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“No matter how many clients I have, I make sure to call each one personally every quarter. It’s a chance to not only update them on their portfolio, but also check on how they’re doing personally”
Kelvin Rampersad,
Carte Wealth Management
Rekha Skantharaja is CEO of Tangram Insurance Services, a Bay Area based specialty intermediary, focused on the development, management, and growth of niche insurance programs in sectors such as energy, nonprofits, and contractors.
Her role requires Skantharaja to continually plan and lead with distinction. “Every day, I have the chance to inspire a team of incredible people around a vision to be a leading MGA that attracts diverse talent, generates value through consistent innovation, and accomplishes standout financial results,” she says. “To see much of this vision realized through intellect, creativity, and grit - has been so rewarding.”
Conscious leadership is her way of working, and she believes it has made Tangram more successful. “I am constantly doing the work to be better as a leader and as a human being. I provide our team many opportunities to connect as people and examine our thought patterns, ingrained behaviors, and unconscious biases and narratives,” she explains. “We still live in an era of very hierarchical structures that are ‘command and control’ type organizations. I believe you will cultivate a richer culture and team mindset, if you truly invest in your team’s personal development and allow them to witness your own, as their leader.”
Being named as one of IBA’s Elite Women 2025 is recognition of Skantharajas’ abilities, which has pushed Tangram to triple its premium writings and revenue, diversify the business model into the reinsurance intermediary space, and accelerate new program launches, over the past five years.
In addition, being a role model is something she embraces. She advocates to enable other women to reach the levels that she has professionally “It’s imperative to drop the ladder down and lift others so we can move toward true gender equality. Today there is still so much performative advancement of women inside companies mostly controlled by men. While many women have succeeded in the more traditionally female led areas of business, such as marketing, HR, operations, I want to inspire more women to follow the money – those are the positions of power,” she says.
Skantharaja developed her skills such as raising capital and buying companies by leaning on those that were smarter and had the experience. “I didn’t possess the inherent knowledge to do these things, but I made sure to put myself in positions where I could seize the opportunity to be mentored, to learn and to eventually own it – even if I was uncertain.”
She is also mindful that inspiration can be provided across the insurance sector from a distance. Skantharaja comments, “As I was rising, I looked around for other minority CEOs, other women moving the needle in the industry. I was rarely able to see the example of what was possible. I am elated and honored to part of that change.”
Guiding Tangram forward in the right manner is of paramount importance for Skantharaja, who defines that challenge as remaining relevant, responsible and independent despite the trend of consolidation across the industry over the past decade. “I continue to be determined to build a business on my terms, with our values, while also making the right moves to set us up for future success.”
140 2nd Street, Suite 230, Petaluma, CA 94952
707 781 7381
info@tangramins.com
linkedin.com/in/rekhaskantharaja
tangramins.com
Rekha Skantharaja
President and CEO
Tangram Insurance Services
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“I strongly believe in working smarter, not harder. I think it’s one of the keys to living a great life, and I want to share that with as many people as possible”
Kelvin Rampersad,
Carte Wealth Management
2001–2005
2005–2009
2009–present
2024–present
2024
Broker at Carpenter Moore
2001–
2005
Vice President, Business Development at OneBeacon Insurance
2005–
2009
President and CEO at Tangram Insurance Services
Awarded IBA’s Elite Women, Global 100 and Hot 100, and the prestigious Business Insurance 2018 Women to Watch
2009–
present
Head of Casualty at MSIG USA
2024–
present
RPS Client Excellence Recognition
2024
Milestones
Milestones
ELITE WOMEN 2024 JUDGE