Rooted in Values, Driven by Purpose

A global business leader with a remarkable record of professional accomplishments, Vincent Tizzio '89 is dedicated to fostering healthy communities both inside and outside the corporate world.

No matter what your career path may be, approach it with humanity and rigor. Character matters."

Tizzio's commitment to positive impact extends well beyond his career achievements. Now president and CEO of AXIS Capital, a multibillion-dollar global specialty insurance firm, Tizzio traces his deep engagement in interpersonal relationships to his coursework and early friendships at Adelphi University.

"I had a great experience, especially with Salvatore Primeggia, PhD, and George Russell, PhD, two inspiring professors who I stayed in contact with for decades," he says. "I lived in a dorm next to the nursing school, and I learned from them, and from my own studies, about this notion of care. It stuck with me through my travels and my life."

An expert in predicting and managing risk, Tizzio might not have foreseen how his classes in sociology and finance would form his foundational skills in improving workplace culture and building successful organizations. He credits his father, an insurance executive at AIG, for encouraging him to pursue an education at Adelphi rather than accept a football scholarship at a large state university.

Tizzio, who learned from and was inspired by his father's mentorship, joined the insurance business after he graduated from law school. "I was so lucky I had such a great role model, and a great friend. My father was an incredible person in terms of integrity, commitment to his community and work ethic," he notes. "It was unique because we were friends as much as we were father and son. He left an indelible impression on me, and safe to say, on this industry, as well."

Tizzio laughs that he is "homegrown" in the insurance industry, and has witnessed not only his father's successful career but also the evolution of an industry in transition. Careful attention to employee well-being and satisfaction is more important than ever, as he notes that "half of the current workforce is likely to retire in the next 10 years. We know that attracting a diversity of employees, supporting them and training them is key."

He strongly believes that this support for employee well-being includes attention to mental health, a personal passion he has carried for decades. This is reflected in the recently refreshed AXIS values that Tizzio created in partnership with the firm's leadership team, with input from colleagues from around the world: People, Excellence, Decisiveness and Stronger Together. "This initiative," he explains, "embodies our unwavering commitment to being a high-performing company and a great place to work." And it's not just talk: AXIS incentivizes its people to live these values with rewards that include company stock grant awards for eligible employees.

One of Tizzio's proudest accomplishments in this area is AXIS's partnership with Project Healthy Minds, a Gen-Z-driven nonprofit that helps users navigate the challenging landscape of mental health support. And he is proud of the recent partnership between AXIS and the Harris Poll for research that revealed the urgent need for the enhanced employee support he has long championed.

Tizzio lives these values in his current role at AXIS, where he has led a remarkable turnaround of the company, delivering record financial performance with total shareholder returns growing more than 100 percent over a two-year period. Prior to joining AXIS, he was the executive vice president and head of Global Specialty at The Hartford, and before that, he served as president and CEO of Navigators Management until its acquisition by The Hartford. Tizzio's entrepreneurial leadership role at Zurich Financial Services, followed by his 18 years at AIG, were marked by a steady ascent into executive leadership.

Tizzio consistently pays it forward, volunteering as an executive leadership fellow to mentor and advise Adelphi students. "I hope they maintain a sense of curiosity, be bold and be fearless," he says. Being open to learning in college and throughout one's career can help build character and resilience, two qualities he calls out in particular as essential for success in life and work.

"We live in an age where we have instant access to answers, but it's okay to make mistakes and learn from them," Tizzio says, urging students to follow their own journey like he did. "No matter what your career path may be, approach it with humanity and rigor. Character matters." he says. As evidenced by his commitment to building healthy communities, it is a principle he practices every day.