Gina Hernandez
Gina M. Hernandez is a seasoned insurance leader and Vice President, Florida Territory Distribution Leader at CNA Insurance, where she oversees all property and casualty and commercial insurance operations across the state. With nearly two decades at CNA, she has built a reputation as a results-driven professional who consistently delivers, earning trust as the person colleagues rely on to solve complex challenges. In her current role, she leads strategic growth, broker relationships, and business development across multiple lines, bringing a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to a dynamic regional market.
Hernandez began her career specializing in marine insurance, focusing on cargo and shipping exposures tied to global trade. Over the years, she steadily advanced through the organization, ultimately becoming the first woman in the United States to hold an Assistant Vice President role on CNA’s Marine team. Her promotion to lead the Florida territory marked a significant expansion of her leadership scope beyond marine into all commercial lines. Known for her strong voice and unwavering work ethic, she attributes her success to perseverance, consistently exceeding expectations, and advocating for herself in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Deeply relationship-driven, Hernandez believes that trust and connection are at the core of the insurance business. She prioritizes meaningful engagement with brokers and clients, recognizing that long-term success is built on strong partnerships. Outside of her corporate role, she serves on the board of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation’s Florida chapter and actively participates in community outreach, including food distribution and volunteer initiatives. Guided by faith, family values, and a commitment to service, she continues to inspire others—especially women entering the industry—to speak up, pursue opportunities boldly, and build careers grounded in resilience and authenticity.
• Assistant Vice President
• First woman at CNA to hold Assistant Vice President title in U.S. Marine team
• IICF (Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation) - Board Member
• Florida Chapter
• IICF Board Member
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida - food packaging for homeless
• Personal food delivery to homeless during holidays
• Water and supplies for local homeless individuals
• Special Olympics volunteer events
• Animal rescue donations
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a lot of hard work and perseverance. Faith is foremost for me, and I've been very blessed with everything that's happened in my life. Work-wise, it's really been about working hard, persevering, and speaking up to make sure I was always heard and never overlooked. I never tried to say no when somebody would give me something - I wanted to prove that I could handle it, handle the workload, and hold my own against other figures, whether it's a man or another woman in the field. It always seemed like I'm always in the right place at the right time. I never really had to put my resume out there and look for anything - they just sort of found me. My reputation, I guess, speaks for itself, and people that know me have always spoken highly about me.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve received is to find a mentor you genuinely respect and learn from their example. At the same time, it’s important to advocate for yourself—speak up, prove your value, and don’t shy away from competition. If you want something, you have to be willing to go after it and demonstrate why you’re the right person for the role.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women to speak up - if you want it, go for it. If you want it, prove your worth. Don't ever back down just because there's a guy that you feel is being looked at just because they're a man. I never tried to say no when somebody would give me something, and even though that was good and bad, bittersweet, I always wanted to prove that I can handle it, I can handle the workload, and I can hold my own against other figures, whether it's a man or another woman in the field. I worked my way up by always showing up, always giving more than 100%, and always speaking my mind so that I wasn't ever overlooked. Find somebody that you respect - find a mentor. There are a lot of strong female leaders that I look at and say, I want to be you when I grow up. Look at how they've grown and expanded in their career, and how they dominate without being called the B word, because everybody looks at women with power differently.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the ongoing challenges is that insurance has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, and there can still be moments where women feel overlooked. However, I also see a significant opportunity in the increasing number of women stepping into leadership roles, which is encouraging. Additionally, while there is a lot of conversation around technology and AI, the relationship-driven nature of this business continues to be a strong and lasting advantage.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me are faith, hard work, and perseverance. I also place a strong emphasis on family and giving back to others whenever I can. Professionally, I value integrity and building meaningful relationships, because those connections are the foundation of both personal fulfillment and long-term success.
Locations
CNA Insurance
Orlando, FL 32810