2006 Women to Watch: Alexandra Glickman
Posted On: Oct. 8, 2006 12:00 AM CST
Area Vice Chairman and Managing Director-Practice Leader, Real Estate & Hospitality Services
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Glendale, Calif.
Age: 47
Alexandra Glickman entered the industry in 1983 working for Johnson & Higgins. She later launched Marsh Inc.’s real estate industry practice and created “Real Secure,” an integrated professional liability and D&O product for the industry. As leader of Gallagher’s real estate and hospitality practices for the past six years, she heads a team that insures a commercial real estate portfolio valued at $75 billion. She also remains a hands-on broker and is the area vice chairman of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California Inc. In addition, Ms. Glickman is president of the Real Estate & Construction Industries Council for City of Hope, a cancer treatment and research center in Los Angeles.
Q: If you had the ability to change one thing about the industry what would it be?
A: "I would make industry regulations more uniform and logical so that clients, insurers and brokers are not at the whim of each state. There’s tremendous redundancy in this current system which doesn’t appear to benefit anyone but the individual state that imposes it."
Q: What advice would you give young women entering the industry today?
A: "Pay close attention to all aspects of the industry, not just the insurance piece, but more importantly to the business issues of your client. Always take one more step—work an extra half-hour, ask an extra question, do more research. Don’t ever stop learning. Be capable and flexible enough to participate in multiple areas of the industry."
Q: Who has had the greatest influence on your career and why?
A: "There’s no one person. I have been very fortunate to have been exposed to so many people who became mentors. Christine LaSala who I met at J&H was a role model. She was one of the most successful women in insurance and had a great influence on my career as a friend and mentor. Chuck Curland at J&H really taught me the ethics of the business and that there’s no compromise on ethics. Bob Gallagher was a tremendous role model. He really believed in creating a family-like relationship with your clients and people in your markets."