Rob Tolley serves as CEO and co-founder of Dubai-based Global Specialty Underwriters, LLC, and delivers solutions in the international insurance and reinsurance spheres. Among Rob Tolley’s areas of expertise are surety bonds, bank assurance, and credit life programs. He is adept in analyzing credit-related risks and helping clients navigate reinsurance protection options for construction/engineering and stressed-property programs across
international markets.
Mr. Tolley completed high school at Trinity Comprehensive in the UK and was a highly ranked table tennis player. Also captaining the rugby team, he excelled in karate and judo. He began his career in the European reinsurance markets as a broker and producer with a Dutch firm.
As partner with First City Partnership, Ltd., from 1999 to 2004, he was a pivotal force in driving growth in the emerging Latin America and Middle East reinsurance markets.
From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Tolley held leadership responsibilities with Aon Benfield, overseeing regional growth in the Middle East, with a focus on non-marine classes of reinsurance. Rob Tolley managed policies for a range of turnkey construction projects, as well as niche assignments that met specific client requirements.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Start the day at 5am. 2 hour cycle training after coffee and podcast listen. Prepare for the work day. By 8.30 – 9.00 on to laptop and emails and work. Break during mid-day to step away from screen for hour or so. Back for afternoon, conf calls and more emails until 5pm and then close off. One hour podcast listen for mental awareness and unwinding from day. The days are made productive by efficient time management and not sat in front of screens for 10-12hr blocks as this drains the brain and eyes and cannot focus.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Write them down, visualise them and then action by whatever means. Don’t rely on others and push for how i can achieve the goal with or without others.
What’s one trend that excites you?
A.I. And its potential to speed up and assist us in our industry.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Waking up consistently at 5a.m.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Should have started my days the way i do now. Twenty years ago. Up early and be fresh and keen.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
That pasta, tuna, sweetcorn and pesto is a tasty dish.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Get up at 5am, exercise for at least an hour and start the day focused. A cliché yes, but it’s true and works.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Sit down somewhere quiet and listen to some mindset podcasts, zone out for a hour or two and reset. If that doesn’t work and time allows then go cycling, solo outside and free from cell phones and computers.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Mental strength/willpower. The ability to change, ability to take gambles and deal with the outcome whether it was right or not.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Choosing a career purely for greed and money. Lesson learnt. Materialism is not everything. Health, happiness and ethics are more important.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Outlook 365 – i use this every day for everything.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Audio Books – 5am Club / Wealth Money Can’t Buy – Both Robin Sharma.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Netflix – gentlemen – saw Guy Richie original movie and the series didn’t disappoint. Like the whole comedy UK gangster theme. A non-serious thriller.
Key learnings
- Importance of mental strength/awareness
- Importance of rising early to get a head start on the day
- Fitness and exercise – good for body, soul and mind
- It’s not about materialism, money is everything. It’s about being happy and calm.