INSURANCE JOURNEY / Megan Farmer
CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND CONSTANT EXPANSION OF SKILLS: DEVELOPMENT THAT BENEFITS CLIENTS The 2021 Young Professional of the Year for NSW/ACT Megan Farmer of Markey Insurance & Risk gives us a glimpse into her journey into insurance broking.
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fter completing the HSC, I deferred University. A family member in the industry suggested that I consider getting office experience at an insurance brokerage. After entering in an administration role, I was immediately fascinated by the industry and fixated on the depth of the insurance world. I was intent on making this my career, with a focus on servicing clients. Insurance is full of twists and turns, in addition, we need to have great understanding of our clients’ activities and operations which essentially allows us an in-depth experience of varying industries. I have learnt that having a great mentor can help you develop your skills, network and be a great sounding board when discussing ideas and outcomes. Mentors can share their experiences and vice versa. The whole process really allows for a mutually beneficial relationship. Right now, I feel we are all facing challenges in our careers, with the combination of the pandemic, a multitude of weather events, and all of that on top of being in a hard market. During these times, I have focused on the importance of relationships, effectively communicating, and managing expectations, and bringing more value to my role as a broker. COVID-19 has obviously had a huge impact on the way we do business, not just in our industry, but for Australia as a whole. I think it has highlighted the importance of strong customer service, active communication, and supporting our communities. The biggest lesson I have learnt in my career so far is that delaying a difficult discussion won’t make it any less difficult.
PROUDLY SUPPORTING
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“No matter what stage you are in your career, you are continually learning and developing skills that engage you mentally.”
offer great perspective and we should certainly take something from that, I wouldn’t have learnt all of the lessons I have without each one of the highs and the lows that I’ve experienced throughout my career thus far.”
I constantly encourage people to give the insurance industry a go. Personally, the depth of our industry continues to engross me daily. No matter what stage you are in your career, you are continually learning and developing skills that engage you mentally. Insurance is a key facet in rebuilding communities following devastation and being able to support our communities and assist them in the event of a loss occurring is a unique position and one that is certainly rewarding. I would not change anything in my career journey. Although hindsight can always
FIVE RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS Secret ambition? To learn another language. Favourite film? I’ll go TV Series instead – I’m a big fan of Survivor. Favourite book? The Alchemist. Favourite past-time? Travel. Favourite food? Greek cuisine.
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