What are the biggest threats to your business?
I worry about risks that have a highly correlated impact on our customers, employees, assets and even the broader insurance industry. These include natural catastrophes and cyber breaches, which have caused major losses recently. Terrorism, litigation and adverse economic conditions also concern me.

What are your career highlights?
As a consultant, the first client I served was Verizon and I was honored when its risk management department offered me a position. I also received the Spencer scholarship from the Spencer Educational Foundation during all three years of my MBA program. This scholarship allowed me to quickly complete my degree and prevented any financial hardship.

How did you determine that risk management was a viable career choice?
In my first job as a claims consultant, I interacted with risk managers from various industries, including telecommunications, retail, farming and health care. I was impressed with the breadth of their reach in their organizations and was fortunate to get a chance to try it myself.

What are your main priorities as a young risk manager?
My No. 1 priority is to provide a stable and loving environment for my family, which includes twin babies. Working hard and doing the best I can is next. Also, I am an avid volunteer and have served on the New Jersey RIMS Board of Directors for many years and have dedicated my time to running drives for Dress for Success and the Pajama Program.

How does technology fit into your work strategy?
Because I work for a technology company, it is embedded into just about all job functions. Verizon is a complex organization with enormous amounts of data. To be effective, I have to be able to analyze the data we gather internally and also understand the technology products that we offer to customers. However, understanding the big picture is critical to success—I must step back from the details of a project and grasp its goal and purpose.