Rebecca C. Amoroso
Posted On: Nov. 30, 2008 12:00 AM CST
Vice chairman, U.S. insurance leader
Deloitte L.L.P.
Parsippany, N.J.
Age: 52
Rebecca C. Amoroso is responsible for the Deloitte’s overall strategy and execution across tax, audit, consulting and financial advisory services, including client relations, service delivery, new business and ensuring Deloitte service offerings meet clients’ needs. Ms. Amoroso has led the insurance practice’s efforts to educate clients and ensure they operate effectively by forming a CFO peer exchange to aid client C-suite executives in understanding issues critical to their businesses and customers and by launching Deloitte’s “NAIC Update,” an online news publication geared toward keeping the industry informed. She was named Woman of the Year by the Assn. of Professional Insurance Women in 2008, and is a frequent speaker within the industry on diversity in the workplace, intergenerational issues, work environments that support different work and learning styles, and setting and achieving personal goals.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE INDUSTRY: "I guess I have my husband to thank for getting me into the insurance industry. I was a math major in college and was thinking about going into teaching. My husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, was already in the insurance industry. He was an insurance broker. He had suggested I look into the actuarial profession because at the time we didn’t have schools with actuarial majors. The actuarial profession uses a lot of math majors. I looked into the profession and I actually studied for my first exam while I was in college. And then I started working as an actuary in the industry when I graduated."
THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED: "Don’t wait to be recognized. I grew up thinking you work hard, you do a great job, and people will notice. And while that is not false, it is important to not be afraid to speak up and let people know what your aspirations are, let people know what you’d like to achieve if you have some goal in mind, and ask for their help."
ADVICE FOR THOSE STARTING IN THE INDUSTRY: "Inevitably in anyone’s career you’re going to be faced with certain challenges and obstacles. When you’re faced with those challenges, work hard to overcome them. Persevere. Don’t give up, and don’t be afraid to stretch yourself. Try to get out of your comfort zone as much as you can and if you do that, you’ll be surprised at what you can achieve."
WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE PROFESSIONALLY WHILE GROWING UP: "A tap dancer or Olympic star ice skater, but since I couldn’t skate, tap dancing was going to be my best choice. I achieved neither and I’m an insurance professional. When in doubt, go to insurance. I still have been known to take tap dancing every other decade of my life. I loved tap dancing. I just loved to dance."