Tell us about yourself as a professional. Do you have a special interest or area of expertise, unusual background or experience, or a topic or skill you’re working to get better at?
Starting as an underwriter by trade at AIG (worked in Underwriting Operations but had to learn the inner workings to standardize the various processes of underwriting) from 2009 to 2015, I pivoted in 2016 into Aon on the Human Capital side (then known as Aon Hewitt), as there was an opening there that aligned with my previous role, and it was chance to leverage any of the Industrial/Organization Psychology knowledge I had with my Bachelors in Business Administration on top of my insurance knowledge from AIG. I became indispensable, as I was able to “talk to” both Risk Capital and Human Capital. Over time, my role at Aon gradually became one of “sales enablement”, where I would assist an Account Executive (and some Enterprise Client Leaders) with “maintaining” the client relationship through contract compliance. It was straightforward – if a client asks for training reports, proof of background checks, policies, etc., I would provide these directly. From there, the asks broadened to focus more on internal cybersecurity controls within Aon’s IT infrastructure and applications, as well as on data privacy. For that, I work closely with the cybersecurity team at Aon to respond to questions on vendor due diligence (Aon as the vendor here), vulnerabilities, annual control audits, and other ad hoc client requests. This part of my work piqued my interest so much that I am currently pursuing the ACRM designation to better collaborate with the cybersecurity team and partner with them more when we present to clients.

Why are you passionate about working in insurance and/or risk management?
Risk management and insurance have become a calling for me ever since I started working in 2006 as an intern at AIG. Things just seemed to “click” while I was working there, more than the other part-time jobs I held before then. Preliminarily, I saw how insurance worked as a blend of math and law (two of my favorite college courses), but when I started taking and earned the AINS, I saw how nuanced insurance was from submission to claim across different lines of business. From there, I wanted to learn more about insurance so I could move into an underwriting role. Even though the opportunity did not present itself, I still earned more designations, the AIS, the AU, and the CPCU, to level up my knowledge. When a role in underwriting operations (within Accident and Health) became available, I took it and was able to communicate effectively with underwriters on the projects I collaborated on, including earning the ASLI designation to better understand Surplus Lines processes. When I went to Aon, I noticed that broader risk management may be more for me, so I earned my Masters in Science in ERM and was able to use that to partner better with Account Executives and Enterprise Client Leaders, knowing why clients are asking the questions, seeing the “supply chain” from a risk-based lens, and assuring clients that they can trust in Aon.

How have you grown or been challenged this year and how has that impacted your work in the risk management and insurance industry?
Most of my clients are in banking or insurance. With the regulatory environment in these industries and others growing increasingly stringent, especially around data privacy and AI use, clients are looking more closely at vendors. My workload on some clients increased substantially, with net-new questions being presented. Also, when other Account Executives see their clients have the same asks, which shows that different industries face the same pressures, they come to me, knowing I not only have the risk-management knowledge to approach them but also the practical knowledge to navigate key company resources. On top of that, numerous software vulnerabilities and service outages (CrowdStrike and two major cloud providers, as recent examples) leave clients wondering about the safety of their employees’ (and sometimes their dependents’) data within Aon. Staying in consistent communication with them is critical, but it can also be challenging, as vulnerabilities and outages are not foreseeable (i.e., unplanned), making it a cross-functional effort to draft a response on a short turnaround. After these, with the help of key stakeholders, I created a standardized outreach process that I can share with other members of my team should their clients raise the same inquiries. Lastly, with my role becoming more “senior” relative to the junior analysts with whom I work, I decided to take the management courses offered by The Institutes, thus enhancing my AU designation to the AU-M designation and earning my AIM designation simultaneously, so that I can be a better leader for them when it came to client assignments and help develop one of my peers to perform similar work as me, as she takes on a portfolio of clients.

How has your involvement in the CPCU Society benefitted you this year?
The leadership opportunities and the support received for pursuing them greatly benefited me this year. After participating in two Riskathons, I was tasked by members of the Leadership Council and the core Riskathon committee (those who advise on Riskathon logistics, strategies, etc., of which I am now a member) with bringing a Riskathon to New York. As the Chapter Governor for the New York Metro Territory, getting two of my three chapters on board was straightforward (Bermuda, the third, was exempt, as they already had one). Seeing that I could not do this with only two chapters, I decided to extend it to New Jersey as well (given the cross-promoted events they run with New York). To do this, I would need to engage with the Chapter Governor for New York Metro Territory II so I could access his chapters. He was entirely on board and offered his support where needed, including by representing Central New Jersey. He introduced me to the Long Island Chapter President and encouraged the New Jersey President (who already knew about this) to participate. Over the 9 months, all five chapters worked in a consortium on logistics and granular details, while the core committee and I worked on startups, sponsors, and strategy. I engaged my CPCU Society network (via Interact, 3IG members, chapter members, other interest group members, etc.) to help find and introduce us to startup candidates, sponsors, and possible locations for 2026. In the last few months, through these connections, we had five startups, four sponsors, and the Colorado Chapter expressing their interest in hosting 2026. The event was a massive success, and it would not have been possible without the CPCU Society members. Also, I had the opportunity to serve on the Circle of Excellence subcommittee, reviewing the chapters’ goals and suggesting revisions and enhancements based on our experiences as Chapter Governors overseeing our territories. It was a very collaborative effort, with all subcommittee members being heard and understood, which further demonstrates that we are a group that lives out the overarching vision of advancing risk management and insurance and fostering leadership within the industry.

In your opinion, what’s the best thing about being a CPCU Society member?
It is the people by far. While we all come from various parts of the country and even outside of it, and have different backgrounds, the members are driven to better themselves as professionals within the industry and as leaders in general. I have made some of my closest friends through the CPCU Society, and we are there for each other through the highest highs and the lowest lows, and we reach out when a new opportunity comes up. Without them and the CPCU Society, I would probably have had a harder time understanding the Risk Management and Insurance industry when I first started, and even figuring out where I belong within it. Also, it is the knowledge sharing within the Society. Because CPCU Society members want to help others succeed in the field, they are often the first to volunteer to speak at Chapter events and webinars. Even if the topic is not entirely in line with their day-to-day work, other members can leave knowing they learned more about the latest and greatest than they previously did. One of the biggest things I noticed when I started in the CPCU Society is that members tend not to gatekeep knowledge; they share it with those who will listen.

Tell us about something you enjoy outside of work, a cause you support, a hobby, family activity, or anything else that is important to you.
As a way to “pay it forward” with the gratitude I have for my mentors, I enjoy mentoring others seeking professional (and sometimes, to an extent, personal) guidance. Outside of mentoring in the CPCU Society, I also mentor veterans and veterans’ spouses through American Corporate Partners, a nonprofit that helps those transitioning from military to civilian life. I also volunteer at God’s Love We Deliver, which prepares and delivers curated meals to people who are immunocompromised, homebound, etc., as well as their caregivers. I also like photography, having my camera ready for when inspiration strikes (my immediate family tells me I have “the eye” like other avid photographers within the extended family), and writing (mainly stories or “movie pitches”; you can find me dissecting TV episodes and movies for storytelling elements, “plotline predictions”, etc.) I am also a runner who joins the CPCU Running Group at every conference or goes for a solo run in nearby parks a few times each week. Lastly, I am an avid foodie who will try everything once from all kinds of cuisines (my trip to Hong Kong ranks highest for the best and most interesting dishes I had) – the spicier, the better.

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ginaciorciari/        

 

Learn More About the Go-Getter Program

View All Go-Getter Member Spotlights