IN THIS FEATURE:
Stephanie Mitchell
Vice President, Property & Casualty Broker
At Socius, we look at insurance a bit differently. And our people are living proof.See what they have to say about what they love—from coverage to cooking to making a difference in their communities.
Q: What brought you into the insurance industry?
A: My first internship in college was with a reinsurance broker in Atlanta. I honestly had no idea what reinsurance was but I spent the summer learning as much as I could and networking with experienced folks in the industry. I feel very fortunate to have had some great mentors in those early years and was surrounded by people that were willing to invest time in my professional development. I knew after that summer that this industry has lots to offer someone that is business minded and has an entrepreneurial spirit. It continues to be one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Q: How long have you been at Socius and what is your favorite part of your job?
A: I have been here 7+ years now and it has flown by, so I guess that is a good thing! My favorite part about my job is that most days, it doesn’t feel like a job. This past year has been challenging, don’t get me wrong, but by and large we have a lot of fun together. We genuinely care about each other outside of the 9-5 and I think that is something that makes our group truly unique. I enjoy the fact that I have the freedom and flexibility to run my team the way I think is best and in a manner that works for everyone involved. We can adapt and make changes quickly if needed to keep us on the right path for success.
Q: Where do you see the industry going in the future?
A: I think our industry will continue to see a tremendous amount of mergers and acquisitions which will continue to be a challenge for a firm of our size to maintain our identity and culture. I imagine that our industry will continue advance in terms of automation as well. Insurance has been known as a very heavy “relationship” industry so it will be challenging to maintain some of those relationships as technology becomes more streamlined and automated. Conversely, I think this creates an opportunity for us to improve efficiencies and focus attention on key clients and partners.
Q: What do you want to make sure you do before you die?
A: Most of my bucket list items are travel related, which have obviously been put on pause. My husband and I have visited 2 of the 7 wonders of the world and I’ve always dreamt of being able to visit all 7 together (and hopefully taking our daughter as well).
Q: What are you happiest doing when you’re not working?
A: That’s an easy and sappy one, but of course it is spending time with our daughter, Emerson. She is a very curious little girl, and it is honestly the best feeling seeing her experience new things for the very first time. Whether it is meeting a giraffe at the zoo or trying her first ice cream cone, she lights up with excitement and exudes such genuine happiness. In the craziness of the insurance hard market and the stress we are all under, she is the one that helps me to remember to slow down and enjoy the little moments of each day rather than wishing them by.
Q: What would be your personal motto?
A: Focus on the things you can control and don’t dwell on those that you cannot.
Thanks for sharing a little of your story with us.
At Socius Insurance we truly believe that is it our unique partnership of talented people that make us Your Competitive Edge in Wholesale Insurance.
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