Women in Hamilton
Women in Hamilton
Megan Green
Partner, PwC Bermuda
Give us a snapshot of your career to date.
I joined PwC Bermuda in 2017 as a director in the Asset and Wealth Management team, focused on serving predominantly large corporate fund managers, hedge funds, and insurance-linked securities clients. As the D&I lead in Bermuda I have a strong focus on our people engagement activities. I began my career in Bermuda as an audit associate in 2004 and worked abroad in Australia for nine years before returning to Bermuda.
I have been promoted to partner at PwC and I am thrilled to be part of the partnership team.
What attracted you to re/insurance?
The ability to work in an industry with global reach and opportunities for global mobility. Bermuda is a significant centre for reinsurance and funds—traditional and alternative investments, including insurance-linked securities (ILS). Bermuda dominates global ILS market capacity and is truly a market leader in this space.
Do you feel this sector is attuned to D&I?
D&I is certainly getting attention at the right levels in the industry. There is no doubt there are still challenges and a long road ahead, but it’s promising to see D&I is now one of the priority items leaders are thinking about when shaping the future strategies of their organisations. There is no quick fix though and we all have to be prepared to take action now to benefit from the longer-term impact.
“It is important that people feel they can bring their authentic selves to work.”
Have you encountered any DEI-related challenges?
I’ve certainly had to face challenges in my career due to being a woman in an industry dominated by male leaders. It is often said that it’s easier to be an advocate for someone when they are like you. So when there isn’t a lot of diversity at the top, leaders need to change their mindset and focus on building relationships that may not feel as comfortable or be as easy.
To build an inclusive culture, it is important that people feel they can bring their authentic selves to work. In order to enable this, it is vital that leaders can show empathy and understanding for each individual’s circumstances, which can be hugely impacted by their background and culture.
What are your ambitions?
As a newly appointed partner in PwC Bermuda, I will continue to focus not only on delivering the highest quality of service to our clients, but also on driving our people and D&I strategies.
I am passionate about continuously striving for an inclusive and empowering corporate culture, not just because it’s the right thing to do but also because the benefits will be felt by our people, our clients, and our firm.
Why is Bermuda a great place to live and work?
In Bermuda, there is a highly collaborative business culture working together for the Island’s commercial success. Bermuda is in the top three reinsurance domiciles globally. Known as the world’s risk capital, the Island is at the forefront of providing innovative solutions to increasingly complex risks.
Business aside, Bermuda is my home. I was born and raised here, and it is a beautiful, friendly place, with a diverse population and a great place to raise a family and build a career.
Julia Henderson
President and head of management, Stable
Give us a snapshot of your career to date.
I moved to Bermuda in 2003 and began working in the Ventures unit at RenaissanceRe before moving to underwriting. I took a sabbatical to earn an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2010, I moved to PartnerRe, leading its insurance-linked securities and worldwide retrocession portfolios.
In 2013, I founded Brit Insurance’s new Bermuda office as senior vice president responsible for building and managing Brit Bermuda’s property treaty portfolio and peer reviewing the casualty treaty portfolio. I was also the founding executive director of Sussex Capital, Brit’s first open market third party capital fund. In 2018, I joined Lutece Investment Management as chief underwriting officer.
I recently joined Stable, an insurtech company focused on providing financial lines risk management solutions in the $5 trillion illiquid food commodity industry as president and head of portfolio management. I have also joined the advisory board of Vesttoo, an innovative insurtech company focused on using advanced technologies to bring liquidity to previously illiquid insurance markets.
What attracted you to re/insurance?
I was lucky enough to have found sponsors at a young age. Jay Nichols, Jon Paradine, Brian Secrett and Jon Sullivan have been an amazing support during the formative years of my career. They pushed me and my interests in how to match risk and capital have helped to bring me to where I am today. I am very grateful that our paths have crossed. This support in addition to the curiosity I have about how to bring more risk and capital fluidity to our business has hooked me.
Do you feel this sector is attuned to D&I?
I don’t—we have a long way to go. I believe it’s important to focus on cognitive diversity and inclusion as this will enrich our industry and bode well for our future. It’s disappointing to see certain virtue-signalling appointments claiming D&I, providing no support or true inclusion to the appointee—this will have the opposite effect of bringing more diverse candidates into the pipeline.
Is there anything you would like to improve or change?
Of course there is, and I would be concerned with any other response to any industry. I believe we have a long way to go with people and tech in our business. For people, I think focusing on building and supporting a diverse talent pipeline through all layers of an organisation should be a top focus.
For tech, there is so much in the current way of conducting business that can be improved. It’s hard to highlight areas but I will try: claims management, contract management, data transfer efficiency/fluidity, and so much more.
Have you encountered any DEI-related challenges?
Yes, and I would be surprised if anyone who’s been in the business almost 20 years hadn’t. I am grateful for the challenges, as this brings exposure and problems can only be addressed if they see sunshine. Many of the challenges I have encountered have spurred growth and learning.
“There is so much in the current way of conducting business that can be improved.”
Would you encourage other women to consider this sector?
Absolutely, and we have amazing leaders now—keeping in mind you don’t need a fancy title to be a leader. You need to be good at influencing, inspiring and building followership.
What are your ambitions?
My ambitions aren’t very different from what they were before: I love learning and growing. Working with a brilliant team to build something meaningful is my happy place, and I am lucky that I have found that home at Stable.
Why is this sector a great one to work in?
I believe we have a unique blend of marketing, sales, risk analysis and general economics all blended into most aspects of our business. Rarely can you find the breadth of functions in financial services in such a small group of companies managing billions of dollars of capital.
