Ben Boas is an Underwriting Trainee for Markel Specialty's Environmental team in Richmond, VA. He graduated from the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business in 2023 with a degree in Risk Management and Insurance, with a concentration in Business Analytics. Throughout his academic career, Ben completed various internships with Wholesale & Specialty groups as well as the Philadelphia Insurance Companies. He served as the University of South Carolina's Gamma Iota Sigma chapter president and was a CPCU Society student member. He currently holds an ARM designation from The Institutes and is pursuing both his CPCU and ASLI designations. In this episode of the In The Know podcast, Chris Hampshire and Ben discuss his internship opportunities, how writing has impacted his career, and his experiences as a member of Gen Z entering the insurance industry.

Key Takeaways

• Ben's interest in golf led him to explore Risk Management and Insurance.

• The internship and full-time position offerings of Gamma Iota Sigma.

• Ben's experience with WSIA internships was an experience like no other.

• Key takeaways regarding networking in the insurance industry.

• A Philadelphia insurance internship allowed Ben to learn more about the marketing aspect of the industry.

• The role that networking played in Ben securing a position at Markel.

• The value of earning designations throughout your career.

• As a CPCU scholarship recipient, Ben began working on his designation before he graduated.

• Attracting Gen Z talent to the insurance industry by effectively marketing the opportunities.

• A look at the growing future of the insurance industry.

• Ben's goals for his career trajectory include emerging trends and an MBA.

• A five-year look at the growth of technology use within the insurance industry.

• Ben's advice for his early-career self.

Quotes

• "I felt I needed to give back and show students all of the internship and full-time positions Gamma Iota Sigma has to offer."

• "My internship with WSIA was an experience like no other."

• "I quickly learned how important the networking aspect is in the insurance industry."

• "Always continuing your education really can never hurt."

• "I was motivated by people with their CPCUs encouraging me and giving me advice to get mine."

• "The CPCU Society offers amazing network opportunities and a whole new community outside of your company."

• "Insurance is a lot more fun than it sounds… You can do a million different things in the industry."

• "The insurance industry utilizes every industry in business."

• "As long as you trust your connections and the people around you and the industry as a whole, you're going to be where you want to be."