Profile
Katelijne van Drongelen, Vice President, Software Engineering, Property, Head of Information Technology Frameworks at Arch Insurance, has led a 17-year career marked by determination, dependability, and innovation.
While adaptation to new technologies can be challenging for some insurance firms, the real hurdles are often cultural, according to van Drongelen. That is why she focuses on education and transparency in her role to ensure smooth and profitable changes.
“It is only with smart, effective, and fast adoption of new tools that an organization can be truly agile,” she says. “I am a firm believer in the efficacy of setting clear expectations, and that’s even more important during transformation.”
Having launched over 10 vendor platforms for underwriting, intake, billing, and claims departments, van Drongelen views her legacy through her ability to substitute manual friction with automated and scalable solutions.
She says, “My single biggest achievement isn’t a single project, but the consistent translation of systemic pain into high-performing technical reality across the P&C insurance value chain.”
van Drongelen showcased these capabilities recently, constructing an event-based architecture integrated into an existing submission intake platform, which is now processing over 100,000 property submissions annually.
As a leader, she views reliability as a key component of her success. Her team members know she will lead them through whatever challenges they may face with accountability and transparency, a philosophy that enables trust and direct impact on her team.
“I combine my technical know-how to build solutions for everything from customer portals to risk assessment and claims with a collaborative, listen-first leadership style,” van Drongelen says. “I believe in the inherent good in people and their ability to thrive when given clear expectations and the autonomy to execute. My teams often tell me I am the calm in any storm, and I believe my steady leadership creates space for my teams to be successful.”
Like many other highly successful women in the insurance industry, finding the perfect work-life balance has been a constant challenge for van Drongelen. This is accentuated by the 24/7 nature of IT leadership, which often blurred her professional and personal life. She uses self-acceptance to find her happy medium, allowing her to remain confident about both her role as a mother and a professional.
She says, “I can’t tell you how many times in my early career on call that I would step away from dinner for just a few minutes to work and come back to spaghetti all over the wall. I am who I am, and that is enough. It’s not productive to stress too much about what I am not doing perfectly, so I’ve given myself the grace to not be perfect.”
For the next generation of women entering the industry, van Drongelen emphasizes that loudness and visibility do not always equate to effectiveness. “I want to be an example for women who, like me, are observers and pragmatists,” she says. “Through internships and networking, I seek to help other women find their own ‘recipe’ for success, showing them that authenticity is a competitive advantage, not a liability.”
223 S West St, Raleigh, NC 27603
984 777 3149
kvandrongelen@archinsurance.com
linkedin.com/in/katelijne-van-drongelen
insurance.archgroup.com
Katelijne Van Drongelen
Vice President, Software Engineering, Property, Head of Information Technology Frameworks Arch Insurance
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Bio
Milestones
2021–2023
2023
2023–2024
2024–2025
Present
Assistant Vice President, Principal Digital Product Manager, Shared Services at Arch Insurance
2021–2023
Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Digital Product Manager, Services at Arch Insurance
2023
Vice President, Software Engineering, Underwriting Services at Arch Insurance North America
2023–2024
Vice President, Software Engineering, Property at Arch Insurance North America
2024–2025
Vice President, Software Engineering, Property; Head of Information Technology Frameworks at Arch Insurance North America since 2025
Present
Milestones
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
As a founding member of WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning.), an employee resource group created for all women of Ryan Specialty, Phillips Topping has long championed for women in the industry.
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females,” she adds.
In addition to her sharp marketing eye, the key to Phillips Topping’s success lies in her high-energy approach and positive attitude.
“As the leader of a team, it’s important to motivate and encourage your team members. People work very hard and do their best and it’s important to recognize these efforts. For my career overall, my attitude has been one of curiosity. The more you can learn, the better you’ll understand the business, and then the deeper your knowledge will become, making you a better team member.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
A significant part of his focus today is staying ahead of regulatory change while maintaining a seamless client experience. He tracks updates from regulators and lenders closely and works with his teams to adjust systems as needed.
“My approach to my role and my career has always been rooted in passion, focus, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” he says. “I’ve never been driven solely by profit or business metrics. I believe in hiring great talent, trusting them, and pushing boundaries because innovation doesn’t come from playing it safe.”
His experience isn’t limited to Canada. Ibrahim has worked in the US and UAE, which shaped his global perspective and comfort with adapting to different markets. He thrives on risk, viewing setbacks as stepping stones to progress.
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made,” he adds.
That outlook continues to guide his work and reflects his broader goal of helping move the industry forward. Through his brokerage, lending company, and legal services, Ibrahim is focused on creating long-term value for his clients, his teams, and others working in the field.