Getting to Know: Flavia Doyle

I started to ponder if the insurance industry might be the next step for me, trading the breadth of audit for the opportunity to invest more deeply in a single business where I could build continuity in my role and see the long-term impact of my efforts. As luck would have it, a secondee from Bermuda (my future husband) arrived in the office, talking of sunny beaches and five-minute commutes, and in the summer of 2005, we made the move to Bermuda where I joined Aspen. Like many who come here, I agreed to two years and have now been here twenty.

I started at Aspen as Manager of Internal Reporting and over the years I have held various roles in Finance (Deputy Financial Controller, Regulatory Controller) before transitioning to our newly formed Capital Management department in 2020, recently taking on the dual role in our Risk function. I am currently Chief Risk Officer for Aspen Bermuda and Group Head of Capital Management where I manage and optimize the company’s capital structure, help secure funding and develop strategies to support business growth and profitability.

I’m not alone in saying that I fell into this industry. As a recent graduate from Edinburgh University with a degree in English Literature, I quickly realized that I wanted security in the form of an accounting qualification and steady income. I applied to PwC London Audit and was assigned to their Insurance division – that is what led me to insurance, but there are a number of reasons why I stayed.

I enjoy the constant evolution of this industry and the challenge of managing capital and risk across a shifting landscape. Whether it’s navigating market cycles, responding to the rise of alternative capital and ILS, embracing advanced analytics and modelling improvements, addressing the growing impact of climate change, or adapting to evolving regulatory frameworks. It keeps the work fresh and challenging. And I’ve found that the more you know, the more interesting it gets. My current role combines analytical depth and strategic impact which I find rewarding.

I’ve been lucky to have some great mentors over the years. At PwC, one of their London partners saw potential in me, investing his time, patience and guidance to help me grow – even when I had more enthusiasm than experience. Later in my career, Mark Pickering, Aspen Group CFO & Treasurer, had joined Aspen and showed me that managing people isn’t just about setting direction, but about creating an environment where collaboration and support are the norm. With empathy, transparency and a quiet confidence, Mark has built an open, connected and team-oriented environment. Through him, I learned that real influence comes from cultivating trust and empowering others to do their best work.

My focus is building on the leadership foundation I’ve established by driving change, expanding my impact, and empowering high-performing teams. I’m challenging myself to grow without fear of failure, embracing new opportunities as a chance to learn and stretch beyond what’s familiar. I’m especially energized by the strategic elements of my work, where I can shape direction and drive meaningful outcomes. I aim to be a collaborative, open-minded team player who supports others and contributes as part of a strong team. Work-life balance also remains a key focus. It’s an ongoing effort to give the right time and energy to the areas of life that matter most.

Balancing a demanding career while raising a family has been one of the greatest challenges of my professional life. I have always held myself to high standards and, for a long time, it felt like I was falling short on every front. You can’t be a perfect parent while also delivering flawlessly at work, something I had to learn the hard way. What made a real difference was Aspen’s flexibility throughout my career: giving me the space to focus on what mattered most at different moments, while still enabling me to contribute meaningfully when I was at work.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked in various part-time arrangements while raising a family, ranging from caring for a baby at home, navigating school days in Bermuda to supporting older children studying overseas. The hardest part was letting go of the guilt and accepting that I was doing enough. As the saying goes, don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good.

Absolutely. The insurance sector offers a wide range of roles with plenty of opportunity for career growth, and there’s never been a better time to be a woman in this industry. The landscape is evolving with more visible leaders, stronger support networks, and a growing commitment to equity and inclusion across the board.

In my experience, a career in insurance brings new challenges and opportunities at every stage – if you’re willing to look for them. The industry is constantly evolving, and if you stay curious and proactive, there’s always something new to tackle, learn from and grow into. The most meaningful progress I’ve made in my career came from raising my hand, taking risks and asking for new challenges. I’ve also been fortunate to have supportive colleagues who have made those leaps feel possible. So don’t wait for it to come to you. Find a mentor, take initiative and keep moving forward. I may have been at the same company for 20 years, but I’ve never felt like I’m standing still.