Her Story
About Kim
Kim Huynh serves as a Client Advisory at Lockton Insurance Brokers, where she assesses the risks and exposures of clients, primarily global tech companies, and develops strategies to transfer those risks through commercial insurance products. With 25 years in the insurance field, she began her career after a brief college experience and an internship at an insurance agency, quickly developing a passion for the industry that has kept her engaged ever since. Kim emphasizes protecting clients' businesses and livelihoods over commissions, building long-term relationships through honesty, integrity, patience, and kindness, especially during times of loss. She attributes her professional success to the resilience and humility modeled by her parents, who raised six children in a refugee family and taught her to be the best at whatever she does while letting her work speak for itself. Outside of her role, Kim has been a dedicated UNICEF member for over a decade and has volunteered with the Children's Hospital of Orange County since 2003, supporting fundraisers such as Light the Night and the Disney Walk through Blood Cancer United.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kim
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from my parents and the grit they instilled in me. I am one of six kids from a refugee family. My parents came from nothing and taught me that if you're going to be a janitor, be the best janitor. They lost everything but never gave up or complained. Watching them silently struggle and survive without boasting taught me to be humble, let my work speak for itself, and keep going no matter what. Their compassion and willingness to give back even when they had little has shaped how I approach my career and life.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to leave your ego at the door. When I was young and just starting out, someone told me that if you really want to be successful, you need to check your ego at the door. You can pick it up when you leave, but when you're working, check your baggage and focus on learning.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If I could talk to my younger self, I would say give yourself grace to learn what you do not know. Get the right mentors and do not be hard on yourself. When there is not a seat at the table, create your own table instead of fighting for one. Be humble, shut up and listen, because you cannot learn if your mouth is open. Build a community of like-minded, kind, and empathetic people. Women need to stop fighting for that one seat and create their own.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is being seen as a minority woman. The stereotype of being Asian American is that you are quiet, put your head down, and just work. But the ones who make the most noise get noticed. We need to speak up when things are not right and change the narrative that women are not strong. We are very resilient. We should not put ourselves to impossible standards of being 110% assertive before going after a position.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The willingness to help people is most important. In our industry, it is not about making a commission but about protecting people's livelihoods and rebuilding them after a loss. I put protecting my clients' businesses and the livelihoods of those who work with them in front of me every single day. Being honest, having integrity, being patient and kind, especially during a loss, builds long-term relationships.
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