When Sherron Williams left her first interview for an underwriter trainee position at XL Insurance, a company she had not heard of at the time, she thought she had blown it.

?I was flippant because I was frustrated. I had been to so many interviews and had already been unemployed for four months after returning from college,? she said.

That was back in 1991, Bermuda was in the midst of a recession and it looked like no one had a position for an intelligent, energetic young Bermudian woman with an MBA from York University in Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from St. Mary?s University in Halifax who was ?looking for a career, not a job.?

She must have done something right because she was called for a second interview and, by that point, was aware of the true nature of the opportunity.

?The ad didn?t really spec out just how good this was as a career opportunity,? she said. ?And once I joined the company and got into the work I really liked the challenge and the way I was constantly learning.?

Fast forward 13 years and she said that she is still challenged every day and enjoys working through the complexities of the work conducted by the professional liability underwriting team at XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd.

And as of Tuesday, Mrs. Williams will be the head of the team she joined as a junior over a decade ago, with her promotion to the post of Chief Underwriting Officer of XLIB.

As this direct, articulate woman speaks about her latest major professional accomplishment, what comes through is her candour about how she reached her new appointment and the obvious satisfaction she gets from working with people that she truly respects. It is likely that Mrs. Williams will be held up by some in the wider community as a role model for Bermudians who aspire to reach high levels in the international business sector and as an example of another black female who has ?made it? as compared to black males. She puts her rise up the corporate ladder into very clear context.

?When I started in 1991, I never thought that I would get here,? she said. ?I never expected my boss to announce his retirement at the ripe old age of 44 either!

?Like a lot of people in insurance might tell you, I fell into the industry. But once I was in I just focused and worked incredibly hard.?

Her hard work translated into a steady rise up the ranks and involved her conducting the underwriting of employment practices liability, directors and officers liability and errors and omissions liability insurance. ?I?m not sure if my ascension was unique or typical,? said Mrs. Williams. ?(Being black and female) didn?t work for me or against me. I think my promotions have been (awarded) on merit, and I?m glad it happened that way.?

She adds her experience in the industry has shown her that knowledge and ability are more important than race or gender, and she encourages anyone thinking about their career development to focus on the former in order to succeed in their chosen profession.

?When clients come here to see me and my team, they?ve chosen us because we have a product they need for their businesses and we?ve demonstrated our expertise and knowledge in providing that product,? she said. ?They?re not concerned about my nationality or whether I?m male or female or about the gender balance in my team.?

She describes the staff in the professional liability team as ?brilliant? and feels that they are one of the most respected teams in the industry, both here in Bermuda and in the US.

?They have the ability to run the unit and are very good at what they do,? she said. ?I was fortunate to have Paul Miller as my boss. He was always very open and encouraging. He ensured that I was able to gain as much knowledge as I could. So, I?m very well-prepared for the new position.?

Her own management style is very consistent with this approach, as she feels that empowering people and constantly giving them opportunities to use their potential is the best way to encourage the best performance from them.

?I think that?s something that runs through the organisation here,? she said.

?For example, during the wave of new start-ups here after 9/11 a lot of underwriters left the established companies for bigger salaries. We only lost one person, and she was a junior, while I know that some of our competitors lost many more. I think people made the decision to stay because of the overall conditions here, in terms of training, benefits, and long-term opportunity.?

She said that running the professional liability unit is full of opportunities and challenges which she enjoys and she is looking forward to the demands of her new appointment. She will balance those demands with her other role in life, that of wife and mother.

?I?m fortunate in that my husband is very supportive and has more flexibility in his schedule,? said Mrs. Williams. ?My career has always been extremely demanding, and when you have a young family you have to sit down and make some decisions. One of you won?t be going for the brass ring.?

She said that she and her husband of nine years, Chris, still manage to share parenting responsibilities ?roughly 50/50? for their two children, daughter Tiye, six, and son Mikale, four.

As she looks ahead to the future in her new role, she does not anticipate making any drastic changes to her team, but rather wants to focus on maintaining underwriting discipline despite shifts in general market conditions.

?It was considered to be a hard, or sellers, market a couple of years ago. Now things are changing and it?s more of a buyers market, so we need to adapt accordingly without losing our accuracy and profitability in underwriting risks.?

And when she thinks about the future in terms of how young people can be part of the industry, her advice would be for them to realise early just how competitive the job market has become.

?The bar is being raised higher all the time, and a degree is an edge but just shows me you can write and speak,? she said.

?Your resume should show me that you?ve done something related to the industry in terms of summer employment, at least before your final year in college.

?Also understand that networking is key when you have a very competitive environment. Talk to people in the business. If someone wants to speak to me about getting into insurance, I?m available, and many people in the industry are ready to help as well.

?And stay in school! Companies like XL are looking for the best and brightest,? she added. ?And after that once you?re in the industry, be prepared to work. It?s not easy, but hard work brings rewards in the end.?