Whitney Simonetti
Senior Corporate Marketing Specialist, American SafetyInsurance
Years at company:5
College: AuburnUniversity
Organizations: Treasurer forNAPSLO Next Generation

Read Whitney's previous nGI Q&A

How can employers retain youngtalent?

One of the great aspects of this industry is the flexibility.Many companies offer flex hours and telecommuting, which is unheardof in other industries.

How did you determine that insurance was a viable careerchoice?

If I'm being completely honest, I got into insurance completelyby default. I Googled marketing jobs within a 5 mile radius of myhouse and this happened to be one of them! The first few months,like most 20-somethings, I thought it was dreadfully boring anddecided to stick it out for a year and then look for somethingelse. But the more I started getting involved, working with otherdepartments within my company, meeting other insurance underwritersand producers through NAPSLO Next Gen, I realized the amazingpotential of this industry.

How does technology fit into your workstrategy?

Better question is how does it not! From the sales side,we use producer management software so that we can track producernumbers and set goals. From the marketing side, we use social mediaand email blast systems.

Who do you look toward as a mentor in thisindustry?

I absolutely love hearing stories from industry veterans, whatbetter way to learn, than those that have already lived it and comeout successful. My boss has been with huge carriers and one-officeshops, he's been on the producer side and MGA side, he has seen itall! Being able to get so many different perspectives from oneperson is priceless information and a learning advantage!

What are your future goals in thisindustry?

I would like to continue taking on more responsibilities, attainmy CPCU designation and get more exposure to all sides of theindustry through my NAPSLO Next Gen involvement. Getting to work soclosely with such a variety of people in the industry has been sucha motivating factor in my career.

What are your main priorities as a young agent(work/life balance, charity support, legislative issues,etc.?)

For me, I need continued growth, the second I feel like I can gointo auto pilot, I need a new challenge.

How does your office reflect how youwork?

My office is an exact match to my ever-racing mind! Paperworkeverywhere (if it's out of eye sight, I'll forget), 5 hour Energyin arms reach, and pictures of my dogs and family to keep me saneon crazy days!

What is an important lesson you learned whenjoining a professional working environment?

Be sensitive of everyone's time and work load. It is easy to getsucked into the vacuum of your workload and get frustrated withother departments for checks being incorrect, the printer notworking or a mail run being late. Everyone is just as busy as youare, be respectful.

What do you see Gen Y/Millennialsstruggle with in a professional environment? What advice do youhave?

I know one thing I struggled with when I first started, was thedesire for people to take me seriously. When you're young it feelslike everyone would rather deal with your superior, because whatcould you possibly know? It's not something that happens overnightand it doesn't matter if you have your MBA and every designationbehind your name. It takes experience and that obviously takestime. Be patient, it will come!

Where do you hope to take your career? Whatdirection would you like your career to go?

I would love to move into more of a sales and producer relationsrole. I've always been a “people person.” I love getting out andmeeting people. Through NAPSLO Next Gen I've gained insight intoother careers, ask questions and see how others operate. I'm luckyto have started in a smaller operation that allowed me to wear lotsof hats and find my way into my own niche.

Have you ever experienced any “generation gap”issues with your carriers in terms of personal interaction or theproducts they offer?

I have noticed at companies where more “Under 40” employees arelocated, you do tend to see more of the new product offerings(cyber liability, etc.). The younger folks are always trying tokeep up with trends, the veterans have already established theirspecialties.

Many young agents enter thisindustry because other family members work in insurance. Whatadvice do you have when working with family?

I know quite a few of these folks and what always surprises meis their ambition, rather than having an attitude of entitlement.Many have gone to other companies for a few years to see how othersoperate, and make a name for themselves. It's great exposure and agreat self confidence booster.

What skills do you think young agents will neednext year?

The ability to keep up! With ever-changing technology,legislative issues, and the quick pace of the world now, coveragesare changing, new risks popping up and Mother Nature's relentlessfury. The only thing that seems constant in this industry ischange. The NAPSLO Next Gen newsletter quarterly reports newtrends, coverages, etc.to keep our under 40s group in the know.

What do you see young agents struggle with intheir first years in this industry? What advice do youhave?

From what I hear from veteran underwriters, they just want youto pick up the phone more. We have grown up in a technological era;we are used to texting and emailing as a form of a communication.After sending 10 emails back and forth all morning, a quick phonecall could have solved the issue in 5 minutes.

What was the biggest challenge you faced as a youngagent, and how did you handle it?

My biggest challenge was gaining confidence. As a youngemployee, you tend to feel green and not taken seriously. Iquickly started taking CPCU classes, would go above and beyond onprojects and worked overtime. People start to notice the effort,and your role begins to expand. Gaining people's trust and approvalis always a confidence booster.

What do you see as your biggest strength in thisindustry?

My biggest strength is being a people person. This industrythrives on relationships. People do business with people theylike.

Similarly, what is your biggest weakness? How have youaddressed that weakness?

My weakness is technical insurance knowledge. I didn't go toschool for Risk Management, so I've been taking CPCU classes andsneaking in webinars here and there to build my knowledge.Thankfully, being a member of NAPSLO Next Gen has opened my“sounding board” network, there are so many under 40 folks withextensive expertise who are happy to answer questions and provideexplanations.

How does social marketing make you a more productiveemployee?

Social media allows me to network with others in the industry somuch faster than ever before, but most importantly, there are greatarticles, discussions, tips all in one place. NAPSLO Next Genmembers can post questions on LinkedIn or Facebook and get answersfrom members all over the globe in minutes.

Whitney Simonetti was featured inthe April 2013 issue of AA&B. She is the seniorcorporate marketing specialist for American SafetyInsurance.