Lindsey Nelson | Age: 35 Cyber development leader

CFC Underwriting Ltd.

London

Spotting a market ripe for growth has shaped Lindsey Nelson’s career.

After she graduated with degrees in psychology and education from York University in Canada, she was set for a teaching career when she stumbled across insurance and joined W.R. Berkley Corp. in Toronto, where she discovered a tiny team working on cyber insurance.

Ms. Nelson quickly became fascinated with cyber risk and saw the potential for it to become a huge market. She has worked in the sector ever since, initially moving to Travelers Cos. Inc. and then Chubb Ltd.

She moved to London in 2016 to join CFC Underwriting Ltd. and now leads the cyber distribution strategy for a team of 50 cyber underwriters, while the company itself has grown to 500 people from 150 in six years.

Graeme Newman, CEO of CFC, said, “Lindsey is one of the most passionate people you’ll meet when it comes to extolling the virtues of cyber insurance. Her constant enthusiasm, energy and drive are inspiring to all around her. She has an incredibly big and bright future.”

Ms. Nelson said she works with her team to encourage men and women to flourish but she is a little frustrated at the need for women to be highlighted as a distinct special interest group.

But she said she loves the collaborative nature of her environment and the insurance industry and enjoys the challenges arising from cyber risk.

“I have a constant need to fill my schedule, and picking up new hobbies is a huge source of my motivation. So making sure I invest the same amount of energy I throw into my work life and use it to invest in family and friendships is massively important to maintaining balance,” Ms. Nelson said.

Prior to the pandemic, she was traveling at least once a month and is “obsessive about getting to know cities like a local,” she said.

“Running, music and starting only the first chapter of about a hundred different books keep me going whether I’m at home or on the road,” she said.