From San Juan to NYC: Insurance Leaders Convene at St. John’s for Global Risk Leadership Program

From March 24 to 26, 2026, the Tobin Center for Executive Education at St. John's University welcomed 25 senior leaders to its Manhattan campus for the Global Risk Leadership Program. Participants included executives from Optima Seguros, a leading insurance carrier based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as members of Optima Seguros' partner network.

Developed in close partnership with the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science, the three-day program brought together leaders across underwriting, brokerage, client services, finance, reinsurance, engineering, operations, and sales for an immersive executive education experience focused on the future of insurance and risk leadership. 

Held at St. John’s Manhattan campus in Astor Place, the program reflected the University’s continued commitment to connecting academic excellence with industry practice, while leveraging New York City as a living classroom for leadership development.  

A Program Designed for Industry Leaders 

Each morning, participants convened in the Davis Insurance Library, one of the nation’s most distinguished spaces dedicated to insurance education. Faculty from the Greenberg School, alongside external experts and industry leaders, led interactive sessions on topics shaping the industry’s future, including artificial intelligence in underwriting and claims, talent development, social inflation, and leadership in times of complexity and change. 

Designed for senior professionals, the program emphasized dialogue and application rather than passive learning. Participants were encouraged to bring their own experiences into the discussion, challenge assumptions, and engage directly with the strategic forces reshaping the insurance sector. 

One attendee described the experience as a “definitely unique experience,” noting that the program’s content and site visits offered valuable insights that had already shifted their perspective. Another participant called the experience “life changing in how we relate with our coworkers and clients.”  

New York City as a Living Classroom 

Afternoons extended learning beyond the classroom and into the heart of the New York insurance and financial markets. 

The cohort visited Starr Insurance in Midtown, where discussions focused on talent development, learning culture, and building long-term organizational capability within a global insurance enterprise. 

On the final day, participants traveled to Hudson Yards for a session with Westfield Specialty Insurance, where they explored distribution strategy, underwriting excellence, and competition in sophisticated specialty markets. Participants cited the professional panel as one of the most inspiring components of the experience. 

The program also included a visit to the New York Stock Exchange, hosted by Mike Pistillo, a senior designated market maker at GTS and St. John’s alumnus, offering participants a firsthand view of the intersection between insurance, capital markets, and global finance. For many, the experience reinforced the importance of understanding how risk management and financial systems operate in real time.  

Building Relationships Beyond the Classroom 

In addition to academic sessions and industry visits, the program created intentional opportunities for relationship-building among participants, faculty, and industry partners. 

A group dinner in Greenwich Village provided space for continued conversation outside the formal agenda, allowing participants to deepen connections with colleagues, brokers, and clients who joined throughout the trip. 

For a field built on trust and long-term partnerships, these moments proved just as valuable as the formal curriculum, strengthening relationships across the Optima Seguros ecosystem while reinforcing the collaborative nature of leadership development.  

Advancing Executive Education at St. John’s 

The program highlights the growing role of the Tobin Center for Executive Education in delivering customized leadership experiences for organizations across insurance, risk management, and financial services. 

In partnership with the Greenberg School, the Center continues to bring together distinguished faculty, direct industry access, and the strategic advantages of New York City to help organizations invest in the growth of their leaders. 

For St. John’s, programs like this underscore the University’s position as a bridge between academic expertise and the evolving needs of industry.