Vanessa Ho Von, global head of client solutions at Pacific Life Re, has been nominated for Intelligent Insurer’s LEADERS under 40 report, so we spoke to her to find out more about her career journey.
“I joined Pacific Life Re in November 2019, just a couple of months before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she recalled.
“It was me and one other person who actually started the business, so it felt like a startup.”
With time spent at Legal & General and Willis Towers Watson, Ho Von’s background laid a solid foundation for her success at Pacific Life Re.
Find what works for you
One of the most challenging experiences Ho Von faced was returning to work after maternity leave. “I came back in January 2023 after having my first baby, and I found it very tough to find the right work-life balance,” she admitted.
The struggle was multifaceted, encompassing both emotional and logistical difficulties.
“Dropping off your child at nursery and them screaming, and then being the last to pick them up because you’re running late from a meeting—it’s very tough,” Ho Von said.
Despite these challenges, she highlighted the importance of setting boundaries and delegating effectively.
“I’ve learned to be better at delegating,” she noted, adding that taking short breaks to reset can provide much-needed perspective.
Her advice is clear: “Make it work for you and don’t feel like you have to be following the same path as everyone else.
“Everyone is different.”
Under Ho Von’s leadership the team has grown from just two to 11 employees within a global team of 50.
“The most rewarding part was coming to work at Pacific Life Re: it was a lateral move, with a view to building and starting a line of business on my own,” she said.
“I’ve had the privilege to work with great leaders and mentors who have been very supportive, and it’s been very fulfilling to see young people flourish in their careers,” Ho Von added.
“Work should be fun: you should enjoy being at work,” she emphasised.
Ho Von’s vision for the future of the reinsurance industry is ambitious and forward-thinking.
“The potential is huge, particularly in the individual retirement income and savings space,” she said.
She envisions a role for reinsurers that goes beyond risk management to include product design and customer engagement.
“I hope we can take our experience in different markets and apply it so that everyone can have the benefit of a secure retirement income.”
Sharing the good news of insurance
Ho Von is passionate about telling others how great the industry is.
“I want to show to young people that actuaries don’t just sit behind a desk and not talk to anyone all day,” she said.
The industry, she noted, is becoming more inclusive and offers ample opportunities for women to thrive.
“There are flexible working options and true equality when it comes to workplace benefits and culture,” Ho Von observed.
“Leaders are those who care, support and empower their people,” she added.
“Sometimes, the real value you can add as a leader is to take a step back and let people figure out a solution on their own—that’s quite valuable too.”
Ho Von has two aspirations: professional impact and personal inspiration.
“It’s exciting that we use a lot of reinsurance as a force for good,” Ho Von stated, emphasising the industry’s resilience through crises such as the global pandemic.
“The role of reinsurers could be about much more than reinsuring the risk ”Reinsurers can have a really important role in partnering with the insurer on the product design and policyholder communication, by leveraging their global experience”.
Ho Von is passionate about inspiring the next generation, particularly young women, to pursue careers in this traditionally male-dominated field.
“I hope I can inspire our young men and women to join this industry,” Ho Von said, highlighting the importance of creating a “culture of equality”.
“At Pacific Life Re, we certainly have that,” she acknowledged.