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8 Hartford Business Journal | April 11, 2022 | Women In Business I n her role at the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at UConn's School of Business, Michelle Cote helps students and faculty start and grow new companies. In 2016, Cote was asked to develop a strategy to make Hartford a visible and vibrant hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. She assembled a coalition of over 30 local corporations, colleges and universities, and community organizations that committed to make Hartford the best place on the East Coast to start or scale a business. Cote also serves as director for that effort, known as Launc[H]. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? Working with tremendously talented and committed members of this community to form Launc[H] is an opportunity that I continue to be grateful for. The role pushes me to continue to grow. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I'd love to document some of the insights that I've gained through my work in Hartford and share them more broadly. Our community has a lot to be proud of, and a lot that others can learn from. Helping to elevate our city's recognition and reputation would be a thrill. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Learning to recover from failures big and small has been a big professional challenge for me. I've had to reframe falling short of my expectations as a first attempt in learning. I've worked to understand that taking the leap under uncertain odds has to be considered the true win. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? The last two years have helped me strengthen my innovation muscle. Proven strategies for communication, making new connections and community building changed overnight. So, I have had to build experiments to deal with imperfect information, practice prioritizing and re- prioritizing, and ask for help a lot. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? I would love to contribute to a mindset of continuous improvement based on a sense of possibility, instead of negativity. Dreaming big is easy to do. Staying present with the positive is sometimes more difficult. Michelle Cote Employer: Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Title: Instructor, Director of Strategic Partnership Women In Business Awards 2022 A s senior vice president, claim general counsel at Travelers, where she has worked for more than 18 years, Alexia Cruz leads 1,300 claim legal professionals. Prior to this role, she served as vice president of claim general liability, leading claim professionals who managed litigation and complex claims. Passionate about community service, Cruz remains active in several nonprofit organizations, including as chair of the Hartford Hospital Regional Board and as an active fellow for the Connecticut Bar Foundation. She has been a member of the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association for more than 20 years, including a term as president. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? I've worked very hard to advance in my career and become part of the senior legal team at Travelers, but my favorite professional accomplishment to date has been working with the many talented and accomplished individuals within the organization. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I'm passionate about developing future leaders. I want to continue to mentor and sponsor these individuals and to increase diversity at the highest level in our Hartford business community. I plan to accomplish this by getting to know our top talent and offering them my allyship and sponsorship. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? It's been a big challenge to try and have a family and advance my career at the same time. When faced with personal challenges, I've learned quickly to ask for help in both areas and to take things one hour at a time. I now have a great family and career, but it wasn't easy. What are your keys to maintaining business success? Hard work, continuous learning and adapting to the changing business environment. Also, continuing to nurture existing relationships while making new ones to support this learning and growth mindset. Last but not least, listening to others on the team to find new, innovative ways to move forward. Alexia Cruz Employer: Travelers Title: Senior Vice President, Claim General Counsel Extraordinary leadership has its rewards Congratulations, Alexia Cruz, for being a Woman in Business honoree. Your dedication inspires us all. travelers.com/community © 2022 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved. Travelers and the Travelers Umbrella logo are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries. M-18609 New 3-22 It's better under the umbrella ®