| NOTABLE WOMEN IN REINSURANCE
SUSAN ZDROIK
Vice President Transatlantic Reinsurance Company
Three years out of law school , Susan Zdroik , like many young attorneys , had found herself thrust into a world where you were not working enough unless you were spending nights at the office and where her clients ’ demands took precedence over all else – personal matters included .
She was an asbestos coverage defense litigator , an area of law she did not so much choose as fall into . Realizing a desire to find a career that invigorated her while also allowing her more time to invest in her personal life and other outside interests , she decided to pursue a new path .
Susan was familiar with reinsurance as a result of her time as an attorney , and she found her first real “ home ” in the industry as a regional claims consultant with Munich Re . Over the next 20 years , she followed her curiosity and took on a number of challenges , as she tried out various roles within the company , ultimately advancing to the ranks of senior vice president , where she was responsible for directing the company ’ s reinsurance sales efforts in direct and brokered distribution channels . Today , Susan is a vice president with Transatlantic Reinsurance Company , a position that allows her to use the industry insights and management skills she has cultivated over the course of her career , provides the flexibility required to maintain a healthy worklife balance , and enables her to help other women achieve their goals in the reinsurance industry .
While Susan enjoys her professional role of problem-solving with regional property and casualty insurance companies , she has found her passion in serving as a resource for others . She credits this largely to the mentorship she received while navigating her early years in the industry . This includes the mentorship of a female member of the board of managers at Munich Re in Germany , who gave Susan two pieces of advice that she now shares with young women seeking to advance in the everchanging world of reinsurance .
“ She told me , ‘ It ’ s a long career , so don ’ t get hung up on temporary setbacks ,’” Susan said . “ She also told me that I had something to add to the conversation , and that it was important for me to say what I had to say . Don ’ t be afraid to speak up .”
Susan ’ s new perspective has led her to take an active role in the Association of Professional Insurance Women ( APIW ), an organization that provides networking opportunities for women in the industry and offers educational programs focused on helping women establish themselves as leaders in the insurance industry , where she currently serves as president . In 2016 , she helped the organization launch a partnership with St . John ’ s University that offers mentorship opportunities to female students who are considering careers in insurance and related fields . In addition to helping manage the program , Susan also serves as a mentor , and she is excitedly looking forward to meeting her new mentee for the fall 2017 semester .
Asked where she sees herself in five years , Susan exudes the same resolve and open-mindedness that led her both into and out of the world of high-stakes litigation . But , she says , “ I don ’ t need to be CEO . Make no mistake – I ’ m still ambitious and want to continue to forge my way up the leadership ranks . But I am enjoying making my mark from where I ’ m currently at in the organization . I have a flexibility and clear-mindedness now that I didn ’ t have in my twenties and thirties which I ’ ve really come to appreciate . I ’ m not interested in living someone else ’ s career path .” She values the work-from-home lifestyle afforded by her current role , as well as the camaraderie she shares with her amazing work colleagues at TransRe , and what she likes most is being able to connect people in a solution-providing capacity , both within and outside of the industry .
“ In five years , I see myself continuing to expand my network as I love meeting new people and being challenged by new ideas ,” she said . “ I would like to be seen as a resource for perspectives on the industry , and to have a broader impact in terms of encouraging others to achieve their career goals . I can ’ t think of a better legacy than that .”
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