Paying Attention to the Numbers: Passion for Mathematics Leads to Insurance Career | Insurance business America
“The mix of mathematics and economics made a lot of sense”
Insurance News
By Emily Douglas
Jenna Kirkpatrick Howard’s journey into the business and insurance world is a powerful example of how diverse experiences and continuous learning can pave the path to success.
Howard (pictured above) is currently Senior Vice President at Lockton Companies and a member of the Northeast Executive Committee. Her story is not only about her rise in the corporate world, but also her contributions to the industry, particularly through her speaking engagements, board roles, mentoring of emerging talent and her commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Howard’s foray into the business world began with her passion for mathematics, which she pursued at university. This path happened to lead her to an actuary and opened her eyes to a fascinating interface between mathematics and economics. This encounter led her to specialize in risk management and insurance at business school and marked the beginning of her insurance career.
“When I thought about what kind of career I wanted, I realized that the mix of math and business made a lot of sense,” she said.
Howard originally aspired to become an actuary. One of his first experiences was an internship in this area. However, she soon realized that this path did not align with her career aspirations. After college, she joined a brokerage firm and began a career as an insurance broker. Her career at this stage was characterized by a generalist approach, managing various types of accounts, including working with a private equity firm.
“What I really like about the broker role is that it is driven by curiosity. By asking lots of questions about risk profile and risk tolerance, you can gain a deep understanding of your clients’ business. Identifying risks and how to manage them is really fun,” Howard said.
The move to Washington, DC was a significant chapter in Howard’s career. Here she worked on large construction projects and created final programs for stadiums, arenas and conference centers. However, the 2008 financial crisis required a shift in her focus and led to her involvement in different types of companies.
Joining Lockton Companies was a turning point in her career. Over the past 13 years, Howard has worked in a variety of industries, including construction, real estate and the nonprofit sector. In her work, she often deals with complex issues in the property insurance market, particularly in the context of climate change.
“A lot of times when you get into nonprofits like social services and commercial organizations, they actually own a lot of property, and there are some really interesting nuances in the way they run their organizations, and that often gets to you,” says she said.
Howard’s most notable contribution to the field is her co-authorship of “The Construction Insurance Guide for Attorneys and Other Professionals” for the American Bar Association. The guide is currently being updated to include new areas of focus such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in construction, reflecting the evolving landscape of the industry.
In addition to her professional work, Howard is passionate about promoting diversity in leadership roles in the financial services sector. She led the Elite Women Producer Group in Lockton, where she championed initiatives to increase the number of women in senior leadership positions. Howard emphasized the importance of building a support network and providing development opportunities for women in the organization.
“We started the Elite Women Producer Group because there were so few women in this role in Lockton 10 years ago and we were looking for our own connection and support group within that group,” Howard said. “We have since taken that group and developed it into a key role in recruiting, mentoring and onboarding and ensuring there is a path to success, not just on the production side but also within senior management, operating committees, practice manager roles and the department manager.”
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2024-07-02 15:13:47
www.insurancebusinessmag.com
