Rebecca Nelson

Insurance Services Leader, Valuation Advisory Services and City Leader, Chicago Office. I specialize in valuing businesses, assets, and liabilities of companies operating in the insurance industry, primarily for compliance purposes (financial, tax, regulatory reporting, etc.). I have 28+ years of experience in valuation along with an MBA, CFA, and ASA.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

In 2002, I worked on my first insurance valuation project. Industry specialization was not common and we had no expertise in insurance. I am self-taught and luckily, I’m a good teacher. I built a team of insurance valuation experts that I would argue is the best out there.

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Built Kroll’s insurance valuation team. I’ve had and continue to have various leadership roles at Kroll but this is a legacy that will remain long after I’ve retired.
2. My tenure at Kroll.
   a. Since undergrad, I’ve worked for 2 companies: Arthur Anderson (2years) and Kroll (26 years, C&L, which became PwC, which became S&P, which became D&P, which became Kroll). I am loyal, not to a fault, but because I’ve approached my career as follows:
   i. Ask for what you need, if you don’t get it, find a new job.
   ii. Ask for what you deserve, but be very introspective about this because what you think you deserve may not be what others believe you deserve. If, after careful consideration, you aren’t getting what you believe you deserve, find a new job.
   iii. Ask for what you want, but use this very sparingly, which is what I’ve done over my 26 years at Kroll.
3. The foundational relationships I’ve built with my clients and colleagues that also go back over a decade (some more than 2 decades).

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?

Trusting in 1995 that I would be successful in valuation and that I would be as good, if not better, than the male colleagues sitting next to me in a male dominated industry and years later that I would be a successful MD in a business dominated by male MDs.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I was licensed to drive motorcycles in my 20s & 30s. I did not renew the license after having kids.

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

Successful leaders in our business need to have the standard qualities: clarity of vision, strong decision making, good communication, etc., so those are just assumed characteristics of successful leaders. When it comes to being successful leaders in Risk at Kroll, the ability to form a puzzle in your mind with the pieces being all the potential outcomes, possibilities, avenues for success, failures, opportunities, etc., and putting those together quickly when different situations arise (i.e., triggering events) then bringing together the appropriate colleagues to work as a team is key. Things move quickly in our industry so agile thought, speedy communication, and the ability to bring the right people together are key.