Treasa Walker

Biography

Let’s get a little candid. Tell us something that caught you by surprise or that you least expected after you became a manager.

I do not think I was fully aware of the impact  I could make on the trajectory of my team and colleagues’ careers. Through my ongoing support and one-on-one training, I have been fortunate to see many colleagues experience upward movement in their career and/or personal pursuits. 

Give us a snapshot of your career from when you graduated to now. What career pathway did you choose to pursue and why?

As one of the first two GTP trainees to join the BMA, I did not have a specific personal goal regarding the team I would land in, but it was indeed a natural progression for me to work in the Supervision (Insurance) Department. I graduated from the GTP in 2012 and joined the Insurance Licensing team. On that team, I processed applications for new start-up insurers, material change notificationss, changes to business plans, deregistrations, discontinuance submissions, and many other insurance-related applications for all classes of insurance companies. I was then promoted to Senior Officer, Principal and, and ultimately an Assistant Director on the Insurance Licensing Team. This Team predominantly processes the Insurance Assessment and Licensing Committee applications for new insurance companies that register in Bermuda. I very much enjoy training my Team, helping them develop and reach their full potential and providing them with opportunities for career progression.

How did the BMA support your professional growth?

Over the years, the BMA has provided me with multiple opportunities for technical growth. I have even enjoyed taking my team to travel for international exposure, training, speaking on panels and worldwide networking. As the insurance industry develops, the BMA is also advancing to ensure we remain a sophisticated and respected financial service regulator. Therefore, I aim to align with this evolution and am currently focused on enhancing my expertise in emerging markets while further expanding my knowledge of the BMA’s application of our regulatory oversight of life insurance and innovative companies that are gaining traction. I am also continuously expanding my executive presence by being involved in various working groups and committees, where I participate in strategic decision-making matters at a managerial level. 

What additional learning opportunities or special projects has the BMA offered you, and which one was most memorable?

I intentionally make all discussions, applications and even meetings learning opportunities. There is always something new to learn as long as you are fully present and always have a good listening ear so you can understand others’ perspectives. 

One of my most memorable opportunities was speaking on my first panel in Chicago, Illinois, alongside speakers from other domiciles regarding regulatory provisions of captive insurers. Although I was nervous, I learned from this experience that I could focus on what I already knew and on being myself, rather than becoming overly focused on providing a perfect response.

What roles have you held at the BMA, and how long did it take to become a manager?

I was first promoted to Senior Analyst when I completed the GTP in 2012 and then to  Senior Officer in 2017. In 2018, I was promoted to Principal and in 2019, to Assistant Director on the Insurance Licensing team.

How have you applied what you learned from your manager to how you manage your team today?

My managers were very supportive from the beginning and ensured I always developed my technical skill sets. There is such a vast wealth of knowledge to learn at the BMA. As a result, I gained dynamic amount of skill sets ranging from insights into corporate structures to legal and compliance matters, supervisory requirements and developing policies and procedures. While I learned a lot from an insurance perspective as a GTP trainee, I also benefitted from developing relationships with my BMA and industry peers. I am also grateful to the BMA for providing me with an environment that always welcomed my voice being heard, which helped me become my most authentic self during my career progression. Consequently, I continuously aim to provide my team with similar meaningful experiences and training opportunities to develop and showcase their skill sets. 

What transferable skills have prepared you to manage your team?

I have found that being authentic has resulted in the best results for myself and my Team. The positive energy I reflect is respected by my team and it encourages them to collaborate in a healthy environment where openness is valued. As I am always willing to learn new things, therefore I always try to encourage my Team to have the confidence to make decisions and suggest changes so that we all can continuously grow together.

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