Rising Star Courtney Fisher
Courtney Fisher came to re/insurance after qualifying as a CPA and is now assistant financial controller at legacy reinsurer Premia Re. The 30-year-old wants to “pay it forward” by mentoring young professionals in the industry.
Give us a snapshot of your career to date.
I started my career at EY Bermuda where I concentrated in re/insurance auditing. After achieving my CPA designation, I joined Premia Re in 2019 where I have been fortunate to work alongside senior executives in the legacy space with a wealth of industry expertise. Joining Premia in a time of rapid growth has been fast-paced and continues to provide me with increasing responsibilities and advancement.
How did you come to choose a career in re/insurance?
The opportunity to have a career in Bermuda as a global re/insurance hub initially attracted me to re/insurance and I was fascinated by the broad range of potential opportunities both locally and internationally. What also interested me was the people element of the industry and the importance of relationships. Re/insurance provides the opportunity to combine technical skills with interpersonal skills.
What makes the re/insurance industry attractive to young professionals?
The re/insurance industry is constantly evolving and has a lot to offer young professionals as there are roles for a variety of skillsets. Additionally, the potential for personal and professional development is attractive to young professionals as they seek continuous education and there are many experienced leaders within the industry who are committed to sharing their knowledge and empowering the next generation.
What are the opportunities and challenges you’ve faced?
Working in such a complex, dynamic industry has been a steep learning curve, and while certainly challenging at times, it has helped to accelerate my growth and every challenge encourages me to continue learning and face new opportunities head on.
Was there someone who inspired you or acted as a mentor in your career?
I have benefited from the support of many individuals within re/insurance as well as outside the industry throughout my career to date, but Caroline Berlo and Kyle Ferreira are two colleagues I will specifically mention. Caroline and Kyle have both provided guidance through pivotal moments of my career and working with each of them allowed me to understand that being a successful leader requires managing a collaborative work environment and challenging your team to develop their best qualities.
What differences does your generation bring to the industry?
Young professionals are generally more willing to embrace change and have a greater digital-first competence, so with the continued integration of technology in the re/insurance industry, young professionals challenge the status-quo and bring a fresh perspective with innovative and forward-thinking ideas.
What are your career goals?
I look forward to playing an integral role at Premia as I continue to develop my expertise. Looking further ahead, I want to leverage my skills and experience to support new talent and ideas within the industry – mentorship has been fundamental in my career, and I intend to pay this forward.
If you had chosen a different career, what would it have been?
Considering my hobbies, I would have loved to be a professional athlete. I haven’t completely written this off yet, who knows - if I keep at it maybe I can join the senior ladies golf tour in a few years!
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