2024 Underwriters of the Year | Michelle Sugawara, Underwriter, CNA Canada

Michelle Sugawara’s insurance career spans over 15 years with experience on both the broker and insurer side.

Sugawara began her career in the industry in 2009 in an administrative capacity, before becoming a broker. She then joined the insurer side in 2015, where she held various roles in commercial lines. She joined CNA Canada in 2022 as a Production Underwriter on the Commercial Middle Market Team.

Sugawara earned her CIP designation in 2017 and is currently working towards her CRM designation.

Outside of her professional life, Sugawara enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, and volunteering in her community.

“I’m honoured and thankful for the recognition,” Sugawara says of her nomination by FCA Insurance Brokers, a member of the Canadian Broker Network, Canada’s largest network of independent brokers.

Q: What makes a great underwriter-broker working relationship?

“Outside of product knowledge and effective communication, I believe trust between an underwriter and a broker is paramount. It’s the foundation of any great working relationship. This trust is crucial for understanding a broker’s needs and values, ultimately allowing us to grow and evolve together.”

Q: Why did you become an underwriter, and what do you love most about your role?

“I pursued underwriting because I had an interest in an analytical role which also allowed me to provide solutions and build relationships. The people aspect of the role, along with the opportunity to continuously learn new things, is what I love most about the industry.”

Q: What’s the biggest challenge for underwriters in P&C currently, and one thing they can do to overcome it?

“The insurance environment is increasingly competitive.. To compete with and set themselves apart from competitors, underwriters can focus on capabilities, expertise, and responsiveness to go beyond just price.”

Q: Given the current talent shortage, what would you say to encourage people to join the industry?

“The insurance industry has numerous opportunities and can provide a very rewarding career path. It’s a varied industry to explore and is well worth exploring. It presents an ideal landscape to continuously grow and develop while being able to challenge yourself at the same time.”

 Q: What’s one opportunity you think underwriters should focus more on in today’s marketplace?

“An opportunity underwriters can focus more on is expanding their knowledge. Industry seminars, news subscriptions, podcasts, and courses are all readily available. This can also create opportunities to expand your network.”

Q: How do you see technology, including AI, impacting the role of underwriters in the coming years?

“I see technology, including AI, altering our landscape in a positive way. I believe it CNA streamline procedures and improve decision-making while making workflows more efficient. I believe we may also see a significant impact from AI on risk modelling and analysis.”

 

The Canadian Broker Network Underwriter of the Year awards is a flagship program that CBN has been running on behalf of its members since 2017. The program is exclusive to CBN in partnership with Canadian Underwriter magazine. The categories allow for each of our member firms, at their option, to select one commercial lines underwriter winner as well as one personal lines underwriter winner from a primary market. The program evolved in 2021 to also allow for one commercial lines underwriter from an MGA in addition to the other two categories. The criteria includes underwriting excellence and risk knowledge; prompt and effective responsiveness back to CBN members; writing business that satisfies clients’ needs while creating a win-win for the broker and the insurer; a positive, helpful attitude; and investing time to develop trusting relationships with brokers.

Full list of 2024 Underwriters of the Year Award