Reflections on my 2024 Innovator of the Year Award
THE UNEXPECTED GIFT OF RECOGNITION
About a year ago, I was honored to receive the RISE Innovator of the Year Award for my contributions to the insurance industry through innovation and visionary leadership. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d win, I thought the voting might be political, and I didn’t know anyone affiliated with RISE.
Receiving this award deeply moved me. It affirmed that my efforts to create a brighter financial future for people are valued. It also gave me hope that industry organizations can recognize merit over connections. Being acknowledged by RISE, an organization committed to empowering the next generation of insurance professionals, was a powerful moment of belonging in an industry where I’ve often stood out for my differences.
That sense of belonging is priceless. In an industry full of risk avoidance and tradition, having a community where I can be myself and share progressive ideas without apology is invaluable. As a woman in the male-dominated worlds of financial services, technology, and innovation, finding such community can be doubly challenging.
On the night of the awards gala, my husband Thynne and my friend and colleague Alex Cummings were there with me. When I won, Alex ran after me with her phone to capture every shot. It was surreal, a moment of magic, validation, and fresh confidence.
WHAT LED TO THE WIN
The judges looked for a leader who solves key challenges with creative, impactful ideas. Someone who drives real change in the insurance industry. My approach, rooted in my industrial design background, focuses on pushing industries forward by creating new products, services, and ways of working that challenge the status quo.
They also valued how effectively technology is used to improve offerings and operational practices, backed by measurable results. I believe companies should not wait for technology but proactively design their future, anticipating customer needs and using technology to bring the next generation of insurance products and services to life.
Leadership, influence, adaptability, and collaboration were key. My influence extended beyond my employer, I successfully pitched innovative ideas that led to the creation of a $1 million innovation fund with a global online retailer. Industry partners, including a top consulting firm, approached me to collaborate on harnessing the capabilities of Generative AI to create better insurance experiences. This momentum was sparked by a keynote I gave, sharing my design-led innovation approach at conferences nationwide.
THE AWARD-WINNING WORK
Central to my story is leading the overhaul of five claims teams into a single, streamlined operation with a unique vision for digital transformation. This effort resulted in a single claims platform for five companies, the first of its kind for a top-20 carrier. In addition to saving tens of millions in expenses year-over-year, it laid the foundation to deliver new value for customers, employees, and other stakeholders.
In subsequent years at the same Fortune 250 insurance carrier, my teams developed innovative concepts, resulting in early adoption of new solutions, technologies, and thinking. Our work fostered a more open, agile culture, recognized by Fact Company's 2023 list of Best Workplaces for Innovators.
A highlight was my work leading the design of a simplified, scalable way for regulators to oversee complex insurance operations, estimated to represent a conservative $140M/year impact, provide a disruptive strategic advantage, and create a B2B revenue opportunity.
We also redesigned the contents claims process, creating a suite of products and services that modernize handling and improve customer experience, representing a unique advantage in a segment representing $40B per year in industry losses. These concepts, presented to leadership as an interconnected eco-system, exemplify how design can unlock new efficiencies and opportunities.
LOOKING FORWARD
Winning the RISE Innovator of the Year award symbolizes what’s possible in insurance. When I joined in 2018, there was no formal role for design leadership at executive levels. I’m proud that I helped establish a culture of innovation by developing talent, maturing design practices, and broadening strategic visions.
This recognition affirms that successful transformation and standout growth can be purposefully designed, even in the most traditional service industries. I look forward to continuing to shape a brighter financial future, counteracting uncertainty, and helping people live more supported and empowered lives.
