Insurance students had the trip of a life time visiting insurance icons in London and Zurich while enjoying some sightseeing along the way.
GLOBAL LEARNING
LANDS INSURANCE STUDENTS IN LONDON AND ZURICH
“I would absolutely encourage others to take advantage of study abroad opportunities... It changes your perspective on other people and cultures and changes you as a person.” MEGAN KEATHLEY ’19
22
S H I P H E R D ’S R E C O R D
Twelve students led by Tom Humphreys, CPCU, CLU, ChFC, CIC, director of Olivet College risk management and insurance center and assistant professor of insurance, risk management and financial planning, set off for London in May. “The class was designed to provide students a strong overview of international insurance,” Humphreys explained. “While we have an exceptional program at Olivet, this opportunity provided a different aspect of insurance, broadening students’ perspectives and giving them a well-rounded education.” The first excursion was a visit to the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) of London, the world’s largest professional organization for those in insurance and risk management careers. Students had the opportunity to learn about the standards of membership and how professionalism is promoted. The group next arrived at the Lockton Brokerage, honing in on the risk management area. In addition, the group spent time at the famed Lloyd’s of London, a nontraditional insurance marketplace that is a collection of underwriters from both corporations and private individuals. Founded in 1688, Lloyd’s gained notoriety over the years for writing a diverse and unusual range of surplus lines. Some of the most unusual include actress America Ferrara’s smile, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richard’s fingers, and a grain of rice engraved with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The trip capped off with a day spent at the Zurich Insurance headquarters, the Swiss company founded in 1872 and renowned as one of the largest in the world. The company opened its doors to the class, inviting them to presentations and workshops by some of the most experienced professionals. Megan Keathley said the time spent at Lloyd’s was the high point of her trip. “I was able to learn more about the surplus lines insurance industry and was very interested in the different ways that certain countries do business. I enjoyed learning about different cultures and the history in Europe was fascinating to learn about. I would absolutely encourage others to take advantage of study abroad opportunities because it allows students to see more of the world and learn new things. It changes your perspective on other people and cultures and changes you as a person.” In between business, the students enjoyed sightseeing, soaking up local culture and eating traditional foods. “We really got to dive into the fun side of insurance,” Humphreys said. “Students also honed team building skills, stayed very active, gained a perspective on other cultures and enjoyed a learning experience that benefited them both professionally and personally.”