The GCC's Tech Vanguard: Zurich Middle East's Anuja Shah

In a region that is known to have low insurance penetration rates, the Middle East arm of global insurance provider Zurich certainly has its work cut out for it — but tech is helping it realize its objectives.

Anuja Shah, Head of Strategy and Information Technology (IT) at Zurich Middle East, leads a team whose efforts are focused on increasing levels of awareness of the need for protection and savings.

Shah and her team have achieved results too — these include a 98 percent adoption of digital onboarding with electronic-know-yourcustomer (E-KYC) and digital signatures offerings, a 30 percent reduction in operational costs through strategic technological innovation, as well as a 45 percent increase in digital engagement across Zurich Middle East.

Here, Shah points out that Zurich Middle East has had a very robust digital transformation roadmap across the insurance value chain, and it’s one that continues to be refreshed as per business or regulatory requirements and strategic initiatives that come up each year.

“I believe that technology is an enabler in realizing deeper insurance awareness and penetration levels, and in streamlining customer and partner experiences, while driving better outcomes,” Shah says. “Strategy drafting and execution go hand-in-hand, and as Head of Strategy and Information Technology at Zurich Middle East, I have a deep appreciation of the role technology plays in taking ideas from the drawing board to the market, and in making Excel sheets come to life.”

A Playbook For Success: Q&A With Anuja Shah 

What’s your advice for people/businesses looking to start/grow in the GCC’s tech domain? Any specific advice you’d give women embarking on this field?  

“Technology has the power to transform, and anyone — irrespective of age, gender, or geography — can leverage that power. It holds the power to transform lives, businesses, and user experiences, and influence better outcomes for the customers you serve. The spectrum of technology and digital transformation is quite wide, and the opportunities that are available across analysis, program management, development, testing, infrastructure and cloud, network, security, etc. are varied, with the potential to pick new skills along the way. 

For women embarking on this field, it is expansive — don’t hold yourself back from learning, experimenting, unlearning, and growing. As a field, technology provides more flexibility when it comes to timings, working onsite or offshore, remote learning opportunities, etc., which do go a long way in encouraging women to join/continue working/rejoin the workforce in case of sabbaticals. We’re very proud and very inspired to have women in various positions in technology, not just here at Zurich Middle East, but at all levels globally.” 

Zurich's Anuja Shah was one of the 30 innovators celebrated in Inc. Arabia's December 2024 special feature, The GCC's Tech Vanguard. For the full list of The GCC's Tech Vanguard, please click here.