Olivia. Client Operations - Shipping Insurance

Olivia is a twenty-three-year-old Client Operations Underwriting Assistant in the Shipping Insurance industry. She is based in London and has been in the industry for nearly three years.

How did you get into your field? What inspired you?

‘I was really fortunate and was offered an internship in my field of choice! Once this internship ended, I applied to a full time role at my current firm and managed to secure permanent employment!’

‘After a year I transferred to a different role to gain some wider exposure of the industry and to learn the different roles available to me. This all happened very quickly after finishing university so I never really spent real time considering what exactly I wanted to do. I always knew I wanted to work within financial services in some form, and that I would want to work at the core of a business. I have spent the last few years being inspired by what I see in the wider financial services landscape, what I see my peers doing around me and where my interests lie. The things that have inspired me have shown me where it is I really want to take my career. I think constant reflection and seeking ongoing and new inspiration is really important for the development of your career and having a clear vision.’

What did you study at university and did this help you get into your field?

‘Politics. I would say for financial services it is much more relevant than an arts subject, and a ticked box for recruiters - but I am yet to apply my political knowledge!’

Do you recommend any particular studies, courses or degrees for your field?

‘I would recommend anything science, maths or business related. If you can attain knowledge of the financial markets, economics or a background of business, this will definitely help you with those initial job applications when you may not have that much to put on your CV.’

What does an average day look like in your role?

‘On an average day I am usually dealing with incoming client requests. You can never really predict what a day will look like as things are always changing in the shipping world. One day I may have six clients come in with some new business or changes to their existing fleets, another day I may have nothing. In that instance I would focus on project work or the more administrative stuff! I can go from extremely busy to very quiet quite quickly.’

What is the best part of your role?

‘The best part of my role is that I have the freedom to explore my own interests and pursue my own projects that are beyond the requirements of my job description. This keeps me engaged and gives me something to focus on during the quieter periods!’

What is the worst part of your role?

‘The worst part of my role is the quieter periods. It can be difficult to stay motivated when everything, including some of my own projects, are in a quiet stage.’

How important is work/life balance to you and how much spare time do you have?

‘Work/life balance is important to me in that I enjoy being able to go out on Fridays and have a relaxing weekend. I am very fortunate in that I currently only really have to work my 9-5 hours. Although this all changes in the run up to February when all our contracts renew. During this time I need to work 7 days a week and at least 10 hours a day on weekends. So I guess there still is a kind of balance!’

Do you have any hobbies?

‘My main hobby is training/fitness. I enjoy trying new exercises in the gym and being in control of my health and fitness. I also love going out with my friends, and finding new activities to do with my boyfriend!’

Do you have any advice for people looking to start a career in the same field?

‘Talk to people, go to industry relevant events, find stuff online to read, join groups on LinkedIn and connect with people whose job you aspire to on LinkedIn. I have recently attained a mentor within financial services whom I found in a group on LinkedIn and sent her a message. She has shared invaluable advice with me and been a great help with my career development.’

Have you ever experienced any uncertainties about your career? What do you do to overcome them?

‘I have ongoing uncertainties about my career! I started work so quickly (two days before I graduated!) so I never really considered whether I was in the right field or job for me - so I have had an ongoing challenge trying to work that out.’

‘Overcoming these uncertainties is also an ongoing challenge. I am trying to put myself in the best place possible and do the work I can do within my own capabilities to ensure I am best positioned for where I want to go. I would say that having conversations with people you look up to and mentor figures helps greatly with this. Their experience and guidance, with their knowledge of you personally, is a very powerful tool.’

Who is your biggest female inspiration and why?

‘Mary Callahan Erdoes, the CEO of Asset and Wealth Management at JP Morgan. She is in her early 50s and is already doing one of the most senior jobs, at one of the largest firms within finance. She has lived her life being comfortable in a room full of men. Notably she was the only woman to complete a mathematics major at Georgetown University during her time there and become a CEO in a heavily male dominated industry in her late 40s. On top of all of this she has raised three daughters during her career. She is a great example of a woman who succeeded despite the odds and despite the bias!’