Her Story
About Dana
I specialize in working with mid-sized aviation companies that are fast-paced, growing, and heavy in M&A activity. I take a look at what their insurance program looks like, what their risk transfer looks like, whether that's surety bonding or traditional insurance products. Then I help them through their acquisition process to vet what good targets look like and determine if they can eke out some synergies between one company and another from an insurance perspective. My clients could be individuals or private equity. I handle a pretty broad spectrum of responsibilities - externally, I work with our clients to make sure they are taken care of from a risk management and risk transfer perspective. Internally, within my organization, I'm also responsible for our operations piece, making sure that our workflows and processes are efficient, that the team has a healthy level of work on their desk and no one person is overloaded. I also handle training and retraining, especially with the introduction of AI, making sure everyone is using it responsibly. What I enjoy most is when someone brings me a problem that no one else can solve - they bring me a situation and say it is what it is, we can't do anything more about it. Then I dig into it and find where we can either eke out efficiencies, find a better work product, find reduced premiums, or help the insured with cash flow. I like those difficult problems.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dana
01What do you attribute your success to?
I have to say it's the foundation that I grew up with. My parents were hard workers, but they never missed an event - they were always there to support me. It gave me the confidence that I have today to continue, to trudge forward. In my younger career, obviously starting out in the late 90s, the environment wasn't as welcoming to women as it is now. I think just that foundation that they gave me to have the confidence to walk into a room full of men and really just speak my opinion and be able to hold my own - that's really what I attribute it to. Starting in the marine industry in heavy oil and gas in the Houston area, it really was male-dominated. And at the time, women weren't as inclusive of other women - it was almost a kind of catfight at the time. I've always been a proponent of once you get somewhere, turn back around, reach out a hand to the younger women and help them. Don't try to hold them down.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received - and you're going to kind of chuckle at it - is read everything backwards. Because you will catch any mistakes when you read your presentation, your email, anything that you are going to present. Read it backwards before you send it. That way, you can absolutely say, I know my presentation forward and backwards, or that this important email that I am sending, I know that it is 100% accurate, forward and backwards. I don't necessarily think it's career advice per se, but it has helped me in multiple situations.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The one thing that I have noticed is don't try to fit into the man's world. Be yourself. If you are feminine, be feminine. Be who you are. Be respectful. Know your manners. But speak up. Listen more than you speak, but when you speak, speak with confidence and knowledge and conviction. Don't be arrogant about it, just be assured. You're entitled to be there at that table.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Just be honest. I mean, if you make a mistake, if you miss something, it's okay. It can be corrected, but don't try to hide it. Be honest. Just let me know.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Texas
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.