Headquarters: Calgary, AB
Year founded: 2009
Number of offices: 1
Number of employees: 76
Leadership: Sherif Gemayel, president
Websites: http://sharpinsurance.ca/
What did Sharp Insurance do differently last year to boost success and garner more business?
Cathy Lipe, VP of personal lines: There were many strategies for success and growth last year at Sharp. A few of them included adding three new markets and placing more of a focus on the commercial sector. Sharp has also moved into the Ontario and British Columbia markets with hopes of future expansion into Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces.
What challenges did you overcome in 2017?
CL: Alberta has seen a recession in the past few years, and insurers are struggling to keep loss ratios in line. Sharp created some programs and streamlined processes to help combat the declining market. We also focused on training our team to handle the changing landscape.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing brokers today?
CL: Leadership into the future is challenging, as brokers are faced with a multitude of options and no clear roadmap of what the future holds. Leadership strategies will need to change focus from what they have been in order to grow with those changes. Technology is on everyone’s agenda, but we must remember that our clients are the main priority. The amalgamation of tech and people needs to be brought together in harmony. Sharp Insurance keeps both of these at the forefront of every decision.
Any lessons learned in the last year?
CL: We learned not to lose focus. In a changing environment, it’s easy to get distracted in countless ways. It’s important to keep your eye on the end goal and make your decisions accordingly.
Did you have any lines or areas of business that experienced notable growth in 2017?
CL: We made an acquisition of a group home and auto program last year. One of our focuses was to grow that book of business through a strengthened marketing program, exceptional staff and strong resources.
What’s one factor that keeps Sharp Insurance ticking?
CL: Empowerment. We empower our team to make decisions quickly, we empower our clients to manage their policies in a multitude of ways, and we empower our people to be innovative. It is one of our core values here at Sharp.
