2021 Women to Watch Awards Americas EMEA
Jennifer Sharkey Area president/management liability/Northeast regional director
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Boston
Growing up with family members in insurance, Jennifer Sharkey was no stranger to the industry. “Some people in my family were involved in insurance and risk management, so I grew up hearing about it,” she said. Even with this knowledge of the industry, however, she didn’t expect it to have such a deep impact on her.
After graduating from college, she began working at Johnson & Higgins. “I loved it. I’ve always been on the broker side and what I really liked was working with insurers and building relationships, and coming up with solutions for clients,” she said. “I don’t know of any other profession where you are dealing with such a diverse customer base in such an array of industries, where you really get to understand the companies and their operational aspects.”
Ms. Sharkey joined William Gallagher in 2004, which was bought by Arthur J. Gallagher in 2005.
What she found disappointing when she entered the industry some 30 years ago, however, was an obvious imbalance in the workforce.
“It was difficult,” she said. “I was the only woman in meetings and on the underwriting side with all men in financial lines. I am now very committed to making it easier for other women who are coming up behind me.”
In an ongoing effort to remedy the situation, she has developed “an unbelievably diverse team,” she said. “It always bothered me that the playing field didn’t seem equal for women and diversity.”
Ms. Sharkey works to promote women and diversity in the financial lines sector and to support Gallagher’s diversity and inclusion initiative. She also mentors women in the industry, both internally and externally.
Patrick Kennedy, regional president at Gallagher, said Ms. Sharkey “embodies this award, which recognizes the top female executives in the insurance industry.”
He added that she has a passion for the business, and “a proven track record of delivering extraordinary results, a gift for mentoring and a client-first approach.”
Ms. Sharkey is also “quick to share credit with her colleagues and takes a genuine interest in their career development,” he said.
