“We need to challenge the narrative of the industry,” says executive
One CEO said that for the insurance sector to advance, it must shed its relatively conservative reputation and show off the variety of chances and people that make this profession possible.
“We need to challenge the narrative of the industry,” declared Grace Grant, executive director of Gamma Iota Sigma, a collegiate fraternity with over 5,000 members and 100 chapters spread across North America. Its main objective is to increase and maintain students’ interest in jobs in risk management, actuarial science, and insurance.
She remarked, “There is more to insurance than its traditional and out-of-date reputation as being a dull, male-dominated industry.
Grant discussed how insurance needs to be seen as a realistic career route rather than an incidental professional resource in an interview with Insurance Business at RIMS in Atlanta. He also discussed how the business will change as a result of younger people’s changing attitudes.
“This should be the first career choice”
Finding a prominent and ultimately fulfilling career in the sector was not an intended goal throughout college life, as was frequently revealed during introductory “ice breakers” in chats at RIMS with people from all walks of life.
Grant stated, “That is a frequent discussion point we want to eliminate. “Rather than a field that one enters with curiosity and a little bit of hesitance, this should be a first career choice.”
As college and high school students are determining their career projections, the range of ideas, skill, and opportunity the business provides ought to be the main topic of conversation.
Grant stated, “There are so many distinct specialties and niches to investigate.
One can even transform their pastime into a career by finding a job that specifically relates to their interests, whether they are in the fine arts or professional sports.
Finding greater meaning within a career
Gen Z students are entering the workforce as their college studies come to a conclusion with a distinct viewpoint on identifying a career purpose and a passion for social connection.
“These students were really affected by the pandemic era shutdowns during very formative years in their development,” Grant claimed.
Many of these emerging professionals have grown weary of Zoom and are eager to plunge into a profession that values nuanced conversation and face-to-face human connection.
The capacity to get out from behind a computer and develop relationships, whether it be with coworkers or clients, is very important to them, according to Grant. For a while, campus life was practically nonexistent.
Next-generation talent is altruistic in nature in addition to looking for chances to interact with others in person.
The recent civil turmoil in its different forms, according to Grant, “has definitely had an impact on what the current crop of students finds important.”
Actionable initiatives in diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as a dedication to sustainable business practices are essential if we are to stop the alarming trend of climate change.
According to Grant, “Gen Z talent is attracted to companies that uphold and promote values that reflect a greater effort to create an equitable future and push society and the environment in the right direction.”
“Work/life balance is critical for the next generation”
With Gen Z professionals entering the field, the more flexible employment possibilities that the pandemic has ushered in will endure.
Work-life balance is essential for the coming generation, according to Grant.
Due to the increasing importance placed on supporting and promoting mental health as a result of stress from work, family, and social interactions, environments that allow for more flexible scheduling have shown to be effective in preventing burnout.
“This can be misrepresented as the younger talent wanting to be all virtual and completely abolish in-person learning and connections, but that is far from the truth,” Grant said.
“Instead, creating a culture that allows for more choice in how to do business is seen as advantageous, especially for a group of individuals who have become accustomed to more remote settings. It’s all about creating a balance that invigorates the mind.”
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