About Sharon Fernandez
Sharon Fernandez is a high-performing, C-suite leader with extensive experience and proven results in the financial services industry. Starting her career on the ground floor at USAA, she advanced to manage complex, billion-dollar operations with P&L responsibility exceeding $2.3 billion. Sharon demonstrates a deep understanding across industry distribution channels (DTC, Independent and Captive Agent) and products (Personal, Commercial, Workers Comp).
Sharon has held leadership positions encompassing intricate corporate staff functions and overseeing large operating organizations consisting of thousands of employees. Holding master’s degrees in both Business and Human Resource Development, she is well-versed in the art of building and sustaining high-performing teams and delivering transformational results.
Sharon excels in the role of a forward-thinking, strategic, and innovative executive, having led significant business turnarounds and implemented robust business strategies. In addition to her traditional corporate career, she applied these skills in the start-up world as Insurance CEO and COO of Buckle Insurance. In her tenure with Farmers Insurance Company, Sharon showcased her leadership and strategic planning abilities as she transformed multiple business units into technologically enabled, streamlined insurance providers while President of Farmers Commercial Insurance, President of Bristol West Insurance, and EVP of Operations. Her ability to effectively manage change and execute complex projects, including the largest customer contract in Farmers history, is a testament to her operational and strategic prowess.
Beginning her career as a frontline employee supporting sales, service, and claims, she rapidly demonstrated the technical expertise and inspirational leadership to successfully deliver in multiple executive roles across those disciplines as well as in Workforce and 3rd Party Management, Shared Services, Program Management and Human Resources. With this diverse background, Sharon is able to converse across all levels of organizations to identify the key opportunities that drive transformation.
Throughout her career, Sharon has cemented her reputation as a leader who thrives in the midst of change. She is passionate about developing strategies that not only respond to change but leverage it as a catalyst for innovation and growth. Sharon holds an MS from Texas A&M University and an MBA from St. Mary’s University. Her certifications include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Reinsurance (ARe).