Diary of an Insurer: Fortegra’s Debbie Calderbank

Monday 

I start the week at 7am with a 45-minute Peloton ride, followed by a quick stretch class, which gets my blood flowing and helps put my mind in the right place for the day ahead. 

After making myself a black coffee, I read through any emails that came in over the weekend and review my schedule for the week.

I’ll work from home today before heading into the London office the next three days. 

I spend the morning responding to emails, double-checking my travel arrangements for the rest of the week and preparing for the meetings I have while in London.

I always tend to find myself busier than expected when I’m in the office, so I try to prepare for all my meetings before I arrive.

In the evening, I pack my travel bag for the next few days; I’m looking forward to seeing the team tomorrow. 

Tuesday

My alarm rings early at 5.30am – just early enough for me to make the 7.12am train to London Euston.

After a quick trip on the underground, I’m in the office around 9.30am, saying hello to colleagues and making a much-needed coffee. 

The morning consists of various internal meetings, including one with the chief underwriting officer to discuss our resourcing model.

As we prepare to expand our lines of underwriting capacity across the UK and Europe, it’s critical to align our resourcing plans so we can have this in place at the right time. 

I meet with an old colleague for lunch and enjoy hearing their latest news. 

The afternoon consists of reviewing our operating model to ensure each of the components have been fully considered. I update the status of each one, noting where further action is needed. 

I’m a strong supporter of industry collaboration, and so I join an early evening networking event to catch up with those I know in the industry and make some new connections. I always enjoy meeting up with both new and old colleagues at these events. 

Wednesday

The morning is spent with the finance team reviewing our planning and reporting processes. Being recently new to the organisation, I want to ensure that I understand how all parts of the company work, be that here in the UK or with my US colleagues, and spending time with the head of finance is a valuable exercise. 

I have a lunch scheduled with a placing broker, and our head of sales and distribution also joins so we can discuss potential new managing general agent opportunities.

I spend the afternoon catching up on emails and have a couple of Teams calls with colleagues in the US, which tend to be scheduled between 3pm and 6pm GMT given the five-hour time difference, before heading to the hotel for a quick gym session and a light dinner. 

Thursday

This morning my focus is our value proposition, working with the marketing team on how we want to position the brand and defining our key messages.

We believe in offering MGAs a different type of solution and how we communicate this to the market is critical.

We have a great conversation, some good debate, and I’m grateful to have such a collaborative way of working that brings together all our individual experience and expertise.  

In the afternoon, I meet with a potential new MGA to understand more about their business. It’s important that we understand who our partners are and what they want to achieve so that we are certain we are the right carrier for them. 

Then I head back to the station to catch the train north; I arrive home around 8pm.

After a quick unpack and change of clothes, I make a light dinner and settle down to catch up on whatever series I’m watching. Currently I’m in the middle of the Kevin Costner drama Yellowstone – not one I thought I would enjoy but I’m completely addicted. 

Friday

Working from home to end the week, I start the day with another Peloton ride before diving into my emails and making a few calls. 

I find Friday afternoon tends to be my more creative thinking time, and after lunch, I map out some ideas I’ve had on the value proposition after my discussion yesterday with marketing and do some more work on our service model, paying particular attention to regulatory and conduct requirements.

My final hour is spent on admin, such as expenses submissions and receipts, and reminding myself of next week’s schedule so I know where I need to be and what my areas of focus are.

I like to end the week with a clear view as to what the following week will bring so I’m ready to go again on Monday morning. 

After that, I settle down for the night. I have a session tomorrow with my clay pigeon shooting coach, so I need a clear and focused mind.

I love getting out into the fresh air on a Saturday after a busy week in the office and always look forward to the ham and cheese toastie in the middle of the session.

Debbie Calderbank is chief operating officer of portfolio risks Europe at Fortegra Europe