2023 Women to Watch Awards Americas EMEA
Lisa Leftwich Head of sustainability services
Zurich resilience solutions, a division of Zurich North America
Schaumburg, Illinois
Three of the four positions Lisa Leftwich has held since she began working for Zurich North America eight years ago didn’t exist before she took them on.
While many people may have found it daunting to start from scratch multiple times, Ms. Leftwich said she loves building something from the ground up and leaning into new challenges.
“Anytime you move into a new role where you’re navigating the unknown, there’s discomfort with not being the smartest person in the room,” she said. “The key for me is becoming more comfortable with being uncomfortable and taking one step at a time.”
Her various roles at Zurich — from corporate communications to chief of staff for U.S. commercial insurance to director of value proposition for U.S. national accounts — have ultimately prepared her for the next phase in her career as the insurer’s first head of sustainability services.
Ms. Leftwich said she’s eager to make an impact on environmental, social and governance issues in commercial insurance in her latest position, which she began in March of this year.
“We are always helping our customers look ahead — what is the next risk and challenge on the horizon and how do we help them address that,” she said. “In many ways, ESG speaks to the challenges companies are facing today. I’m excited to work for a company that wants to use its position in the market to drive positive change.”
Andrew Zoller, head of international for Zurich North America, said Ms. Leftwich was instrumental in rebuilding and rebranding the international unit’s value proposition in the U.S.
“It couldn’t have gotten to the level it did without her involvement. We did a great job because of her, and that’s the part that really makes her stand out. She takes everything to the next level,” he said.
Ms. Leftwich advises other women to branch out and try something different.
“We oftentimes think that the only options available to us are those we can see, and so often there are other options that either we don’t know about, or that haven’t come to fruition yet,” she said.
Amy O’Connor
