A Day in the Life of a Broker
| Name | Joanna |
| Degree | Economics, University of Manchester |
| Interesting Fact | Enjoys fencing and running – but not at the same time! |
The Job
I am a terrorism, war and political violence insurance broker. My main role is to collect information about a risk and then take it into Lloyd's of London – the world’s specialist insurance market – where I tell underwriters about the risk and arrange insurance on behalf of clients. For most of the day I’m out of the office and running around Lloyd's.
The Start
I always start the day with a cup of tea while I write a to-do list. I arrive at work at around 8-8.30am and get a head start with answering my emails and preparing my work for the day. My team and I have regular catch-ups to discuss new projects and help each other organise our workload.
The Best Bit
It’s great interacting with all the different people I meet. Being a broker you are able to meet different people every day and each account you work on offers a new opportunity for you to excel. Every day is different so you never know what is around the corner! I love the fact my job has global exposure, and since joining Marsh I have talked to people from all over the world. The risks we deal with are related to real world events, making them all the more interesting to learn about. Also, working as part of a team to win accounts is both fulfilling and energising.
The Skills
I think using common sense and your social skills are probably the most important. When thinking about ways to win new accounts it often takes a bit of lateral thinking and number crunching but ultimately being prepared, honest and ready to negotiate are the skills you need.
The Challenges
It’s often a challenge being the middle man. Negotiating with the Lloyd's markets to obtain the best for clients requires hard work and determination. Dealing with clients all over the globe means that you are busy every hour of the day and handling a large volume of work, which can involve working with a number of different time zones and deadlines all at the same time. However, you cannot beat the great sense of satisfaction you have when the job is done well.
The Team
Working in this team is an exciting experience with never a dull moment! The team is a young, vibrant, enthusiastic bunch with a passion for what they do, creating a very sociable environment.