2015 34 Bermuda:Re/insurance+ILS
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
My career has been so varied in terms of the different teams I’ve led, it’s hard to choose just one highlight. Witnessing the authority’s development as a credible international regulator and growth from 50 people when I started in 2004 to around 175 employees today has been exciting. I’ve really enjoyed being part of it.
Another high point has been the opportunity to participate in discussions at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in the US and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority. They were educational experiences, and I felt proud to represent Bermuda in areas I knew were so important from an economic perspective.
What has been the biggest challenge you have encountered? Shanna Lespere
Job: Chief operating officer Company: Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) Career path
2015, Chief operations officer, BMA 2008—Director, insurance department, BMA 2004, Assistant director—investment group, banking trust and investment department, BMA
Shanna Lespere has been with the BMA for more than 10 years. She joined in 2004 as assistant director of the banking, trust and investment department’s investment group. Since then she has worked throughout the organisation, including as director of the insurance department, director of licensing and authorisations and director of supervision, insurance—complex institutions, and director of international affairs. Lespere’s most recent position at the authority was director, operations.
Before joining the BMA, she was a vice president at Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda), having joined the company in 1996. She also worked in the audit and accounting departments of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (Bermuda) while studying towards her Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation.
Why did you choose to work in this industry initially?
I didn’t actually set out to work in the insurance industry. I earned my accounting designation on Island while at local audit firm PwC and as part of the professional experience requirements most of the clients were in the insurance business. Later in my career it felt like a natural progression to move into the industry.
My first position post PwC was at Aon but working at Bermuda’s financial services regulator was something that always interested me. It’s not just because of the breadth of experience you can get at the authority but also because you do feel as though you are contributing in a large way to helping safeguard Bermuda’s economic future.
My biggest challenge has been achieving work-life balance between the needs of my career and the needs of my family. It’s a stressful juggling act for most of us but particularly for women in business. My husband and I have two children who are now 20 and 18. He’s always been very supportive of my career, but it was extremely important to me that I was a good wife and mother.
I also believe in giving back to your community through volunteering.
In addition to my professional voluntary activities, I’m a junior football coach with the Pembroke Hamilton Club. On Saturday mornings you’ll usually see me out running around with 40 little Zebras. I believe we have more to offer professionally if we lead a fulfilled life.
If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been?
Believe it or not, my undergraduate degree was in pre-med! I believe I would have been a brain surgeon or certainly something in the medical field if I had not changed paths.
If I were to give career advice to young women starting out today, it
would be to take advantage of the opportunities you are presented with. Even though you may not understand how it fits into your overall career plan now, it will afford you with an opportunity to challenge yourself and to develop professionally in areas outside your comfort zone. You never know how the experience will help you later on in your career. ■
“Another high point has been the opportunity to participate in discussions at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in the US and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55