Her Story
About Susan
Susan Bell serves as Middle Market Manager at Relation Insurance, where she has built a distinguished career in the insurance industry since 1992. Her expertise centers on management liability, where she creates comprehensive packages that include cyber liability, directors and officers coverage, errors and omissions, employment practices liability, and fiduciary coverages, while also handling property and liability needs for large-scale nonprofits, hedge funds, and global accounts. Bell earned her bachelor's degree from a small liberal arts school and later obtained her MBA from Virginia Tech. She holds an array of professional credentials including NYSAT certification, a financial planner's designation, life and health license, property and casualty license, and Series 6, 63, and 26. Earlier in her career, she worked as a commercial underwriter and loss control specialist, sat on Nationwide's board representing agents in Virginia, and built commercial departments for agents. Bell attributes her success to hard work, determination, and taking chances, including working commission-only as a single parent while raising her infant daughter. She values honesty, integrity, faith as her moral compass, and teamwork, and she emphasizes listening to one's moral compass and ethical conduct in the financial industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Susan
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a lot of hard work and determination, taking chances. I was a single parent and took a commission-only job, working many Saturdays with my infant daughter at the office. Focus on what's important and follow your heart. My clients and team became like family supporting each other.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Always listen to your moral compass. There are going to be people out there that are going to try to influence you to do things that are not correct. Especially in the financial industry, you have to listen to your moral compass, and you have to be ethical, you have to do what's right.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There is no glass ceiling anymore to break. We as women can do remarkable things. We have that sense of caring in our hearts that make us successful. We have empathy. When you start, find your tribe, focus, have your path, get good mentors. Focus on what's important, make sure it's a good company, follow your moral integrity. There is no limit as to what we can do.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
AI is certainly changing the landscape. If people are not getting on board with AI, then they're gonna get left behind. I'm in a unique opportunity that I can work with the agency on their closed AI system to make things better. I don't see any challenges with the AI, just everything as a positive. The only thing is trying to learn all the new technology. We work as a team instead of individuals which makes us stronger.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value honesty. I value integrity. I value my faith which is my moral compass. Teamwork is huge because I could not have been as successful without my team. I have great people working for me now. Support from every direction. If you find that in your career, you're very lucky.
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