Janet Dell
Managing Director, Client Experience
CS Stars L.L.C.
Chicago
Age: 37

Janet Dell plays a crucial role in the development and delivery of information that risk managers depend on to do their jobs. She has oversight of the work created by more than 200 technical professionals that build risk management and claims administration software at CS Stars L.L.C., a unit of Marsh Inc. Her duties include managing offshore workers spread across several time zones, and she has focused on recreating a startup culture to foster talent. To do that, she has built 20 teams of design and development professionals, helping triple the company’s product feature output.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO WOMEN ENTERING THIS FIELD?

Given the many challenges inevitably encountered in your career and personal life, make a decision to be part of the solution instead of the problem. Perseverance and a belief that every problem has a solution will remove the boundaries to resolutions and open the door to many opportunities for personal and professional growth.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED IN YOUR LIFE?

Always be honest with yourself, and with others to the extent you can share. Integrity and true accountability are the basis of any success, both personal or professional.

WHAT’S THE BEST-KEPT SECRET ABOUT WORKING IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY?

The great colleagues and clients! In my career of over 10 years at a professional services and software practice within Marsh, there hasn’t been a week gone by when I haven’t been inspired or shared a great laugh while working toward finding solutions. Of course, being part of Marsh & McLennan Cos. (Inc.) gives us access and the opportunity to work with the best of the industry, such as the insurance brokers at Marsh, the consultants at Oliver Wyman (Group), or the (third-party administrators) and the risk management information system (RMIS) colleagues at CS Stars. We also get to work with some of the best risk managers in the business.

WHAT’S THE NEXT MAJOR CHALLENGE IN YOUR BUSINESS SECTOR?

Clients and prospects require meaningful, broad, industry-based analytics to make informed decisions in real time. This is in addition to the commoditized requirements they have of an RMIS system. Being able to push critical data to clients across a broad range of issues, such as their total cost of risk with respect to loss-control measures, weather and political events, and policy placement, provides them with insight into how their risk management strategy is performing. Within a globalized economy, it’s critical for organizations not only to understand their risk management program’s performance, but also how it measures against benchmarks such as their peers’ policy programs, loss and safety control programs, and reserving practices. The challenge across the risk management industry for companies like Marsh will be how best to utilize technology and large global data sets to provide a unique differentiator to market rapidly.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELIEVE STRESS?

Prayer, spending time with my husband, Patrick, and catching up with my family, friends and colleagues.

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET VICE?

Chocolate éclairs and science fiction fantasy books. That’s right, sci-fi fantasy books.

WHAT SKILL HAS BEEN AN UNEXPECTED AID TO YOUR CAREER?

In all seriousness, a sense of humor and competition cheerleading. It’s important to be able to find the humor while facing challenges, and be able to motivate others to continue to pursue the goal. It’s been my experience that both are essential when leading growth-focused teams or practice areas.

WHAT’S AT THE TOP OF YOUR BUCKET LIST?

To become the wife, mother of three and professional that I aspire to be.

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