PURE Insurance: Leadership to Improve Performance

Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE), a successful insurance company, was entering new U.S. markets and wanted to scale rapid growth. To accomplish this goal, company leaders needed to build on and leverage PURE’s key strength, its customer-focused business model. PURE sought to strengthen its edge by developing leadership capacity.

Ross Buchmueller, PURE’s CEO, met Scott at a Young Presidents Organization event where Scott spoke. They talked about how leadership, while important and even critical to business growth, is simply a means to an end. Over the next few weeks, they continued their conversation, discussing how better leaders could help PURE write more policies, improve profitability, and attract and retain top performers.

Scott worked with PURE’s executive team, helping them identify and develop both their individual leadership abilities, as well as the areas of competence most important to PURE’s business. Their collaborative follow up work addressed how to foster innovation, collaboration, and teamwork. Scott provided further executive coaching to several key leaders. Over time, he worked with many other PURE managers.

Ross was clear about using leadership and culture as an advantage for PURE. “We wanted to work with Scott because of his obsessive focus on our results,” he said. “Our work wasn’t about leadership development; it was about how we as leaders work with members of our teams to inspire them, improve performance, and create the kind of environment that supports high levels of engagement,” he added.

Today, strong leadership contributes to PURE’s success. The company continues to increase market share, and has maintained 40 percent year-over-year growth.