Women Leaders in Insurance in the USA |
Elite Women 

Alliant Insurance Service’s Kirsten Handel attributes her success to being strong. After beginning her career in underwriting, she moved on to the actuarial sector and is now client facing.

“Insurance is all I’ve ever done, and I grew up through the ranks, and it hasn’t been easy,” says the senior vice president. “There are always new things to learn, but the core fundamentals remain the same, so being strong helps you get through. I was never the smartest, but I worked hard to learn, understand, and adapt in addition to keeping my relationships and building new ones.”
 

“Growing a book of business or running a team every day is like being a firefighter because client requests come in, or they have a loss and your team needs help. It’s a very high-paced environment and you have to stay on top of it”
Kristen HandelAlliant Insurance Services

Being resilient is also something Rekha Skantharaja advocates. The CEO of Tangram Insurance refuses to be put in a box and wants to show the industry that women leaders are more than token figures. If asked to an address a subject like work-life balance or self-care, she refuses.

“Whenever I am asked to give a keynote or speak on a panel around these topics, I politely decline to participate,” Skantharaja says. “My male CEO counterparts are not being asked to discuss these things. They are busy exposing their views on M&A and valuation trends, tech transformation and big data, the art of negotiation, and building the next $1-billion unicorn.”

A big part of Skantharaja’s ethos is being courageous as a leader.

She says, “We are at an inflection point for women in this industry and it’s time to lean deeply into the areas that have typically been guarded by the men.”

Adaptability, resilience, and a client-focused mindset have all been key to enabling Catherine Lyle’s rise in the industry.
 

“My goal is to make the claims process as efficient and supportive as possible. Staying innovative isn’t optional – it’s essential to provide value to our clients and respond effectively to emerging threats”
Catherine LyleTokio Marine HCC - Cyber & Professional Lines Group

Now, as senior vice president, and head of cyber claims and incident response at Tokio Marine HCC, she spreads that energy among younger colleagues.

“Thankfully, there are many amazing women within or entering the industry, and this is something I am passionate about,” Lyle says. “I believe in creating opportunities and offering guidance to help them navigate their careers. Mentorship is critical for building confidence, providing perspective, and empowering the next generation of leaders.”

Echoing the need to allow others to showcase their skills underlines the leadership maturity of Risk Placement Services’ (RPS) Sharon Novasel.
 

“I oversee our summer interns and aim to broaden their perspectives on the diverse career opportunities within the insurance industry”
Sharon NovaselRisk Placement Services 

“As a manager, I have found that empowering team members to take ownership of their responsibilities and roles has been key to our department’s success in achieving our goals,” she explains.

Being strong and successful also involves understanding the need for personal growth. Refining her leadership style is something Christine Schneider, senior vice president casualty claims at Arch Capital, places a premium on.

She says, “I am aware of my weaknesses and know when I need to consult with colleagues and collaborate in order to efficiently find a resolution or execute on a goal.”

Awareness and understanding how to get the most from themselves is a quality shared among the Elite Women 2025.

“My strongest qualities are my ability to strategically problem solve, analyze situations, weigh risks, and make thoughtful decisions that are in the best interests of our client and/or the organization,” adds Schneider.

Ryan Specialty’s Brenda Austenfeld has carved out a reputation by setting standards.

“My goal is for our team to be the very best, not just in numbers or metrics, but in the way we conduct ourselves and the level of excellence we set.”

It’s been under a year since Stephanie Peters took on the role of vice president of client relations at RPS.
 

“All women in leadership should embrace being a role model for female peers”
Stephanie PetersRisk Placement Services

She has dealt with the challenge of increased responsibility of managing a team and has introduced new ways of operating.

“I was previously in a position where I was comfortable and stepped into a role that required me to adapt and embrace change. I am proud of how I handled the transition, and I am particularly proud of the support of my team and how the team embraced the changes.”

Resilience and determination mark out the Elite Women 2025, as they have had to come through challenging circumstances directly or battle structural bias.

IBA’s survey data shows that 33 percent of respondents believe they would have achieved more seniority if they weren’t female.

Sharon Novasel relishes working at RPS, where there is a strong focus on diversity and equity in the workplace, as she’s experienced the other side. Her career began during a time when women seldom occupied high-level positions. 

She says, “I often wasn’t taken seriously, sometimes mistaken for the manager’s assistant, and was frequently dismissed and talked over in meetings. For example, when interviewing an agency for an appointment, I was frequently asked when my supervisor would make the decision, even though the decision was mine to make.”

Similarly, Lyle can sympathize with not being shown the same respect as her male counterparts.

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“I would love to say that there were no roadblocks and that everyone was supportive of a woman with a voice. However, that was not the path,” she says. “One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming unconscious biases. Early in my career, I had to work hard to ensure my voice was heard in rooms where women were underrepresented. These challenges also fueled my drive to excel and create pathways for other women in the industry.”

IBA Elite Women 2025 judge Mellard acknowledges there are fewer barriers for women than there have been historically. To continue this trend, she feels women have to be more emphatic about their abilities.

Mellard says, “There is greater acceptance of broader skill sets that women bring, but barriers still exist because too often companies are rewarding those who they know as opposed to who you are. I don’t think today it’s because you’re a woman as opposed to a white man, but I do think the barrier is women need to do a better job to intentionally and confidently explain their array of skills.”

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Another of 2025’s Elite Women resonates with Nadia Hoyte, cyber national practice leader at USI Insurance Services. She recalls being “second and third guessed” and then attaching a meaning to that which chipped away at her confidence, before she understood where these perspectives come from.

IBA judge Blume is pleased to see how women leaders are breaking through and emphasizes how important it is to keep the momentum.

She adds, “We’re really at a crossroads, and I think we need more of our white male counterparts to become allies and take a true interest in our success, to see us not just as competition, but an equally powerful force.”

What is evident from the Elite Women cohort is how willing and able they are to guide others. They create time in their schedules to ensure they can support, educate and upskill the next generation of insurance professionals, particularly younger women.

Alliant’s Handel has seen impressive growth figures in her region over the past 12 months, which wouldn’t have happened without her team.

“I’m very proud to be a part of hiring and bringing on some new team members but also mentoring a few of them,” she says. “I have people that have helped me from day one, and I still speak with them going back 27 years. I want to be that for the future and pay that forward. The relationships I’ve built and the trust I have garnered with some of our newer people, in addition to maintaining my clients, is probably the thing I’m most proud of.”

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The popularity of video conferencing has also strengthened Handel’s impact.

“It’s actually expanded who you can learn from and who you can mentor because you’re not just with the people within your office. I’m working with people in Florida, Atlanta, California, Boston, and meeting all these people that I never really would have worked with closely.”

Lyle is another who is passionate about being there for the “many amazing women” entering the industry.

“I believe in creating opportunities and offering guidance to help them navigate their careers. Mentorship is critical for building confidence, providing perspective, and empowering the next generation of leaders,” she says.

Another who is active in ushering the next generation through is Novasel.

She says, “As a mentor to many women in entry-level positions, I offer guidance and encourage them to challenge themselves, building their confidence and assertiveness, and fostering an equal playing field for everyone.”

Another defining mark of this year’s cohort is leaving a lasting impact. Despite being a minority in the C-suite, the winners are able to implement strategies that affect not only their organizations but the wider insurance industry.

For Skantharaja, it’s instilling a culture of achievement.

“My approach to my career and my life is to be grateful but always a little restless. You should leave things better than you found them and raise the bar," she says.

Risk Placement Services’ Karen McCarthy-Hawn promotes the need to be guided by “an ethical or moral compass”.

The claim advocacy manager does this by creating a collegial culture.

“Most of the obstacles can be overcome with collaboration and a willingness to implement the change needed to remove the barriers to success,” she says. “When I present any obstacles discovered in the claims or systems work product, I always expect to be an active participant in helping find solutions or to provide training to change future outcomes.”

Despite advancements in team building, along with tech tools and AI, there is still a need to roll up the sleeves and work hard. Handel is living proof and credits her success to never losing sight of that.

She comments, “Grit is still important. I don’t think there’s any magic pill or method that takes that away. You still have to work hard and stay with it.”

Women Leaders in Insurance in the USA |
Elite Women 

• 
  Andrea Larkin
  Senior Vice President, Head of Financial Lines
  Westchester, a Chubb Company
   
  
• 
  Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld
  Co-President of RT Specialty and CEO of RT National Property
  RT Specialty
   
  
• 
  Christine Schneider
  Senior Vice President, Casualty Claims
  Arch Insurance
   
  
• 
  Karen McCarthy-Hawn
  Claims Advocate Manager and Business Analyst
  Risk Placement Services Inc.
   
  
• 
  Kristen Handel
  Senior Vice President
  Alliant Insurance Services
   
  
• 
  Lisa Lang
  Senior Vice President, National Accounts Casualty
  Arch Insurance
   
  
• 
  Nadia Hoyte
  National Cyber Practice Leader
  USI Insurance Services
   
  
• 
  Rekha Skantharaja
  President and CEO
  Tangram Insurance Services Inc.
   
  
• 
  Sharon Novasel
  Area Vice President of Marketing and Risk Services
  Risk Placement Services Inc.
   
  
• 
  Stephanie Peters
  Vice President of Client Relations
  Risk Placement Services Inc.
   
  
• 
  Aaisha Hamid
  Vice President, DE&I
  Alliant Insurance Services
   
  
• 
  Aileen S. Berry, Esq.
  Executive Vice President
  Amwins
   
  
• 
  Amy Lugar
  SVP, People Strategy
  HUB International
   
  
• 
  Betty Shepherd
  Divisional President, Cyber Risk
  Great American Insurance Group
   
  
• 
  Catherine Lyle
  Senior Vice President, Head of Cyber Claims and Incident Response
  Tokio Marine HCC - Cyber & Professional Lines Group
   
  
• 
  Jennifer Dimura
  EVP, National Director of Pharmacy
  Alliant Insurance Services
   
  
• 
  Jennifer Spence
  SVP, Director, Health and Productivity
  Alliant Insurance Services
   
  
• 
  Julie Whitley
  EVP, National Benefits Operations
  Alliant Insurance Services
   
  
• 
  Leanne Berry
  Chief Distribution Officer
  Vantage Risk
   
  
• 
  Margeaux Giles
  Chief Executive Officer
  IRYS Insurtech Inc.
   
  
• 
  Nicole Blum
  EVP, Operations
  Amwins
   
  
• 
  Nicole Sorrells
  Construction Casualty Lead, Vice President
  HDI Global Insurance Company
   
  
• 
  Sherita Hardy
  Vice President, Administration
  Amwins
   
  
• 
  Susan L Combs
  Chief Executive Officer
  Combs & Company LLC
   
  
• 
  Suzette LeSane
  SVP, Global Housing
  Assurant
   
  
• 
  Tracey Estes
  Head of Casualty
  MSIG USA
   
  
• 
  Yajaira Villegas
  Senior Vice President, Professional Lines
  Amwins
   
  

• Alison Wynne
  Senior Vice President, Aviation Practice Leader
  Brown & Brown
• Amy Carnahan
  Senior Vice President
  Gallagher
• Andrea Ash
  Chief Operating Officer, Natural Resources
  CAC Group
• Angela Dybdahl Oroian
  President
  Society of Environmental Insurance Professionals (SEIP)
• Angela Taylor
  Partner Strategist, Life Insurance Business Development
  TruStage
• Annett K. Hoak
  Owner/Broker
  Focus Benefits and Insurance Solutions
• Beth Diamond
  Group Chief Claims and Litigation Officer
  Beazley
• Beth Marsh
  Manager of Personal Lines Underwriting Operations
  COUNTRY Financial
• Bethany Theisen
  Client Advocate/Property Team Leader
  WTW
• Brittany Stahl
  Managing Partner
  Higginbotham
• Candace Funsch
  Broker
  CRC Group
• Catherine (Seto) Marincel
  SVP, Executive and Professional Lines
  Berkshire Hathaway
• Danielle Lenzi
  Vice President, Head of Risk Management and Insurance
  Rudin Management
• Erica Rangel
  Manager, Professional Liability
  Burns & Wilcox
• Jamie Neumann
  Vice President, Multinational Practice Broker Leader
  Brown & Brown
• Jasmine James
  Senior Product Specialist Technical Underwriting Regulatory Affairs
  Zurich North America
• Kara MacDonald
  SV, Managing Director - Middle Market
  Lockton
• Karen Stuttman
  Senior Vice President, Liability Claims
  AmTrust Financial Services
• Karin Venegas
  Managing Director/Regional Sales Director/Practice Leader - Real Estate, Healthcare
  Higginbotham
• Kathleen Tierney
  President
  Berkley One, The Berkley Corporation
• Kim McBee
  Senior VP, Specialty Lines Sales Leader
  Foundation Risk Partners
• Kimberly Jenis
  Chief Financial Officer
  Brown & Brown
• Krista Scott
  AVP, Territory Leader
  Zurich North America
• Kym Clevenger
  Principal
  Oakbridge Insurance
• Liz Walker
  Analytics Solutions Leader, US and Canada
  Marsh
• Maribel Arias
  SVP, Industry Practice Leader Professional and Services, Education, Cultural Institutions and Retail
  Chubb
• Mary Russell
  President Private Client Service
  Higginbotham
• Meryl Golden
  President and CEO
  Kingstone Insurance Company
• Michele Lamarre
  VP, Head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
  QBE
• Pamela Wheeler
  Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
  NFP
• Ria Thomas
  SVP, Head of Cyber Enterprise Resilience
  Truist
• Sara Kane
  Executive Vice President
  CAC Group
• Shannon Groeber
  Chief Executive Officer
  CFC
• Shantelle Cabir
  Senior Vice President, Business Insurance Consultant
  Newfront
• Shoshanna Simmons
  Senior Director of Captive Management
  Foxen
• Stacy Parker
  Managing Director – Financial Services Group, Commercial Risk Solutions
  Aon
• Stasi Bobo-Ligon
  Vice President, Global Relationship Leader
  Zurich North America
• Susan Johnson
  Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
  The Hartford
• Susanne Figueredo Cook
  EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Global Risk Solutions
  Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Yosha DeLong
  Global Head of Cyber
  Mosaic Insurance