Zachary Fagiano, associate director of Risk and Insurance, plays a critical role in safeguarding Wayfair across the business. He leads workers’ compensation claims, major litigation matters, property insurance programs and contract compliance related to indemnification and insurance provisions. Zachary and his team have the unique opportunity to touch nearly every part of the business, helping Wayfair manage risk while supporting growth across the company.
By building strong processes and fostering collaboration across departments, Zachary has grown risk management into a major business function that not only protects the company but also empowers teams to move forward with confidence.
Discover how Zachary is shaping Wayfair’s approach to risk management.
What project or accomplishment are you most proud of during your time at Wayfair?
I was Wayfair’s first risk manager and had the opportunity to build the department, function and team from the ground up.
As the department has grown, we have been able to touch all facets of the business, helping to mitigate and transfer risk for Wayfair. Building up the team and creating a mature risk philosophy and strategy has been a very rewarding part of my time here.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received, and how has it impacted you?
My best piece of advice is to identify an area that is underserved or soon to be underserved, and focus there. There are not many young risk professionals and my focus here has led to a lot of career growth.
How does your team stay energized during the busy seasons?
To stay energized, we work together as a team, stepping in to support anyone who is behind or needs help. By keeping our focus on what’s most important for the company and our stakeholders, we’re able to move forward and navigate even the busiest times.
That, plus a lot of caffeine.
What are you doing when you aren’t working?
I spend a lot of time focused on fitness — I compete in multiple Spartan Races and endurance races/ultramarathons each year.
When not training, I am usually working on my rescue farm where my wife and I have 32 rescue animals ranging from horses to dogs to rabbits to parrots. Many of the animals we adopt are special needs, which keeps things interesting.
What’s your favorite Wayfair product that you’ve purchased?
The
BISSELL SpotClean Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner is great. With over 32 pets, it is a life saver!