Profile
"West Oak’s success has come from always putting our clients’ best interests first and always finding ways to improve and add more value to them"
Andrew mcquiston,
west oak family office, wellington-altus private wealth
“I grew up in a small town in India where there was no concept of commercial insurance – and rose to become an industry leader after migrating to America,” says Neera Sharma, president of Coastal Brokers.
“I have spent my career supporting women and employing a workforce with a diverse background. I have worked as an advocate and mentor to women in insurance, encouraging them to join a wide range of industry positions and break cultural divides.”
Neera began her insurance career with a clerical position in the early 1980s. She was quickly offered an opportunity to move into the property and casualty sector. In 1987, she joined Hull & Company, where she spent nearly a decade growing the business from the ground up while focusing closely on customer relationships.
In 1996, she joined Coastal Brokers as a producer. Her prior relationships brought a high number of carriers over to the company, and she was later promoted to senior vice president. In this role, she fostered substantial market partnerships and grew the company exponentially. She sat on several industry advisory boards during this time, counseling on market growth, day-to-day processes, and more.
In 2021, Neera was promoted to serve as president of Coastal Brokers. She is proud of the substantial role she has played in growing the company over the years and continues to focus on partnerships and relationships at the core of all that she does. She is one of the few female wholesale presidents in the insurance industry and is an active member of the Indian American community. Her record of success has always been based on hard work, consistency and keeping her word.
“It takes longer for a woman’s talent to be appreciated – she has to keep proving herself and fighting the uphill battle until she wins,” she says.
“The insurance industry – compared to other sectors – has done a reasonable job placing female representation in entry-level positions. However, this number decreases percentagewise at the VP level; gender equality is certainly still a problem in the industry. The majority of an insurance company’s infrastructure is often held by women workers, while the leadership positions are disproportionately held by men.”
Neera is no stranger to adversity. As a woman and a person of color, she is a member of one of the smallest groups in the insurance industry. As an immigrant, she is grateful for the life she has built within the industry and has spent her career supporting women and employing a workforce with a diverse background. She has worked as an advocate and mentor to women in insurance, encouraging them to join a wide range of industry positions. Neera is a well-known member of the Indian American community in her area and has dedicated many years to charitable causes within that sector.
Outside of work, Neera spent over a decade as the co-chair of hospitality (among other positions) for the Federation of Indian Americans. In this role, she managed a wide range of responsibilities, including folk dance lessons for Indian children, cultural events and fashion shows, choreography of annual events and more. She was also an active member of the board for AASRA, a crisis intervention center, working specifically to assist battered women for nearly 10 years.
Neera has been featured in several articles for India West magazine, promoting women’s roles within the industry. Fun fact: she was discovered on the street one day and became part of the main cast in an AT&T commercial that ran for three years. She remains active in her community and consistently dedicates time and passion to the causes that are near to her heart.
6602 Owens Drive Suite 300, Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 277 1090
info@coastalbrokers.com
linkedin.com/company/coastal-brokers-insurance-svc
coastalbrokersins.com
Neera Sharma
President
Coastal Brokers Insurance Services
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Profile
Milestones
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2021
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Year 7 Community Leader and Leader for Learning Technologies and Platforms at Northern Beaches Christian School
Master of Business Administration, 2017–2019
2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2013
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Master of Education (Curriculum and Pedagogy)
2013
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
2009–2012
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Early 1980s
1987
1996
2021
****
Neera Sharma
President
Coastal Brokers Insurance Services
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Profile
Milestones
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Early 1980s
1987
1996
2021
****
Neera Sharma
President
Coastal Brokers Insurance Services
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
****
2021
1996
1987
Early 1980s
2019
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Appointed Guidewire chief evangelist, serving as global brand ambassador, she educates the market on Guidewire’s products, partners and customer innovation journeys; she keeps her finger on the pulse of how the industry is evolving and feeds her knowledge back to key stakeholders
2019
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2021
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Promoted to serve as President of Coastal Brokers
2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
1996
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Joined Coastal Brokers as a Producer, later promoted to Senior Vice President
1996
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
1987
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Joined Hull & Company, where she spent nearly a decade growing the business from the ground up
1987
1998–2007
Early 1980s
human resources | key media
Began her insurance career with a clerical position
Early 1980s
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Milestones