Spotlight on…is an initiative of WICI (Women in Credit Insurance) aiming at highlighting females working in the Trade Credit Insurance business. Every month, a new interview article will be published on ICISA website.
Jane is one of the founding board members of WICI and has worked in the credit insurance and surety industry for 30 years. Jane’s career commenced as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor working in surety claims before moving across to credit insurance claims, followed by commercial underwriting, management and leadership.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Helping people. Whether that is helping a colleague solve a problem, helping customers grow their business, advising a client on a complex construction matter, mentoring and supporting another member of staff or providing mental health support. Helping others brings real meaning to the workplace and my role. This all fits really well into the ethos of my employer, Tokio Marine HCC which perhaps explains partially why I have stayed here so long.
What are the biggest obstacles to career growth in our industry?
Many people who land in trade credit insurance have very long careers. Whilst that is definitely a positive it is also an obstacle to career growth for some, especially within smaller insurers and brokers. Increasing the age at which people become entitled to state pension and removal of the compulsory retirement age perhaps hasn’t helped.
What are the biggest challenges facing our industry?
Trade Credit insurance has always suffered from low penetration rates and that never seems to change. Attracting new businesses and sectors to our market probably remains the biggest challenge. The second challenge is that of technology. Credit Insurance has come a long way since the paper processes I experienced 30 years ago but there is still a lot that can be done in this space. Whilst insurers may have the appetite to move to more tech-based products, customers don’t seem as keen, especially in the SME segment and the high cost remains a barrier.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learnt during your career?
Don’t accept anything at face value. A little bit of digging and very often the facts are not entirely as per the first set of facts presented. Take the time to understand the customer and the risk or the claim. Be curious!
What helps you to unwind/destress?
I recently started playing clarinet again after a break of over 30 years. I had forgotten how important music is to me and being able to get completely lost in a piece of music is the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of daily life.
