Laura Johnson had never considered a job in the insurance industry until recruiters from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced internship opportunities at a job fair at Illinois State University. She landed a coveted internship and has been in the industry ever since. She started as a broker at Gallagher-owned Risk Placement Services Inc. and moved to XL Catlin as an underwriter in 2014. Although the avid traveler is housebound due to the pandemic, she says working from home has given her more time to spend with her one-year-old son.
What advice do you have for navigating the current insurance market?
The surplus market has definitely been pretty difficult. Especially in the E&S world, you have to be on the forefront of analyzing these new and emerging risks while protecting the bottom line.
How will your work change in the future?
I definitely feel like there won’t be as much travel. A lot of companies have found that they can get just as much done working from home. I also feel like we’ll be collaborating more on client support in the future. Now that we’re working from home and things are happening via video conference, I find that we’re collaborating more with other offices outside of Chicago.
What would surprise people about you?
I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I’ve been bungee jumping five times.
What habit or hobby have you adopted during the pandemic?
Pelotoning – and does my baby count as my hobby? I feel like my whole world has revolved around him for the past year.
What is your favorite food?
Definitely my mother’s lasagna. You can’t beat it. It’s the best dish I’ve ever eaten and now it’s my favorite dish to eat when someone gets engaged, has a baby or dies. There’s a lot of love in this meal.
