Her Story
About Shelly
I've been in the insurance industry since 1997, working in property and casualty insurance. My path into this field was unexpected - I actually started as a receptionist and wasn't doing very well at it. A producer in life insurance offered to teach me everything he knew about life insurance if I stayed after hours, and I picked up the information so quickly that the company paid for my education. Now I work primarily with business managers who represent high influential clients in the entertainment industry. My typical day involves managing a very busy desk - I came back to 75 emails just over the weekend. I handle everything from closing escrows with very short timelines to quoting new business and managing complex accounts. Recently, I've been working with clients who have significant fine art collections, including one insured with a 91 million dollar fine art schedule. I was invited to attend art exhibits by both my clients and insurance carriers like AXA Art. When I started in this business, I learned by getting under someone that everyone respected in the industry and soaking up all the knowledge. Instead of just asking how to do things, I would ask to be referred to files so I could read them and retain the information that way. This taught me which carriers offered the best accommodations for very hard risk placements. My colleagues and business managers always tell me how reliable I am, and they know they can rest assured that I'm going to place them with the best carrier quickly. I'm very organized, efficient, and I get things done - period. Even if I have to come in on Saturdays, I make it happen. In the time I've come up in insurance, there is no such thing as no. It's get it done, hook or crook.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shelly
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Get under someone that everyone respects in the industry, and just soak up all the knowledge. I had the privilege to do that, and instead of just asking how to do it, I would ask to be referred to a file, and therefore, I would read it, and then retain the information that way. So then, it was absorbed more than just going to the person every time I had a challenge. I knew where to go. I learned what carriers offered the best accommodations for very hard risk placements. That really taught me - instead of just asking, I would read up on it through individual files.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I wouldn't say it's difficult, because I've been doing it for so long, so I can do it with my eyes closed. The only challenge is when we don't have a lot of time. In the time that I've come up in insurance, there is no such thing as no. It's get it done. So, hook or crook, I'm getting it done, period, even if I have to come in on Saturdays. When you have money, or when you are a high influential client, you don't have a very long escrow. It's simply, I want to buy this house. And you're like, oh my gosh, okay. Right now, I'm closing an escrow that only had a 10-day escrow, so that has me a little frazzled. But it could be long hours.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I absolutely, hands down, am very organized. Everyone comes to me for that. I am very quick, therefore efficient. And I get things done. I get it done, just period. A lot of my colleagues, along with the business managers, they've always ranted and raved about how reliable I am, and they know that they can rest assured that I'm gonna place them with the best carrier quickly. I do the stuff that they don't want to do.
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