Her Story
About Laurel
Laurel Jordan serves as senior principal, acting as the product sold to vendors and carriers in the insurance analyst advisor industry. With 30 years in insurance and six months in her current role, she advises and analyzes for insurance carriers, vendors, and service providers. Her responsibilities include developing strategies for go-to-market, launching new products, data strategy, and AI strategy, as well as performing block analysis, leading consulting projects and workshops, and speaking at company analyst days and user conferences. Jordan holds a bachelor's degree and an MBA, plus several insurance accreditations including FLINI (Fellow Life Insurance Management), Lean Six Sigma green belt (working on black belt), Disability Lead Management Specialist certification, and numerous AI and machine learning certifications through Microsoft. She is a member of the Executive Council for Leading Change, NATO's Insurance Women's Network, the Insurance Women's Network, and Member of Chiefs. Jordan has received the 2024 Accord Women's and Insurance Advancement Award, Value Ambassador of the Year from EXL Services (2022), 2021 EXL Upcoming Rising Star, and 2025 Sutherland Global Highlighted Leader Award. Previously a mentor for Rise supporting young and new entrants into insurance, she continues as a mentor and sponsor for the Women's Network. She attributes her success to continuous learning, such as self-directed study of AI after ChatGPT emerged, and advocating to include operational staff at the decision-making table. Jordan values integrity, compassion, empathy, transparency, communication, and honesty in her work.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laurel
01What do you attribute your success to?
Continuous learning is one thing. I took it upon myself to learn everything about AI when ChatGPT first came out because I didn't want to be left behind. Always pushing to have a seat at the table. You can't fix things if you don't bring the people who are actually doing the work to the table. Insurance operations tends to just focus on doing the work and not focus on fixing the problems. I've been a strong advocate for pushing for that, to give them the seat at the table, so it is not just a technology or software solution but a combined effort from the business and IT.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't let them tell you no without explaining why.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's not a man's world. Women make up 75% of this industry, they just don't seem to get past mid-level management. Keep pushing, keep talking, keep being the person that is talked about when they're not in the room. Keep just keep going, and don't give up.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
We're a very old industry, stuck in doing it the way we've always done it. Moving into automation and efficiencies where AI and digitalization opportunities exist, but we're very risk-averse. Embracing the brave new world. We're never going to take humans out of the loop, but we need to retrain humans to manage digital employees and manage processes, and take away their mundane processes so they can utilize their brains, thoughts, and abilities.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is very important. Compassion and empathy, especially in the industry I work in, you're selling a promise, and that promise doesn't come to light until claim time. Integrity and transparency, very important, and keeping your word, saying what you're going to do, and then doing it. Communication and honesty.
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