Her Story
About Lilian
I've been in the insurance industry for 11 years. I started in customer service and progressed through leadership and operations before moving into quality assurance auditing. I've worked with property, casualty, health, life and health insurance. What drew me in was the opportunity to help people and fix problems through customer interactions and finding solutions for them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lilian
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Staying true to yourself. In the corporate world it's easy to chase titles or salaries, but you have to ask yourself what you actually want and like. I learned this after trying the nonprofit sector for 11 months and realizing it wasn't really for me despite pushing myself to do it.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Definitely go for it and give it a shot. It's a rewarding career if you're open-minded. You have to build relationships, be comfortable with rejection, and understand there are tons of opportunities for growth whether in claims, customer service, technical support, auditing, or other areas. If you like helping people and fixing problems, insurance is a great place.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is figuring out what the customer really needs versus what they think they want. Customers often want the most economical option but sometimes need something better. You have to get to know them, counsel them, and provide all the information so they can make an informed decision. Many people don't know about the different types of insurance available.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Building strong relationships is very important both with customers and in personal life. Collaboration with a team, being a people person who bounces ideas off others, coaching and being coached, and strong leadership to look up to are key values. Surrounding yourself with strong leaders helps you grow.
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