago-based insurance advisory leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

OUTLOOK FOR THE INDUSTRY: The insurance industry is facing a complex situation. There is intense pressure given excess capital and softening prices globally, combined with disruptive changes from social, technological, economic, environmental and political trends that affect not only insurers but all our customers’ industries. As such, the world isn’t getting less risky, but the opportunities to help our customers may be greater than ever.

GOALS FOR YOUR NEW POSITION: Snapsheet is differentiated through the power of new technology married with a world-class services organization to prove what is possible and lead the way in creating this future, starting with the most critical moment for insurers and their customers — the claims process. So, my specific goals are to work with insurers to accelerate the change within their own organizations to make the insurance process simple for everyone.

CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: One of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the industry is the most critical moment — the claim. Insurers need to drive greater claims efficiency and outcomes while at the same time creating the best customer and employee experience possible. When you look closer at this moment, the insurer must improve customer engagement, better understand and anticipate the customers’ needs, and more effectively deliver solutions tailored to these needs – and do it all while aggressively reducing the expense structure.

FIRST EXPERIENCE: My first experience in the insurance industry was applying information and analytics to improve executive decision-making across all functions of insurance. Almost 30 years later, this area is still a big part of my work.

ADVICE FOR A NEWCOMER: Drop any preconceived notions of what insurance may be. Immerse yourself within all parts of the industry, learn about the full spectrum of risks we address and the changes in the customer industries that are generating these risks, learn about the decision-making process, from management to the edge of the organization, and how new sources of information and engagement are reshaping our understanding and responses, learn about both the underwriting and claims process.

DREAM JOB: I would make every day an adventure and launch my own experience travel company — always looking for the next place or a fresh experience in the same place.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IN YOUR NEW JOB: I’ve been consulting for years on how tech and data can change the insurance industry. Now, I am a part of the best claims insurtechs out there that is driving that change. Snapsheet is a true innovator – they have reimagined and delivered a customer-first claims process, and I am proud to be a part of it.

COLLEGE MAJOR: Computer science, with minors in math and business

FAVORITE MEAL: Sushi

FAVORITE BOOK: “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving; “Blindness” by Jose Saramago

HOBBIES: Whatever my kids are doing

ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Whatever sport my kids are into at the time: softball/baseball, basketball, sailing, skiing. Bike and read when on my own.