Careers

February is Insurance Careers Month, and there are exciting opportunities available in our innovative and growing industry. As a recipient of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work Award for four years in a row, Tokio Marine Highland fosters a culture and environment where employees with diverse skillsets can thrive and grow their careers.

Here’s why Michael Criswell, Fine Art Underwriter, chose a career in insurance.

Why did you choose a career in insurance?

I went to art school for my last couple years of college, and chose a program focused on the business side of the art world. One of my graduation requirements was to complete an internship. A lot of my classmates were choosing to assist gallery directors or professional artists for their internships, and I wanted to try something different. For my internship, I connected with a local insurance agent who specialized in servicing art galleries, museums, and art collectors in Chicago. The work was interesting, and it allowed me to stay involved with the art community, while also building business skills and learning the basics of insurance. After college, I was fortunate to get a full-time job at a much larger insurance brokerage that had a whole team dedicated to fine art insurance. I’ve enjoyed working in the industry ever since.

What do you find most interesting or rewarding about your role?

Every day brings new and interesting challenges. As fine art insurance underwriters, the risks that cross our desks are often quite complex, unique, and diverse. One minute you can be working with a broker on simply adding a piece of art to a collection policy, the next you’re quoting and negotiating the insurance terms for a major traveling art exhibition that thousands of people will see. It’s never boring.

What would you say to someone who may have never considered the insurance industry for a career?

My advice would be to keep an open mind. If you are passionate about something, there may be an insurance product or insurance job opportunity that relates to it. This was certainly the case for me. Plus, the learning opportunities are endless.

Discover how you can join our team and grow your career like Michael at Tokio Marine Highland. Visit our Careers page to learn more.

February is Insurance Careers Month, and there are exciting opportunities available in our innovative and growing industry. As a recipient of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work Award for four years in a row, Tokio Marine Highland fosters a culture and environment where employees with diverse skillsets can thrive and grow their careers.

Here’s why Deb Probelski, VP Account Management, chose a career in insurance.

Why did you choose a career in insurance?

One of my college professors introduced me to the Risk Management/Insurance field. It wasn’t on my radar initially, but the more I learned about it, the more intrigued I became. The fact that almost anything can be insured – think Marilyn Monroe or David Beckham legs – was fascinating to me. I was drawn to the analytical side of evaluating risk and assigning it a value. Insurance also paired well with my Finance degree. From a career perspective, knowing that insurance has stood the test of time gave me a sense of stability and offered various career paths.

What is the role and importance of Account Management within the insurance cycle?

Account Management plays a key role in the insurance cycle, linking our business with our customers. Let’s face it – insurance can be complicated and challenging to navigate. It is the role of Account Management to ease the process, build the relationship, and provide ongoing value. This requires breadth of knowledge in process, product, and regulation – as well as strong problem-solving skills. Successful account management ultimately leads to satisfaction, retention, and growth.

What do you find most interesting or rewarding about your role?

I find my role very rewarding. A few things that stand out include: navigating very complicated situations and finding solutions that balance customer needs and business goals, developing talent and sharing the knowledge gained over the past 25 years, and bridging the gap between customers (external facing) and the business units (internal facing).

For someone who may have never considered the insurance industry for a career, what would you say to change their minds?

Consider it! The opportunities are vast and not limited to an agent selling a policy to an individual consumer. That’s only one option.

• If analyzing data interests you – consider underwriting or actuary.
• If relationship building is your thing – consider account management.
• If investigating appeals to you – consider claims adjustor or examiner.
• If creativity excites you – consider marketing.

Discover how you can join our team and grow your career like Deb at Tokio Marine Highland. Visit our Careers page to learn more.

February is Insurance Careers Month, and there are exciting opportunities available in our diverse, innovative and growing industry. As a recipient of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work Award for three years in a row, Tokio Marine Highland is creating a culture and environment where employees with diverse backgrounds and skillsets can thrive and grow their careers. Here’s why Helen Shim, Private Flood Underwriter, chose a career in insurance:

Why did you choose a career in insurance?

I chose a career in insurance because of the numerous career opportunities it presented. Regardless of your interests, skills, or experience, the insurance industry offers a wide range of career opportunities. In addition, the industry promotes and prioritizes education and advancement through its many offerings, including mentorship. I have benefited tremendously from training and educational programs, and have been able to grow professionally and explore different areas of expertise.

What do you find most interesting or rewarding about your role?

Often in enterprise businesses, when a person is hired to fill a position, the duties and role become static and repetitive. This is not the case with my career in the insurance industry. No two days are the same as an underwriter working on various projects, managing a full production desk, mentoring junior colleagues, reviewing complex risks issues, and providing a high standard of customer service. Also, as an underwriter involved in various growth initiatives – it is extremely exciting and rewarding to work with a team of like-minded people building and creating a foundation for new products and platforms. This is especially true when the impact of the work can be seen and felt immediately.

For someone who may have never considered the insurance industry for a career, what would you say to change their minds?

It’s an industry that everyone should explore because it has a lot to offer. Many people have the wrong impression of the insurance industry because they don’t really understand it. I would encourage everyone to seek out people who are in the industry and see first-hand what it’s like to work in insurance.

The insurance industry is ever-changing and growing. There’s always something new to learn. As such, there is a big focus on development and growth – it’s part of the culture.

Discover how you can join our team and grow your career like Helen at Tokio Marine Highland. Visit our Careers page to learn more.

February is Insurance Careers Month, and there are exciting opportunities available in our diverse, innovative and growing industry. As a recipient of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work Award for three years in a row, Tokio Marine Highland is creating a culture and environment where employees with diverse backgrounds and skillsets can thrive and grow their careers. Here’s why Chad Kerley, Private Flood Underwriter, chose a career in insurance:

Why did you choose a career in insurance?

In the summer of 2012, I interned at WNC in the sales department under the leadership of Sheri Kordsmeier. The following summer, I interned under the leadership of Teri Garcia in the claims department. I later graduated college in the fall of 2013, and then became a full-time employee in February 2014 with the private flood department. Although I studied political science in college with the intent of becoming a lawyer, insurance has always been in my family – and after my internships at WNC, I switched career paths in my early twenties and never looked back.

What do you find most interesting or rewarding about your role?

I really enjoy the customer interactions that I have daily. Flood insurance is not always top of mind for agents, so being able to explain our products and the value they have for their clients is very rewarding. Every day is a learning experience – there are always new trends and technologies that reshape our job as underwriters. It can be fast paced, so being able to keep up is crucial.

For someone who may have never considered the insurance industry for a career, what would you say to change their minds?

I would say give it a shot! There will always be a need for insurance. It is something that everyone will have in their lives in one form or another. Insurance is one of the few jobs that offer a stable career in times of recession. At the very least, I would say get your insurance license and never let it expire. In doing so, you can get into the industry in one capacity or another if needed.

Discover how you can join our team and grow your career like Chad at Tokio Marine Highland. Visit our Careers page to learn more.

February is Insurance Careers Month, and there are exciting opportunities available in our innovative and growing industry. As a recipient of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work Award for three years in a row, Tokio Marine Highland is creating a culture and environment where employees with diverse backgrounds and skillsets can thrive and grow their careers. Here’s why Elissa Gydish, Senior Fine Art Underwriter, chose a career in insurance:

Why did you choose a career in insurance?

When I first began in the insurance industry, I had a background that was strictly fine art oriented. Having graduated with a B.A. in Art History and Business Economics and then an M.A. in Arts Administration, I began my career in the gallery and auction house markets. I wanted to find a field that addressed the financial aspects of the art market rather than pursue a purely academic role; in 2000 I applied to a job as an “appraiser” with a large property and casualty provider (Chubb) and began my career as a Valuable Articles Coverage specialist in the Personal Lines Division.

What do you find most interesting or rewarding about your role?

The field of fine art insurance is a fairly niche one and involves much collaboration amongst a relatively small group of professionals. I encounter many colleagues from past roles in both insurance and fine art in the course of my work, and there is consistent information sharing about the art market – even in the competitive environment of the insurance product. I can truly say that we are a passionate group of people!

For someone who may have never considered the insurance industry for a career, what would you say to change their minds?

I would say – what are your interests? Chances are, there is a field within the insurance industry that would be an enjoyable profession for you. When I started, the market for the monoline insurance product was quite narrow; personal fine art collections were typically packaged in Homeowner’s policies and the unique insurance needs of museums and dealers were rarely adequately addressed in the Commercial area. Had I ignored insurance as a potential career, I would not have been a part of the growth in this market.

Discover how you can join our team and grow your career like Elissa at Tokio Marine Highland. Visit our Careers page to learn more.