Kristin Jones
Associate broker, Bliss & Glennon
Years at company: 5
College: Berklee College of Music '07
Organizations: AAMGA Under FortyOrganization
Accreditations: ASLI

What is an important lesson you learned when you joineda professional working environment?
I learned that it is important to choose your work friends andmentors wisely for they not only shape you, but other people'sperception of you. Surround yourself with focused, bright,successful people who you like. If you are focused at work, thatmakes the happy hour afterward all the more enjoyable.

What are your goals in this industry?
My goal is to be a top producer within the Bliss & Glennonorganization. I'd like to focus growing my book of business in theentertainment field, something B&G hasn't really tapped intoyet. Ultimately my goal is to do whatever it takes to keep thisorganization growing and moving forward in this saturated,challenging market.

How did you choose insurance as a viable careerchoice?
With a mother in the industry, of course I grew up saying I wouldnever be in insurance. I went to college to sing and write musicfor film. While working a few unpaid internships in theentertainment industry, I also was working part-time at Bliss &Glennon. One day I decided to give insurance my undivided attentionand really see what my options were. From there it was pretty easyto determine that the wholesale MGA and brokerage business is not abad gig!

The great thing about insurance is that you can come into itfrom any educational background. Underwriting is all aboutexperience, the more diverse the better. Music is somethingeveryone can relate to and being a Berklee grad is a goodconversation starter in marketing and networking.

How do Gen Ys struggle in a professionalenvironment?
I hate to promote stereotypes, but speaking as one myself, “GenY'ers” tend to get bored more easily than oldergenerations. We like to multitask, feel that we are making adifference and see clear steps to moving up in a company. That maysound high maintenance, but my advice to employers is to simplykeep the lines of communication open. If you can keep a Gen Yemployee engaged, then you'll have a star employee. My advice tothe young generation is not to take any job or position forgranted.

What advice would you give young agents without aninsurance background or training?
Insurance will seem like a separate language at first. Don't bediscouraged; pick up the INS education series to learn the basics.After that there are dozens of industry-specific courses to choosefrom and I recommend you take as many as you have time for. But themost important training will come from job experience–find amentor, ask lots of questions and work hard. You'll be rattling offacronyms and coverage terms like a true insurance professional inno time.

Who do you look to as a mentor in thisindustry?
I look to my mother as a mentor in management, operations and purework ethic. I count myself incredibly lucky to be able to pick herbrain on a daily basis. I look to one of the younger femaleproducers in our office as a mentor in underwriting and marketplacement. She has the perfect balance of experience, attention todetail and humor to help with developing producers.