Katherine Christodoulatos

From day one, Katherine Christodoulatos has worked in the deep end of maritime law. She began her career in marine litigation and later shifted to marine insurance claims after accepting a role with Markel Group, where she quickly climbed the ranks to become director of marine claims by age 35. Christodoulatos oversees four claims teams, which support primarily the ocean marine, inland marine, personal lines marine, fine arts, and railroad products. She has won the American Marine Claims Award, sponsored by various marine insurance organizations, which she says is one of her proudest professional achievements.

But it is her day-to-day opportunities to oversee and guide her teams that truly define her career, she says. Indeed, mentorship is one of Christodoulatos’ most invaluable methods of giving back. Having worked with several women in leadership positions who supported and encouraged her, she makes it a point to work with women to address issues such as work-life balance, parental leave, and more. Due to her efforts, gender diversity within Markel Group’s marine claims team has increased to 59%. She also helped establish the Markel Women’s Network branch in New York, and now acts as the co-lead of the Advocacy & Support pillar. Within CLM, she is active in the Young Professionals Community and has served on the Young Professionals Advisory Board.

Christodoulatos’ advice for young professionals is to believe in themselves, surround themselves with people who support their professional development, be confident, and always strive to achieve their goals.