Authored by: Keri Herlong
Being an influencer is more than climbing the corporate ladder or tallying virtual validation. In the insurance industry, we have the opportunity to create influence in the truest sense of the word. By setting an example for those around you, you influence them wanting to improve as well. Like a pebble dropped in a pond that eventually creates waves on the shore, every positive interaction creates positive impact in ever-widening circles.
Why be an influencer? Really, what’s in it for you other than a secure payday?
Impact.
In the early days of my career, like many, I fell into insurance. I did not get into this industry because I had dreamed of it as a little girl. At that time, the impact was 100% personal and involved paying my bills and creating a life for my son.
As my career progressed, I realized how my role, whatever that looked like, actually made a difference in people’s lives; my impact became altruistic. Whether providing a certificate of insurance that allowed a contractor to get on their jobsite or get paid, explaining coverage gaps to a new agent or producer so they could look like a hero to their customer, mentoring a new colleague in presentation skills to build their confidence, or facilitating lessons about underwriting, I had a positive impact on people’s lives. Today, my impact has broadened to publicly sharing the benefits of being employed in the insurance industry.
Many Millennials and Gen Z’ers say they want to leave a legacy through positive impact on the world and those around them. That goal aligns perfectly with the insurance industry. At Acuity (the company where I work), our mission includes rebuilding shattered lives. As underwriters, we deliver a product that helps people protect the things that matter. As insurance professionals, we need to be out there sharing why insurance is important and how we create impact in our companies and agencies and industry.
Being an influencer in the insurance industry means you get to have a positive impact on your teammates, your customers, your leaders, and those who look up to you. Reading blogs like this one can give you insight into things you can do to help improve your influence and up your game. Writing blogs like this one can give you a platform to share your expertise with others.
Next Steps
In future installments, I’ll suggest ways you can create influence and impact in the insurance industry. The material comes from my time as an account manager, field underwriter, agency manager, Vice President, Chief Operations Officer, and underwriting consultant, but the lesson is germane to more than just an underwriting and management focus. No matter what your role or title, anyone can be a leader.
One step you can take right now is joining an association like IAIP. Connect with other like-minded people who can help you grow, challenge you, and put you on a path to leadership, influence, and impact.
About the Author:
Keri Herlong is a Senior Commercial Underwriting Consultant for Acuity and is an insurance industry veteran. She has been a member of IAIP for over ten years and is a Nevada Member at Large. She has served at the local level as Secretary, President-Elect, and President. She has served several terms on the International Education Task Force, was Education Director and Education Liaison for Region VII, and is an IAIP certified trainer.
Keri has earned several awards from IAIP, including International Client Service Professional of the Year 2023 and International Risk Manager of the Year 2021. Her most recent accomplishments for IAIP include revising and refining the Confidence While Communicating ® course and condensing it to create CWC Essentials.
Keri holds a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Management from Grand Canyon University.
In 2021, she published her first book, Hindsight 2020, under the pen name Jessie Jericho.