In July 2011, Fireman’s Fund Insurance tapped Lori Dickerson Fouché as its new president/CEO. A Princeton (bachelor’s in history, 1991) and Harvard (MBA) graduate, she joined the company in 2006 and served as its president of commercial business. Over the years, her rise in the industry has been steady and stellar. She entered the field as a college intern and began working full-time as an underwriter after graduation.
Now sitting in the big chair, she seems ready to face whatever challenges come next: “The best thing about my job is problem solving and seeing progress,” she says. “I love participating in the development of people and organizations. The hardest thing is managing the sheer volume of issues, email and phone calls that come in on a daily basis.” Married with two children, Fouché’s future is bright…and busy.
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I think I’m a night owl, but after I had children, I became an early bird. Now, I still prefer the evening, but I really just do whatever needs to be done no matter what time it is.
Do you believe in destiny?
No, I believe that everyone makes his or her own way in this world.
Do you have a pet?
We did have some goldfish, Goldie and Tiny. Unfortunately and oddly, they both passed away on New Year’s Day last year. We’d like to have a dog at some point, but it’s hard for us to keep up with everyone and everything we already have going on.
Do you keep up with fashion?
To say that I keep up with fashion would be a major overstatement. My husband would say I’m “appropriately fashionable.”
How have you significantly honored another person?
One of my college senior year roommates and teammate died of natural causes on her 38th birthday. She was a great person, an amazing athlete on the Princeton University softball and soccer teams, and a mother to four children. I worked with the university and networked with friends to raise more than $25,000 to establish an award in her memory.
How many cities have you lived in?
To date, I’ve lived in 10 cities throughout my life. I really like San Francisco, but I left my heart in New York City.
What habit in other people annoys you the most?
I’m not an easily annoyed person. However, people who seek to be understood before seeking to understand can irritate me.
What items do you currently have stored in the trunk of your car?
Four umbrellas, six recyclable shopping bags and an emergency backpack.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I’m silly. I make lots of funny sound effects that my children love. I like to laugh and really just not take things too seriously. I figure, in the end, everything works out.
What’s your favorite thing to cook?
When I have time to cook, I’m sort of a Rachael Ray-meets-Paula Deen type. I dump basic things together.
Do you play a sport?
Primarily right now, I play tennis. Once in a while, I’m motivated to play golf, but I wish it didn’t take so much time. Growing up, I played many sports, including basketball, volleyball, softball, tennis and skiing. In college, I played Division I varsity softball for four years.
When you travel, do you pack too much or too little?
I try to pack just right. Before any trip, I create a spreadsheet with the weather noted for each day. Then, I plan out exactly what I’m going to wear and then throw in a little extra—just in case I need something.
What important lesson have you learned from a friend?
I leaned these two lessons from a woman who’s since retired from one of my former employers: First, you have to create boundaries at work. If you don’t, no one else will and, eventually, you’ll be no good to anyone. Second, it’s important to create memories for your kids. As a working mom, I won’t always be able to be there, but I can create memories they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.
How would you describe the perfect day?
In one word: balanced. Recently, I had a perfect day. It was a beautiful, sunny day; I woke up early and did a little work, took my children to school, had breakfast with a friend, did a little shopping, had a massage and a manicure and wrapped up the day with dinner with my husband. To have a day where I can make work, my husband, my children, a friend and me happy is a very rare day—but when it happens, it’s simply perfect.
