A Q&A with Premier Broker, Aileen Berry on what actually moves a submission
Two brokers submit similar deals. One moves quickly. The other stalls.
The difference usually is not the account. It is how the story is told and how clearly the risk is presented.
That gap is exactly what Admiral Day is built to close.
Admiral Day is structured as a working session for newer brokers, bringing together underwriting, claims, and distribution to walk through how deals move from submission to quote to bind.
Through case studies, claims insight sessions, and panel discussions with underwriters across professional liability, casualty, and specialty lines, brokers see how decisions are made and what separates a submission that moves from one that sits.
For many, it is also the starting point of their relationship with Admiral.
Few examples capture that impact better than Aileen Berry, Executive Vice President at Amwins, who attended Admiral Day at the beginning of her career.
Aileen Berry
Executive Vice President at Amwins Group
A Conversation with Aileen Berry
When you first attended Admiral Day, where were you in your career?
When I first attended Admiral Day, I was at the very beginning of my brokerage career. I had just left private practice and joined a wholesale brokerage firm. At that point, I had likely bound only about ten policies. I was still learning the business, building confidence, and figuring out how to navigate relationships with carrier partners.
Admiral Day is the first step a broker can take in creating long-lasting relationships by giving them first access to connections that shape long-term success.
What stood out to you most about Admiral Day?
What stood out to me most about Admiral Day was the people. I quickly formed connections with several underwriters, and there was an unmistakable energy in the room. Everyone was genuinely happy to be there. It was clear that Admiral had built a strong, positive culture rooted in collaboration and partnership.
The Admiral Day format makes that possible. Brokers hear directly from underwriters and claims professionals, then continue those conversations on a day-to-day basis.
What was one thing you learned that helped you place business more effectively?
While it has been nearly fifteen years since that first Admiral Day, I can still point to the confidence it gave me as one of its greatest benefits. The networking opportunities helped me understand not just the products, but the people behind them. I built friendships with underwriters who were willing to answer questions, explain coverage nuances, and help me think through deals.
That access and openness made me more effective in placing business because I was not just submitting accounts, I was collaborating with partners I trusted.
The relationship building that Admiral Day provides is our main goal for Admiral Day.
How did Admiral Day influence your relationship with Admiral as a carrier partner?
Admiral was the first carrier event I ever attended, and it set the standard for what a true carrier partnership should look like. The relationships I built there played a meaningful role in my professional growth. I met people who offered advice, guidance, and encouragement at a formative time in my career. That experience shaped how I approach partnerships to this day
Admiral Days shape how brokers view their Admiral relationship by building early relationships that influence long-term professional growth and collaboration.
Looking back now, how did attending early shape your approach?
Looking back now, I realize that participating in Admiral Day so early on helped me understand the power of building a strong professional network. It reinforced that I mattered as a broker and that Admiral genuinely wanted to be part of my success. That sense of mutual investment builds confidence not only in your carrier relationships, but in how you present yourself to clients.
Attending Admiral Day early reinforces the value of a strong network and confidence building that carries into a broker’s future relationship with Admiral.
What advice would you give brokers attending Admiral Day today?
Invest in the relationships. Develop your personal brand. Be confident in the submissions you are presenting and the value you bring to your clients. Ask questions. Lean into the partnership.
The connections you build can become some of the most important assets in your career. Admiral Day is an opportunity to lay the foundation for long term growth.
Investing in relationships early helps turn connections into long-term career assets.
Why It Matters
The shift shows up immediately.
Brokers leave with a clearer sense of what to include, what to lead with, and what questions to answer before a submission ever reaches an underwriter.
Instead of reacting to feedback, they start anticipating it.
The Bottom Line
Two submissions can look similar on paper and perform very differently in practice.
The difference is usually in how they are presented.
For Aileen Berry, it started with ten policies and one event. For brokers today, it can be the moment where submissions start moving with more clarity and fewer questions.
Learn more about how Admiral is dedicated to building better brokers through development and training programs.
