Tammara Glaves-Hucey: On faith, leadership and becoming her truest self
IN speaking with the people closest to her, friends and colleagues of Tammara Glaves-Hucey, head of general insurance at GKFG, would say she is faith-based, people-centred, results-oriented, a joker, brutally honest, and will tell you like it is.
In speaking with her, she will tell you that her identity is first framed by God as her ultimate compass, and the relationships she has with those around her.
Raised in Cave Valley, St Ann, Glaves-Hucey’s early life was shaped by books and reflection. She was an avid reader, the kind of child who disappeared into pages and emerged discussing and narrating the experiences of other people’s worlds. Reading, she says, allowed her to imagine different futures and to understand, long before she had the language for it, that life moves in seasons. Even when she could not explain the reasons for change, she sensed purpose at work. Adults often told her she was “old before her time”, an observation she now understands less as a serious judgement and more as spiritual awareness. This trait prepared her for the world of work.
Insurance was not part of the plan; her first dream was to be a lawyer. Becoming an attorney-at-law seemed, admittedly, a practical and powerful discipline that could open doors in any field. Yet in 2002, she first joined GK General Insurance (then JIIC) and found herself drawn into an industry that quietly underpins stability, recovery and protection. Her ambition at the time was simple and focused: to become a claims manager. But as with many journeys guided by faith, the destination shifted as her capacity expanded.
Her passion for learning led to an opportunity. Opportunity led to responsibility. And responsibility led to an impact that reached far beyond what she initially imagined. Glaves-Hucey’s career unfolded across claims, underwriting, operations and leadership; each chapter deepening her understanding of risk, people and purpose. She embraced challenges as a classroom, mentorship as a gift, and excellence as a spiritual discipline. With each role, she grew not just in technical skills, but also in perspective.
With a leadership style rooted in service, she describes it as servant, inclusive and results-driven; an approach shaped as much by faith as by strategy. Supporting her team’s growth, listening deeply, empowering people to do their best work: these are not management techniques but convictions. Collaboration and accountability are not opposing forces, she believes, but partners. She also shared that innovation flourishes where people feel seen, and results endure where purpose is clear.
“One can never be too prepared,” she says, acknowledging both the weight of leadership and the grace that sustains it. Confidence, for her, is not bravado; it is stewardship. Years of experience across insurance and leadership have equipped her to drive growth, collaborate meaningfully, inspire teams and make decisions that balance performance with long-term sustainability. She leads to knowing that influence is borrowed, not owned.
Strategy, in her view, is the engine that converts vision into reality. It gives direction and focus, optimises resources, mitigates risk, and drives competitive advantages. But beyond frameworks and metrics, strategy also provides accountability, a way to measure not only what is achieved, but how it is achieved. For Glaves-Hucey, strategy is most powerful when it aligns with values.
In addition to all this, her faith remains a constant guide. It shapes how she shows up as a mother and wife, how she leads at work, and how she measures success. Her belief in God grounds her integrity and shapes her understanding of servant leadership. It keeps her purposeful in moments of pressure and grateful in moments of triumph. Faith, she says, reminds her that leadership is not about self-elevation, but about impact.
Looking ahead, Glaves-Hucey envisions broader regional influence and deeper transformation across the general insurance portfolio. She sees herself driving sustainable growth, modernising the industry, championing customer protection and helping to build a more resilient Caribbean insurance landscape. Just as importantly, she sees herself empowering teams and creating environments where people feel inspired, capable, and called to achieve excellence.
On a personal level, her vision is equally intentional. She speaks of balance not as a buzzword, but as wisdom: ambition guided by discernment, progress anchored in purpose. Legacy also matters; her son and the next generation of insurance leaders are watching what is possible.
Her message to women considering the industry is both affirming and urgent. Your ambition is valid, she says. Your potential is limitless. Do not wait for permission or perfect timing. Invest in yourself. Seek knowledge. Embrace challenge. Lift others as you climb. And remember those who supported you — pay it forward. Insurance, she insists, is not a dying profession. It is an evolving one, rich in opportunities to lead, protect, and transform lives.
