Sara Sheppard Pacifici, vice president at Sheppard Insurance Group
College: University of South Carolina '07
Organizations: IIABA, PIA

Do your top carriers recruit young workers? It seems that they are recruiting young workers. Auto-Owners Insurance in particular recruits a lot of young people. And those we have interacted with are doing a great job in underwriting, claims and processing.

What's the toughest thing about being a young agent in a field where the average age is 55? I think young agents can bring a lot more to the table than some might think. We have fresh ideas, lots of energy and are eager and ready to learn. Young agents see the insurance industry as a solid, challenging, and, yes, even exciting career choice. Insurance is difficult and there is a lot to be learned from those who have been in the industry for many years. Both generations can learn a lot from each other.

How does technology fit into your work strategy? Technology is a necessary part of my work life and my work strategy. We are in a time of new opportunities with technology that we are still trying to figure out in regard to our industry. Now it's not just agency management systems and comparative raters. It's social networking, Smartphones, websites and blogs. My strategy is to find a productive blend of them all.

What's your mantra for success? Always go the extra mile, not only for clients but for friends and family as well. I believe positive things come back to you if you take care of others.

How do you balance work and personal life? Being in a family business can get hectic. I feel it is my responsibility to work hard and put in more hours. However, I am a firm believer that taking care of yourself and doing things that you enjoy outside of work will make you a happier and better employee or boss. I just got engaged on Christmas Day so I'm getting ready to really figure out how to balance these parts of my life.

Read on for more from Sara Sheppard Pacifici

How does your office reflect how you work? Our office is not like most insurance agencies. It is open and light, and we are encouraged to interact with each other and with our clients in a comfortable, relaxed setting. While it is still professional, I feel each of our offices also reflect our individual personalities.

What do you see Millennials struggle with relating to Gen Ys in a professional environment? What advice do you have? We are an on-the-go generation which sometimes makes it difficult to sit in an office all. We rely on fast-paced communication like email and text messages, and some clients are not comfortable with this just yet. My advice is to respect that all clients are different and to slow down and enjoy the interaction with them no matter what form of communication you are using. I would also advise them to always look for opportunities to stay busy and meet new people. You will be surprised at how fast the day goes by when you stay engaged.

Where do you hope to take your career? What direction would you like your career to go? I would like to establish myself in the industry as someone who has a traditional job in a traditional business, but is doing things in a nontraditional way. I hope to create a positive reputation for myself and our agency.

Gen Y's often change jobs—7 times in their 20s, according to research. How can employers retain young talent? Employers can retain young talent by challenging them, encouraging growth, opening new opportunities and allowing them to use their creativity to enhance business procedures. I would also advise employers to be flexible and open to new ideas from the younger generation.

Sara Sheppard Pacifici was featured in the March 2011 issue of AA&B. She is a vice president at Brock Insurance Agency.

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Sara Sheppard Pacifici Continues Young Agent Discussion - nGI

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