Stefania oversees the Multinational accounts for Financial Lines UK, assisting the underwriting and development of multi-jurisdictional placements.
Stefania joined AIG in 2011 as the Financial Institutions Industry Practice Leader for the UK. Afterwards, she was appointed to manage the International D&O team of AIG UK’s Financial Lines division. During this time she developed underwriting skills and focused on maximizing performance and operational efficiency for her areas of responsibility.
Her insurance career began in 2002, when Stefania started working at Credit Suisse Winterthur in Italy as a Business Development Analyst for the Head of Distribution.
She subsequently worked in global broking firms Willis and Aon in increasingly senior positions.
Stefania has a deep understanding of the London Market, including knowledge of complex and structured placements such as Reinsurance, Captive/ Fronting, Facilities/ Binding authority agreements.
Stefania holds an MSc in Business Administration from Bocconi Business School (Milan, Italy). She is an Italian mother-tongue speaker and is fluent in English, French and Spanish.
Tell us a bit about yourself, background and your current role
I have an international background, thanks to a childhood spent living in different locations across Europe for my father’s work. I have worked in the insurance sector since graduating with an MSc from Bocconi University of Milan (Italy). I started working for a Swiss insurer based in Milan, as a business analyst for new distribution channels (affinity, direct and partnerships). Subsequently, I moved to London and started focusing on Financial Lines Insurance, through positions of growing seniority at Willis, Aon and finally AIG where I currently work. I now oversee our multi-jurisdictional customers for Financial Lines UK, an exciting position that allows me to also use my languages and client management skills.
Did you ever sit down and plan your career?
Not really, I started working in insurance because I was curious about it as I had never heard about it in great detail. Once I began working in the sector, most opportunities came from being available to new challenges…and being there at the right time!
Have you faced any particular challenges along the way and if so, how did you deal with them?
My career has provided me with great satisfaction, allowing me to be financially independent and to manage my own books of business. I have always cared deeply about customers and how I could resolve problems for them; sometimes it has not been easy to accept failures or delays in achieving that. I have had to learn to manage expectations better and also to accept that, sometimes, a partial solution is still better than nothing.
If you could change one thing for women in the workplace, what would it be?
I would enhance opportunities for female employees returning from maternity leave, by being more ‘creative’ about the career journeys that female employees can take. I would also campaign for more senior female role models to provide confidence to the younger professionals coming up through the ranks.
How do you feel about mentoring? Have you mentored anyone or are you someone’s mentee?
Yes to both and I feel it can be a very beneficial tool if it used within a well-defined objective, I also really believe in the benefits of reverse mentoring – we all have something to learn from each other!
What has been your biggest achievement to date?
Establishing expertise in my sector and getting people inspired to follow me on a journey.
What is your next challenge and what are you hoping to achieve in the future?
I want to continue providing solutions for customers (brokers and insureds alike), while focusing on developing profitable business and ensuring an inclusive workplace.
