2024 Underwriters of the Year | Katie Witt, Senior Underwriter, HD Mutual Insurance Company

Katie Witt began her insurance career shortly after graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University and Nipissing University with a joint BA/BEd in 2012.

Initially planning on being an educator but struggling with a challenging hiring process, Witt looked to insurance for a stable income and a start to a promising career. She never looked back.

Her first role was as a licensed insurance representative for a Co-operators-affiliated company. She quickly moved into underwriting at CUMIS, where she spent seven years honing her underwriting skills before joining HD Mutual Insurance Company as a Senior Underwriter in 2021.

Witt’s approach to her role is grounded in empathy and a commitment to exceptional service.

“It’s an honour to be recognized in this capacity,” Witt says of her award nomination by Verge Insurance Brokers Limited, a broker member of the Canadian Broker Network. “Providing exceptional service to brokers is my number one priority. To be recognized for something I intentionally work toward daily is incredibly rewarding.”

Q: What makes a great underwriter-broker working relationship?
“Ultimately, we all have the same goal: profitable growth and providing peace of mind to our mutual clients. This is best achieved through relationship building. I try to lead with understanding and kindness — especially important in this challenging time in our industry. We can succeed together by building trust through conversation. Let’s pick up the phone and discuss staffing challenges, difficult risks, or access to additional knowledge and resources. We might find solutions together or share valuable insights.”

Q: Why did you become an underwriter, and what do you love most about your role?
“I like to think underwriting found me. My role at CUMIS as a field support specialist involved underwriting and other duties, and proved to be a comprehensive start to my career. It allowed me to explore different aspects of the industry, and that’s how I discovered my strengths and interests — learning and development, knowledge sharing, and communication — all skills I’ve carried over from my education background.”

Q: What’s the biggest challenge for underwriters in P&C currently, and one thing they can do to overcome it?
“Finding and retaining skilled professionals. The pandemic has changed how we work, and the ability to work remotely has broadened job options, making retention more difficult. To address this, employers must focus on retaining exceptional employees and staffing teams appropriately. At HD Mutual, we prioritize listening to our team’s needs, celebrating our wins, and hiring to fill gaps effectively.”

Q: Given the current talent shortage, what would you say to encourage people to join the industry?
“This industry has room for everyone — for all skills at all levels. My story, which is one of many, is proof that our industry has room for everyone and their transferable skills at all levels. Whether you’re into finance, law, IT, or marketing, there’s a place for you in insurance. Many people find rewarding careers in this field, even if they didn’t initially expect to.”

Q: What’s one opportunity you think underwriters should focus more on in today’s marketplace?
“Investing more in providing training, webinars, and resources to broker partners would yield positive growth. Connecting with producers through knowledge-sharing sessions about products, company appetite, and industry trends can significantly benefit the industry.”

Q: How do you see technology, including AI, impacting the role of underwriters in the coming years?
“I hope to see automation of routine tasks, allowing us to focus more on building broker relationships and underwriting complex risks. I’m also excited to see how technology can assist smaller companies like HD Mutual compete with larger players by offering enhanced products and services.”

The Canadian Broker Network Underwriter of the Year awards is a flagship program that CBN has been running on behalf of its members since 2017. The program is exclusive to CBN in partnership with Canadian Underwriter magazine. The categories allow for each of our member firms, at their option, to select one commercial lines underwriter winner as well as one personal lines underwriter winner from a primary market. The program evolved in 2021 to also allow for one commercial lines underwriter from an MGA in addition to the other two categories. The criteria includes underwriting excellence and risk knowledge; prompt and effective responsiveness back to CBN members; writing business that satisfies clients’ needs while creating a win-win for the broker and the insurer; a positive, helpful attitude; and investing time to develop trusting relationships with brokers.

Full list of 2024 Underwriters of the Year Award