Product Development Director, AIG Programs
shazia.salerno@aig.com
Shazia and her team are involved with anything and everything product-related in some capacity or another. And product development work and processes come into play at a very foundational level. She believes that doing good work encompasses effective communication, collaboration, a solutions-oriented mindset and putting yourself in your customer’s shoes to provide value-added services that separate us from our competition.
Shazia isn’t afraid to get in the weeds with clients and stakeholders to have technical discussions to ensure that everything is properly communicated and flows in the right direction. She started in insurance as an 18-year-old intern at Aon while in college (as an Actuarial Science major) and has held a variety of insurance-related positions over the years, including underwriting. After this experience, she branched out into product development where she enjoys the specialized nature of product work, and the discipline and diligence associated with product management.
Because she worked in underwriting for half of her career, Shazia stepped easily into her product development role. “Having an underwriting mindset is the key to being good at product development,” she explained. “You need to think about exposure, coverage and market needs to develop strong forms and varied products.”
Shazia believes in the power of being proactive rather than reactive to serve clients better. She likes to take ownership of things that come her way with a “take the bull by the horns” attitude. Shazia feels proud of what her team brings to the table and the way they work together to tackle initiatives with 110% effort and a high level of dedication and responsiveness. “We serve an important support and communication function and strive to make things easier – product development and filings can be an arduous process for our clients and stakeholders,” she noted.
As an example, Shazia previously worked for another insurance company where she worked with a specific Program Administrator. Today, over 12 years later, AIG is vetting a new program for that same Program Administrator and one of the principals there remembered her efforts because she and her team had been able to deliver in a noteworthy manner for him in the past. This meant a lot to Shazia, who feels that people are important above all else. “People are core to the success of a company,” she explained.
