How did you come to choose a career in re/insurance?

I was first introduced to the re/insurance industry through the Bermuda Monetary Authority’s (BMA) graduate trainee programme, whose motto is to ‘Challenge yourself’. The authority’s graduate trainee programme provides Bermudians with the opportunity to learn the integral complex nature of the insurance and regulatory industry as well as to obtain qualifications and designations.

Trainees can gain valuable work experience and are guided through the various tasks and responsibilities of the BMA’s supervisory departments. Since completing the programme, I now have access to the executive team members, maintain a full-time management position and expand my experience on a more ‘global’ level.

What makes the re/insurance industry attractive to young professionals?

The re/insurance industry is a great place to start and grow your career. The industry is unique and relies on broad expertise as it offers various positions, skillsets and professional interests. Outside of the BMA, the career paths can be quite broad, ranging from business development and customer service, to data analysis and product development.

Therefore, it provides young professionals with alternative avenues into the industry they may not have ordinarily considered when pursuing their academic goals.

What are the opportunities and challenges you have faced?

The opportunities I have been given while working in this industry include working alongside some of Bermuda’s most brilliant minds, networking with the top industry professionals locally and globally, and working overseas in Basel, Switzerland.

The main challenge, but also an opportunity, is the continuous learning curve I encounter as I progress throughout my career and as the industry evolves. However, I see this as a good challenge and look forward to it as it is a clear sign of continued growth.

What differences does your generation bring to the industry?

As the technology environment continues to expand and exerts its influence on business in Bermuda, my generation (Millennials) can serve as a transitional bridge for the future. Although I know it is a team effort, I feel that my generation and our desire for technology-driven innovation can change how we work as an industry, develop efficiencies in the market and utilise technology to improve outcomes. Knowing this, we will need to leverage the wisdom and lessons from the prior generation.

In addition, I think the next generation will be more entrenched and technology motivated, exponentially exerting change. Therefore as my generation assists in driving change, we must ensure that we do not hinder the evolution when that time comes.

What are your career goals?

My career goals are one day to become an executive of an organisation that will have meaningful influence in the Bermuda re/insurance market and have a keen focus on developing talent.

If you had chosen a different career, what would it have been?

One of the elements of the job that has intrigued me is the interaction with law firms. Corporate law might have caught my attention if I had not entered the re/insurance industry.

How did you come to choose a career in re/insurance?

Growing up, my father was a director for an insurance company headquartered in Bermuda, where I spent my childhood summer vacations. These happy memories sparked my initial interest in the insurance industry and ultimately led to my first (and very early) career goal, which was that I would work in Bermuda one day.

Combined with my love of problem-solving and maths, it was a relatively natural progression that I followed both of my parents’ footsteps and became a chartered accountant. I trained in London with a focus specifically on (direct) insurance, which facilitated my move to Bermuda and transition into the reinsurance industry.

What makes the re/insurance industry attractive to young professionals?

The life reinsurance industry in Bermuda is a rapidly growing sector, and whether you choose to work at a larger, more established company or a startup, the pace is fast and no day, week, month or year will look the same as the last. For a generation which seeks constant stimulation and fears boredom, this industry offers young professionals the kind of variety and excitement that will keep all of us hooked.

What are the opportunities and challenges you’ve faced?

Where there is challenge, there is opportunity—this has been a theme throughout my career thus far. Starting as a music major at university, it was a big leap to move into the accounting profession but one that has been paying dividends ever since.

This first step into accounting, and specifically starting my career at PwC, opened doors for me, including the opportunity for an international move to Bermuda. Subsequently, moving to Athene with no previous life insurance experience, in a phase of rapid growth for the company, has been a steep learning curve but one that has been extremely fulfilling and given the opportunity for increased responsibilities and progression over a short period of time.

What differences does your generation bring to the industry?

Outside of the usual points that the younger generation tends to be innovative, adaptable and tech-savvy, the re/insurance industry is, as with the society we live in, beginning to provide more equal opportunities to all. As a result, it is in the younger generation where I see the most diversity in the workplace; this creates a dynamic environment where people with different experiences and values come together, allowing thought leadership, innovation and work quality to flourish.

What are your career goals?

My ultimate goal is to have a leadership role within the industry, as it is in such a role where I think there is the opportunity to be most impactful. A good day at work, for me, is one where I feel that I have made a true impact, by helping someone on my team grow and develop, providing stakeholders with information that helps them make decisions, or simply by fostering an environment where people are excited to come to work each day.

As I work towards reaching my long-term goal, I will aim to be intentional about taking steps to ensure I am getting the right opportunities/exposure to build up my technical skillset such that my career continues to progress; this, and trying to be a positive force each day.

If you had chosen a different career, what would it have been?

In the UK, your university degree doesn’t dictate your career path as much as in other jurisdictions, so I felt the world was my oyster upon graduation, despite my music degree. Straight out of university, I had considered investment banking, law and insurance broking. Now, as an insurance professional, I occasionally dream about doubling down on my relevant designations and retraining as an actuary.

However, if I had to choose a truly different path, I would have followed my roots and become a professional musician. Singing was my big thing, and what I would have pursued, but also piano/organ and cello.