Oscar’s Executive Vice President and Chief Insurance Officer, Alessa Quane, was passionate about insurance from an early age. “I’ve always felt that insurance is a really important part of the economy. A lot of things don’t happen without insurance: bridges don’t get built, buildings don’t go up. That being said, it’s also very personal, because it helps people when bad things happen,” she said. Alessa studied actuarial science, and went on to work across most lines of insurance throughout her career, from commercial, to personal, and even some life and retirement insurance and now health. She has built a career out of her passion for insurance, growing and learning along the way. Now, she’s motivated to support others in doing the same.
When Alessa thinks back on her career, she remembers several allies that helped her grow into the leader she became. “They saw more in me than I saw in myself, and pushed me to try new challenges,” she said. When Alessa transitioned into the C suite level, one colleague went out of her way to create a space for Alessa at the table. She said a few things that really stuck with Alessa. “She emphasized that I had made it, and needed to bring other women along with me. She reminded me that other women would look up to me and think, ‘I can be her,’ because I had ‘grown up’ within the organization,” she said. The support and advice of Alessa’s sponsors and allies has stayed with her throughout her career, and has motivated her to advocate for other women.
Alessa hopes to make a space for other women, just as her allies and mentors did for her. She went on to lead a women’s executive leadership program at her company, mentoring 25 women each year. Through this program, she got to know each of them, and helped them overcome obstacles in their careers. Many of these women continue to reach out to Alessa to this day for advice and guidance.
Alessa transitioned to Oscar after years of working in executive roles spanning many areas of focus. What appealed to her about Oscar was the company’s approach to healthcare plans – Oscar’s individual plan offerings felt like a unique way to support people in situations that can be challenging. She was confident coming into Oscar after learning the ins and outs of insurance. “I felt like I brought helpful experience and a lot of insurance expertise to the table. I love bringing that perspective to Oscar.” Her role has also given her the chance to play a pivotal role in building the company: “When the opportunity to actually run the business came along, I was really excited,” she said. Alessa has worked at Oscar for three years, leading the insurance business and furthering the company’s mission to make a healthier life affordable and accessible for all.