2006 Women to Watch: Claudia P. Temple
Posted On: Oct. 8, 2006 12:00 AM CST
Director of Risk Management
Brunswick Corp.
Lake Forest, Ill.
Age: 44
Claudia P. Temple began her career in risk management in 1985 when she joined General Electric Co.’s health and safety department. In 1989 she moved to BorgWarner Inc. where she rose to the position of director of risk management before moving to her current position at Brunswick in 2002. In addition, she became chairman of the risk management council of Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Inc.
Q: Who has had the greatest influence on your career and why?
A: "Geraldine Fielder, her former boss at BorgWarner. “Besides being a strong manager and great leader, she once told me that if you are given a job, you need to understand your authority and take responsibility."
Q: What advice would you give young women entering the industry today?
A: "Take hold of your own career; tell people what you want to do and ask people what you need to develop in order to get there."
Q: If you had the ability to change one thing about the industry what would it be?
A: "Bring the insurance industry into the 21st century and start using technology. While we’ve started to see a shift in the past couple of year, we as an industry are still way behind."