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 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.

The insurance industry is more than underwriting and claims management. Technology is transforming the way we assess risks, transact business and engage with our agents and brokers, and has led to new roles that specialize in data and analytics, robotics process automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence. There has never been a better time to consider the exciting opportunities available in our diverse, innovative and growing industry. As a recipient of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work in 2020, Tokio Marine Highland is creating a culture and environment where employees who specialize in technology can thrive and grow their careers.

Here’s why Andrew Leonard, Principal Solutions Architect – Data Engineer, chose a career in insurance:

Why did you choose a career in insurance?

When I was looking at different industries to take my career, I wanted to find work that was challenging and interesting at the same time. The insurance industry offers lots of challenges when it comes to technology.

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

One of the most interesting aspects is the many types of data I get to work with. For example, I’ve learned how to leverage Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data for our company’s unique use cases. Additionally, I get to work with the Private Flood Division to help implement technology into their processes. Seeing the impact my work has on their business has been really rewarding.

How do you apply technology to your role? 

Technology is applied pretty naturally and organically in my role. In terms of resources we use, I am constantly taking classes to continue my professional development. We also learn about new technologies based out of need, utilizing technologies based off what the problem requires.

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

The insurance industry really poses many interesting problems and questions to us. If you consider yourself a problem solver or someone who wants to be challenged in your career, the insurance industry would be a great fit for you.

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

February is Insurance Careers Month, and it has never been a better time to consider the exciting opportunities available in our diverse, innovative and growing industry. As a recipient of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work in 2020, Tokio Marine Highland is creating a culture and environment where employees with diverse backgrounds and skill sets can thrive and grow their careers.

Here’s why Lydia Martinez, Senior Underwriter, chose a career in insurance:

Why did you choose a career in insurance?

Some would call it destiny or fate, and some have even told me I was meant to do this. However, the truth is that I stumbled into insurance during my sophomore year in high school. It was a great way to make some extra cash after school and learn skills that I knew would help me in the future (little did I know how important the skill set would become!).

I worked my way through college and earned a position as a private client account manager for one of the area’s largest independent agencies. I graduated Florida International University with a degree in criminal justice and the intent of pursuing a career in insurance fraud investigation with the Florida Division of Investigative and Forensic Services. However, after graduating, the insurance agency I was with was acquired by a leading North American insurance brokerage where I was promoted to Business Development Executive. I was honored to be the youngest and only female producer on the team, and the recipient of the top producer award at an offsite training academy sponsored by the brokerage.

My time in different roles within a large agency, and then for a national brokerage, taught me an invaluable number of skills and expertise. I realized that the insurance industry was far from one-dimensional and the opportunities were limitless. So I decided to adjust the sails, pursue my 220-General Lines Property & Casualty License and additional designations that would help me continue to grow in the industry.

Then in 2008, I found Tokio Marine Highland, my home for the past 12 years. It was here where it further solidified what I already knew – the only thing that can hold you back is yourself! Just when I thought the industry had nothing new to teach me, it proved me wrong. I learned a new skill, became an expert in a new product line, further sharpened an existing skill set and was completely pushed out of my comfort zone. I went from being the face of the product, per say, to being completely behind the scenes – underwriting, analyzing, assessing risk, making decisions that impact loss ratios and profitability – and I found a new passion! The best way to explain it is that I found yet another branch of interest in this oak tree of an industry.

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

At this point in my career as a Senior Underwriter overseeing a team of Assistant Underwriters, the most rewarding thing is training and developing new and existing employees. I love learning what makes them tick, what motivates them, what their passions are, hearing a fresh perspective and having fruitful conversations on the direction of the industry and how we can make what we are doing even better! Being in a multi-faceted role, I also deeply enjoy marketing our products by way of leading agency training webinars and continuing education courses, while maintaining production and underwriting responsibilities.

The most rewarding thing about my role is that it fulfills my creative side and my analytical side, allowing me an opportunity to find the missing link to solving a problem or reaching a solution that requires out-of-the-box thinking. Those moments remind me why this is my passion, why it drives me, and motivates me to continue pursuing ways to challenge myself and grow in my profession.

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

Simply put, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Everyone needs insurance and this industry offers you options – marketing, sales, underwriting, operations, financial services, risk management, claims, information technology, analytics, and the list goes on and on! Yes, the industry has been around for a long time and, to me, that equates to strength, stability, and the opportunity to open doors for the next generation of insurance professionals.

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

February is Insurance Careers Month, and it has never been a better time to consider the exciting opportunities available in our diverse, innovative and growing industry. As a recipient of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work in 2020, 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 Tim Reilly, Senior Director of Digital Distribution, chose a career in insurance:

Why did you choose a career in insurance?

Like a number of people in our industry, I kind of just fell into it. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after college and thought law school might be in the books. I wasn’t excited about the idea of jumping right back into school, and I also received some advice that a couple years of work experience might be helpful. I had been doing some advisory work on a political campaign and when that ended I needed to find something. I took the first offer I received, and it happened to be with a large global insurance company. I started in claims, but once I was in the door, I quickly realized there were so many different avenues to take within the insurance space. I quickly became an insurance nerd and wanted to learn everything I could about our industry and haven’t looked back.

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

The insurance industry has been slow to adopt technology, but that has changed significantly over the last couple of years and it has made it an exciting time to be in our space. I love that every day is an opportunity to solve problems, bring new types of solutions and value to our clients, and utilize technology to create new partnership opportunities in the market. I also love that every day is an opportunity to learn something new.

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

The opportunities to make a real impact in our space are endless. Like other industries, change is inevitable, and there is a real opportunity in insurance to shape what that change looks like. The industry is in need of new ideas, fresh perspectives and those who are willing to challenge existing technology and business structures. It’s important not to lose sight of what our industry is here for. What you are doing is meaningful. We exist to help bring people and businesses peace of mind, but most importantly, help restore when the unexpected happens.

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