Testimonials

What Our Customers Say About Us

Testimonial - Russell Higginbotham

"I worked with Barbara during her tenure at Swiss Re, where she held the role of Head of Magnum for Asia Pacific. Barbara is a dedicated professional who shows determination, passion and ability in her interactions with internal and external stakeholders at all levels. She has a warm personality and demonstrated empathy and expertise across a wide range of customer implementations. Strong execution, customer satisfaction and delivering on promises are all traits I would associate with Barbara. She can bring a breath of fresh air in terms of energy, thinking outside the box and making a real difference."

Testimonial - Yannick Even

"Having collaborated closely with Barbara during her impactful tenure as Head of Magnum for Asia Pacific at Swiss Re, I can confidently say she is a great colleague to work with and visionary leader who redefines what it means to drive transformational change. Her strategic expertise, customer-centric focus, and relentless energy to provide operational excellence make her a fantastic enabler for organizations navigating complex digital and business landscapes.

At Swiss Re, Barbara’s ability to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge SaaS solutions across diverse markets was nothing short of remarkable. She transformed the customer business experience for insurers by marrying leadership skills and deep technical acumen with an unparalleled understanding of their pain points. Whether streamlining processes through AI automation, leveraging data insights to maximize straight-through processing (STP), or redesigning workflows to elevate customer success, Barbara consistently delivered results that blended innovation with practicality. Her curiosity and empathy enabled her to uncover root challenges, while her clarity of vision turned those insights into scalable, future-ready solutions.

Today, as the driving force behind Barefeet Consulting, Barbara channels this expertise into three critical areas: software/product implementation, CRM/customer success strategy and end-to-end transformation of processes, products and teams. Her Singapore-based firm is uniquely positioned to help businesses bridge the gap between technology and human-centric outcomes. Having witnessed her lead large-scale integrations and foster customer loyalty across APAC’s intricate regulatory and cultural tapestry, I have no doubt Barefeet Consulting will empower clients to achieve agility, efficiency, and sustained growth.

For any organization seeking a partner who combines strategic rigor with genuine empathy—and who turns complexity into clarity—Barbara is the definitive choice. Her work doesn’t just solve problems; it reshapes possibilities. I wholeheartedly recommend Barefeet Consulting to leaders ready to transform their operations, relationships, and future.

Connect with Barbara. Your business will thank you.

Testimonial - Alzbeta Malejcikova

"It has been a pleasure to work with Barbara in the past few years.

Barbara's superpower lies in her drive and exceptional ability to build strong relationships with clients, which enables her to gain a deep understanding of their challenges. Her client-centric approach ensures that she is always focused on delivering solutions that are tailored to meet the specific needs of each client while balancing internal requirements at the same time. Barbara is not afraid to think outside the box and bring innovative ideas to the table, driving things forward with her creativity and determination. She is great at navigating difficult conversation, steering them to actionable resolutions.

In addition to her solution-oriented mindset, Barbara is a leader who is a source of inspiration and empowerment. With her clear and personal communication, she builds a culture of transparency, collaboration, and growth within and across teams.

I highly recommend Barbara if you are looking for a driven, solution-oriented, and creative leader who not only delivers results but also elevates people along the way. Her dedication to client satisfaction and her collaborative spirit makes her a standout professional in her field."

Testimonial - David Hodkinson

"I had the privilege of working with Barbara Scalzi on the successful delivery of an upgraded automated underwriting engine solution for my organization across multiple markets. Her expertise and strategic approach were instrumental in driving efficiency, enhancing automation, and streamlining our underwriting process. She managed complex stakeholder relationships with skill, ensuring alignment between business needs and technical execution.

Barbara is highly effective at balancing diverse priorities while always advocating for the client’s objectives. She not only delivers results but also inspires her team to perform at their best, fostering collaboration and accountability. Her ability to engage stakeholders, navigate challenges, and drive projects forward was key to the success of our initiative.

Beyond her technical and leadership strengths, Barbara is a pleasure to work with—professional, engaging, and always approachable. I highly recommend her to any organization looking for a trusted partner in digital transformation."

Testimonial - Timothy Quick

"I had the pleasure of working alongside Barbara on the Life & Health insurance product management team at Swiss Re, where I represented claims product solutions and Barbara led efforts in underwriting innovation. From the start, Barbara brought a clear strategic vision to our leadership group—always thinking several steps ahead, and never hesitating to challenge the status quo.

She was a strong, respected voice in our management team meetings, consistently raising the critical issues others might shy away from. Whether it was questioning our broader strategy, refining tactical plans, or pushing for better, more scalable solutions, Barbara created space for the crucial conversations that ultimately moved us forward. Her courage to ask the hard questions—and her skill in doing so constructively—earned her deep trust and respect across teams.

On the ground, Barbara was equally impactful. She played a key role in driving digital transformation by integrating underwriting systems with E-Apps and policy admin platforms to enable true straight-through processing. Her leadership in cross-functional projects helped streamline complex workflows and elevate the customer experience.

Barbara’s combination of strategic leadership, technical expertise, and fearless collaboration makes her an invaluable partner. I have no doubt her new consulting firm will be a catalyst for meaningful change in underwriting transformation."

Testimonial - Xiaomin Zhang

"Barbara is an exceptional leader with a unique ability to drive change and deliver results. During her time at Bank of America, I witnessed her remarkable skills in strategic thinking, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement.

She has an innate talent for understanding complex challenges and identifying solutions that align with stakeholders. What also sets Barbara apart is her ability to connect with people at all levels. She is a natural coach and mentor, empowering geographically dispersed teams to perform at their best. Her communication is clear, direct, and personal, making her a trusted partner for her stakeholders. Barbara’s collaborative approach and ability to build trust enable her to unlock potential and drive sustainable growth.

I would highly recommend Barbara to any organization looking for a leader who can inspire teams, navigate challenges, and achieve meaningful results."

Testimonial - David Kolpak

Having worked alongside Barbara in one of her previous roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, I’ve had the privilege of seeing her exceptional ability to drive innovation, manage complex technology landscapes and lead teams to deliver impactful solutions. From financial services to insurance underwriting, she has consistently demonstrated a rare blend of technical expertise, leadership and strategic thinking—qualities that continue to set her apart in her industry.

Today, Barbara is at the forefront of digital transformation in the insurance and underwriting space, implementing cutting-edge SaaS solutions that drive seamless policy decision-making and straight-through processing (STP). With a deep understanding of underwriting system integrations and automation, she is a key asset for insurers looking to enhance efficiency, operational stability and customer experience. Her ability to bridge technology and business needs makes her an invaluable partner for any organization embarking on underwriting modernization.

During our time at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barbara played a pivotal role as the ASIA Reconciliations Development and Client Relationship Manager, where she led a team focused on delivering reconciliation solutions for global operations. The applications she managed were mission-critical for ensuring operational accuracy across APAC, EMEA and the US, and her ability to optimize reconciliation processes significantly strengthened risk management and control functions.

Prior to that, as PacRim Application Service & Delivery Manager, she was instrumental in ensuring the stability of production support services for Global Markets Operations and Middle Office across APAC. Managing a team of 25, she maintained the integrity of financial applications, responding to outages and service disruptions with a structured, strategic approach that minimized risk and downtime. Her leadership in this high-pressure environment was invaluable in ensuring business continuity.

As Managing Director, regional Head of Technology Infrastructure at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, I was responsible for core infrastructure, end-user technology and production support services across 12 APAC countries. My team often provided service to Barbara and we collaborated on many projects together. Working with Barbara, I saw firsthand how operational transformation, stability, and risk management are critical to maintaining a resilient enterprise. Her ability to navigate large-scale, complex technology ecosystems aligns directly with the challenges and innovations that define the future of financial and insurance technology today.

It’s no surprise that she has since become a leader in underwriting automation, leveraging her deep technical and operational expertise to revolutionize insurance technology. If you are looking for a strategic, results-driven leader to transform underwriting operations, I highly recommend Barbara without hesitation. She is a true industry innovator and a tremendous asset to any organization.