From local beginnings to limitless horizons: Nicole Beck’s global surety story 

I grew up in New Jersey in the US before attending college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I majored in finance and marketing and began interviewing at surety companies after graduating. From the way people at these interviews spoke about their jobs, it struck me as an interesting sector.

After graduation, I considered moving across the country. But from a career perspective, Philly was a great place to be – there are lots of surety players here. I also was happy to remain close to my family.

I went on to remain in surety throughout my career because it was exactly what I’d hoped for: there’s something new to learn every day, and you’re working with great people!

I joined Allianz Trade in 2021. The appeal for me was that it’s a global surety company, which I hadn’t had exposure to in my previous roles despite having been in the surety business my entire career. I was excited to learn a new side of the business. It’s been eye-opening to see how surety works on a global level and to have a view of other markets outside the U.S. I’ve also enjoyed working with people across a variety of countries and cultures every day – it’s a very diverse company.

It’s been a great experience to contribute to the growth of the surety product for Allianz Trade, and also to see how the surety team in the US has grown during my time here. When I started, for example, I was the fourth U.S. surety underwriting employee, and now we have over 35!

One incredibly impactful experience was participating in Allianz Trade’s ‘Shift’ training program which was possible because of the sponsorship of Florence Lecoutre, Executive Board Member, and Laurent Treilhes, Chairman of the Executive Committee: 16 people from various business functions around the world were selected to embark on this 18-month journey. We met through virtual meetings, as well as in-person sessions in different European cities, for trainings focused on developing our leadership skills. On top of taking part in skill-building projects, I was able to travel and develop strong bonds with colleagues from a range of countries and functions!

We were also given the opportunity to present an innovative business solution on stage at the International Managers’ Meeting (IMM). Leading to this moment was 18 months of work and preparation, much of which was outside of our disciplines and comfort zones, with my team members, Fabien and Burcak. We were fortunate to have the guidance of Milo Bogaerts, Allianz Trade’s Head of Germany, as our project sponsor to keep us on target. This experience is one example of the many ways Allianz Trade supports its people to challenge ourselves, expand our abilities, and develop new relationships. 

There is always room to grow in surety because the industry is forever changing.  At the moment, I’m focused on looking out for new ways we can help our clients and continue to grow our business.

I feel I have more to accomplish in my current role – it’s been great to see what we’ve managed to achieve here, and there’s so much more we can do in the U.S. I work with really great people and look forward to seeing them grow in their careers as well.