Madison to Munich and Back: My Career Journey at Munich Re

Prost! We raised our steins to Oktoberfest in Munich — little did I know I was also raising one to a career in public entity underwriting at Munich Re. 

I was in Munich for a three-week training session as part of the company’s International Graduate Trainee Program. A colleague whom I had met in the program was entertaining a large client at a biergarten and invited me to join. We had a blast in true Oktoberfest fashion. Fast-forward nine years, and I am now the manager for the team serving that client. Talk about the value of networking!

 Opportunity awaits

The International Graduate Trainee Program is a gateway to career advancement. During the two-year program, participants build a solid foundation of insurance knowledge across many disciplines through hands-on rotations with different business units. One of those rotations is with an international team. Having previously spent time in Germany, I applied to Munich Re while in college at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was selected to be part of the program’s first cohort. Funny story: The hiring manager in Germany somehow knew my college professor in Wisconsin, which led to an interview.

Explore a global company

The trainee program brought me from my Midwest hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, to Munich Re America’s New Jersey headquarters, where I participated in a rotation of specialty markets. Some of my colleagues from that rotation are now my best friends at work today. The program was initially geared toward reinsurance opportunities but has since expanded into other areas of the company. The organic networking within such a sprawling organization allowed me to find my perfect fit.

 Public service passion, public entity career

I have a military background that is deeply important to me. I joined the Wisconsin National Guard at age 17 and have served ever since. I now spend one weekend a month and two weeks a year stationed. I earned my first leadership opportunities

and learned my most valuable life lessons through public service. When my career development at Munich Re led me to the public entity group in Chicago, it all came together wonderfully.

 As a Public Entity Risk Solutions Underwriting Manager within Munich Re Specialty Insurance (MRSI), I oversee two of our teams providing risk transfer solutions to cities, schools, institutions, nonprofits, transit organizations, and other public entities. Being able to serve public entities during times of need aligns with my personal values of servant leadership and public service — and these are most definitely times of need.

 What we’re doing right now

Munich Re has been in the public entity space for over 30 years. We support the community, as part of the community. When natural catastrophes hit, we’re there. When accidents and tragedies unfold, we’re there. And when 2020 happened, we were there.

 From identifying the new risks of remote and hybrid learning in schools to addressing serious concerns in law enforcement to soon navigating a “new normal,” public entity insurance and reinsurance are especially crucial today. Whatever the trend or challenge may be, our experts are on it, providing timely information, helpful resources, and tailored solutions. While other carriers are reducing or eliminating public entity coverage due to the current landscape, we remain committed.

 That client I met in Munich years ago? I now have conference calls with them every day from my home office back in Madison. Meanwhile, our group’s efforts and ethos are essential in Munich Re’s global Ambition 2025 initiative, with lofty goals to scale, shape, and succeed. Learn more about Ambition 2025 and our Public Entity Risk Solutions.