MEET Felipe Pradel
Property & Casualty Intern
(former Property & Casualty Apprentice)
Team Property & Casualty
Segment Corporate Risk & Broking
Location São Paulo, Brazil
Program Apprenticeship program 2018 and Internship program 2019
University Universidade Paulista
How did you come across our Internship program offering?
When the term of my Health & Benefits (H&B) apprenticeship contract was almost finished, the Property & Casualty (P&C) team offered me to join their Internship program.
Tell us a bit about your key responsibilities when you were an apprentice
As an apprentice in the H&B team, I learned how to quote and contract Individual Life and Travel Insurance and manage the relationship with clients. I also provided support to activities in the Life Insurance area.
What were some key things that you have learnt during your Internship program?
As an intern, I am learning how to work with Hub Network Outbound Support & Administration with Latin American countries and local clients. In addition, I’m also learning about internal global communications and the renewal of assistance of customer service provision, amongst other responsibilities.
Do you recall your best memory? Tell us about it!
Winning the tickets to the BRAZIL x BARBARIANS Rugby game! I am an avid rugby fan and I enjoy playing. Due to my academic and professional responsibilities I haven’t been able to find the time to play anymore. So being able to attend to a game with some colleagues was an amazing experience.
What did you like the most about our culture and values?
The caring treatment towards colleagues, recognizing and reminding us that we are not just numbers but people who are valued greatly.
Which other position(s) have you filled since you finished your Internship program and where? Did you ever imagine you would fill these positions when you were an intern?
I am still in the early careers program, but I feel more confident each day working on global programs’ processes. The range for technical and professional growth is large, which have been my goals since I joined Willis Towers Watson.
How did being an apprentice help you prepare for your current position at Willis Towers Watson?
Being an apprentice helped me understand and keep track of insurance contracting processes, build relationships with clients and foster the relation with my colleagues, all of which served as a basis for most of my current responsibilities.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or who was integral to your experience?
Willis Towers Watson is filled with expert professionals who are always ready to help other colleagues, like me, grow. I would like to thank my mentors: Adilson Dos Santos and Heney Fernandez as well as Paula Campos and Bruno Torres who discovered me and brought me to the P&C team. Also, I’m grateful for my H&B colleagues, Andrea Zaboni, Silvania Cardoso and Pedro Prata, who always supported me.
Lastly, I would like to thank Eduardo Escudeiro and Andressa Stail for the trust and willingness to guide and support me throughout the different stages of the programs.
What advice would you give to someone who’s eager to apply to a Willis Towers Watson Internship program?
Be prepared to join Willis Towers Watson with confidence and willingness to learn and execute. Your good work will be recognized!
Learn more about our early careers programs here.
MEET Michael McConnell
Data Services Consultant
(former Data Services Graduate)
Team Data Services
Segment Human Capital & Benefits
Location Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Program Graduate program 2016
University University of Virginia and McIntire School of Commerce
How did you come across our Graduate program offering?
In 2015 I was in my final year of university and decided to apply to companies where I could see myself working and building a career. I was drawn immediately to Willis Towers Watson for its breadth of career opportunities and business portfolio. That paired with the organization’s inspiring values made me feel from early-on that Willis Towers Watson would be a great place to work and begin building a career. I joined Willis Towers Watson’s Graduate program in 2016 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which concluded two years later.
Tell us a bit about your key responsibilities when you were a graduate
Upon joining the company, I began working in the Data Services team. My responsibilities included growing our annual surveys by managing a list of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia-based existing and potential clients, supporting clients with salary benchmarking and contributing where needed on proposals and projects.
What were some key things that you learnt during your Graduate program?
The Graduate program was an excellent learning experience for me – I hadn’t written a proposal, made an outbound call or managed a client relationship before joining Willis Towers Watson. By the end of the two year program, I had strong client relationships, acquired new clients and gained greater confidence as a Consultant. This combined with the great client diversity in the Middle East, the different types of sectors, industry sizes and geography has made my experience very enriching.
Do you recall your best memory? Tell us about it!
It’s hard to choose a best memory since I have many. If I had to name one, I would say it was my first CEO presentation with my Line Manager, Laurent Leclère. The two of us were working on a project for a major oil and gas company in Saudi Arabia and were invited to present our findings to the Board of Directors. As a new colleague, I was grateful for the trust I was given and the unique opportunity to participate in a senior client presentation. I hadn’t heard of many people at my experience level to be given that opportunity at other companies. This is part of what I love about working at Wills Towers Watson – we are truly empowered as colleagues.
What did you like the most about our culture and values?
While I could emphasize the values themselves, which are certainly inspiring in their own right and help make us a successful company, the actual implementation and living of these values day-to-day is what I like most. After having worked with colleagues from across the world, I realized that every single one of them truly lives up to our values. It’s one thing to have values as part of your brand, but it’s another thing to put them in practice, which is the most impressive in my view.
Which other position(s) have you filled since you finished your Graduate program and where? Did you ever imagine you would fill these positions when you were a graduate?
I’ve only been a Data Services Consultant, but I have been able to work on a variety of projects that have given me exposure to other work in Rewards and even some Talent projects. I expected to work in Data Services, of course, but I didn’t expect I’d have the exposure to the other lines of business as I’ve had.
How did being a graduate help you prepare for your current position at Willis Towers Watson?
Certainly as a Data Services Consultant my graduate years on the team were indispensable for me to better understand the position and to be more successful. That early exposure also made the job more fun as I’m more comfortable and confident in the role now.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or who was integral to your experience?
There’s many people I could thank, but the key people who have helped me are Dr. Ahmad Waarie, Roman Weidlich, Tom O’Byrne, Lea Farhat, and Eungchang Lee. I also owe a special thanks to my Line Manager, Laurent Leclère, who has taught me a lot about data services, client relationship building and how to be successful in the Data Services team. They say good line managers are key to an enjoyable and successful career and Laurent has certainly been that for me.
What advice would you give to someone who’s eager to apply to a Willis Towers Watson Internship program?
Simply put – I’d say definitely apply. Whether unsure of your desired career path or about which company you’d like to work for, I can only say Willis Towers Watson is a great place to begin your career. The skills you learn, the network of talented, authentic colleagues and the opportunities are all excellent. Working for a global company allowed me to experience countless learning opportunities – such as my own story of coming from the United States and working in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Learn more about our early careers programs here.
MEET Mel Scrutton
Hub Manager
(former Retirement Graduate)
Team Retirement
Segment Human Capital & Benefits
Location London, United Kingdom
Program Internship program 2014 and Graduate program 2015
University University of Warwick
How did you come across our Graduate program offering?
Willis Towers Watson sponsored the society associated with my degree: Maths, Operational Research, Statistics & Economics (MORSE) at the University of Warwick. Some consultants from their Birmingham office ran some careers’ evenings and office visits and it seemed like a really friendly and interesting place to work at.
Tell us a bit about your key responsibilities when you were a graduate
I was able to get involved with real client work straight away as both an intern and when I returned as a graduate, with tasks ranging from calculating pensions and transfer values for individual members to calculating the funding level for whole pension schemes. The work was and still is very varied. After a year and a half I took on the responsibility of organizing some of the new graduates’ training within my office while still being on the Graduate programme myself, which I really enjoyed since it was an opportunity to have a more people-facing role.
What were some key things that you learnt during your Graduate program?
Aside from learning about the technical side of pensions, I’ve also improved my communication skills and confidence, particularly in presenting to others. The variety of work that I have been involved with has been much greater than I ever expected and the main thing I have learned is that pensions are in no way dull!
Do you recall your best memory? Tell us about it!
I have a lot of good memories, particularly on the social side of work. We attend the Staple Inn Actuarial Society ball each year in London which is attended by actuaries from a range of companies, and my intake have won the annual Reigate Rounders tournament twice which is always good fun.
What did you like the most about our culture and values?
The main reason for which I decided to return as a graduate after my internship was because of the friendly, supportive and welcoming environment. I felt I was a ‘perfect fit’ with Willis Towers Watson’s culture and values. Here, work is intellectually challenging but also fun and dynamic. I am also proud to work for a company where excellence and client focus are highly valued, as well as maintaining respect for all colleagues.
Which other position(s) have you filled since you finished your Graduate program and where? Did you ever imagine you would fill these positions when you were a graduate?
I am now a Hub Manager within the Retirement team where I’m responsible for people and resource management for a portfolio of around 40 clients. I have always been a ‘people person’ and thought that I would like to be involved with people management or mentoring, but the opportunity to be involved in this from a relatively early stage of my career was not something I expected. I enjoy this more people-focused role alongside my technical work and I’m glad to have the opportunity to do both.
How did being a graduate help you prepare for your current position at Willis Towers Watson?
Being an intern helped with my initial transition from university to working life and gave me some foundation of pensions knowledge. However, this is definitely just a head-start and not a necessity to coming in as a graduate. The best way to learn is on the job and through the training program provided by Willis Towers Watson, which is of a very high standard. The Graduate program gave me the foundations to build on with client work. However, one of the perks of working here is that every day you continue to learn new things.
What advice would you give to someone who’s eager to apply to a Willis Towers Watson Internship program?
My advice would be to take as many of the opportunities offered to you as you can, even if they seem daunting at the time. I think this is the best way to learn and to realize that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything you want to.
Learn more about our early careers programs here.
MEET Irene Larbi
Lead Actuarial Associate
(former Retirement Intern)
Team Retirement
Segment Human Capital & Benefits
Location Arlington, U.S.
Program Internship program 2016
University Youngstown State University
How did you come across our Internship program offering?
I was introduced to Willis Towers Watson’s Internship program during a career fair organized by the International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA).
Tell us a bit about your key responsibilities when you were an intern
As an intern, I was given responsibilities that helped me learn about the business and the organization, including:
- Working on a pension plan termination project alongside a Senior Consulting Actuary
- Performing data intensive tasks in Excel
- Performing pension benefit calculations for plan participants
- Working on an actuarial equivalence project with other interns.
What were some key things that you learnt during your Internship program?
The top five things I learnt as an intern helped me expand my knowledge about the Human Capital & Benefits area, whilst helping me grow as a professional and as a person:
- Professional networking
- Time management and prioritizing
- Industry standards and practices
- Teamwork
- Confidence and adaptability
Do you recall your best memory? Tell us about it!
My best memory was my final internship presentation. It was the culmination of everything I had learnt and all the people I had the opportunity to work with. It was such a thrill and it didn’t hurt that I did a great job!
What did you like the most about our culture and values?
Willis Towers Watson’s efforts towards Inclusion & Diversity (I&D). I’m originally from Ghana and I had been in the US for about a year, so I was still getting used to everything. The internship was a great introduction and warm welcome to corporate America.
Which other position(s) have you filled since you finished your Internship program and where? Did you ever imagine you would fill these positions when you were an intern?
I am currently a Lead Actuarial Associate in the Retirement Line of Business, mentee in Financial Wellbeing, member of the recruiting team and actively involved in I&D initiatives. These roles are very important accomplishments for me since some were goals I set for myself as an intern and I am glad to have had the opportunity to exceed them and aim higher.
How did being an intern help you prepare for your current position at Willis Towers Watson?
I was already accustomed to the tools, processes, culture and colleagues, so it reduced any onboarding stress, allowed me to settle in easily and focus on my actual work.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or who was integral to your experience?
Internship coordinators, my buddy and all my client teams.
What advice would you give to someone who’s eager to apply to a Willis Towers Watson Internship program?
Go ahead and apply! It’s a great company to work for. We live by our values and strive to continuously improve our early careers programs, so all our colleagues get the best out of them.
Learn more about our early careers programs here.
MEET Kingsley Wang
Project Manager
Team Global Health and Group Benefits Implementation team
Segment Human Capital and Benefits
Location Shenzhen, China
Year hired 2017
University The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Science
Personal interests
Badminton, running, Chinese chess and the NBA.
Can you tell us about the day-to-day responsibilities of your job?
I am currently working as an implementation project manager applying Willis Towers Watson’s benefit technology solutions to customers in the Asia Pacific region. I am working in a very broad area and closely manage the end-to-end project life cycle including interpreting initial client requirements, solution proposal and design, technical implementation and post-launch operation support and so on.
What training and development opportunities have you received in your role?
Willis Towers Watson places great emphasis on employee training, so there are a lot of online training resources and offline training seminars available. In addition, we learn a lot from our colleagues.
The most important thing I have learned is professional excellence. My colleagues value the quality and results of their work very much, which prompted me to continuously improve the quality of my own work.
One of the most influential training sessions I participated in was the Willis Towers Watson China’s Milestone Learning, which provided me with the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with senior executives face-to-face and helped me understand more about career development opportunities.
What is your proudest achievement since joining Willis Towers Watson?
Before I joined Willis Towers Watson, the application of our benefit technology platform in the China market was very limited. After two years of hard work, we have successfully launched a number of important clients on the platform, and our team has grown.
At the same time, Willis Towers Watson also attaches great importance to encouraging employee innovation. For example, I was fortunate to participate in the Global Horizon Innovation project where I placed in the final top 10. The Global Horizon Innovation project is an all-colleague innovation program designed to generate and test ideas aligned to our company priorities and growth opportunities. All colleagues are encouraged to submit their ideas aligned with one of the chosen themes, and those selected are given the opportunity to prototype and concept test their idea to make a case for further development. Through this project, I experienced the entire process from idea creation to proof of concept, and also had the opportunity to interact with colleagues and leaders from around the world.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
The company has a great work/life balance, a very collaborative culture and invests in the professional development and personal growth of its employees.
What do you like best about working at Willis Towers Watson?
I like being a part of a working environment where peers and leaders are treated as equals. I also appreciate the ability to have flexible working hours.
Was there anything that surprised you about your role or the company?
I have had many opportunities to work with professional colleagues around the world. In this diverse environment, I’m able to learn from people with different skill sets and from different cultures. The company values teamwork, and our colleagues are very friendly and willing to cooperate. We can communicate and discuss on an equal basis — between peers and leaders.
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I strive to expand the market influence and number of clients on the Willis Towers Watson benefit platform in China. I’m also passionate about innovative technologies and business models in the industry, and I’m always looking for opportunities to work on localized innovation projects.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering employment with Willis Towers Watson?
Willis Towers Watson is a great place for professional development including excellent training, a collaborative environment, strong advancement potential and a diverse culture. If you are passionate about the consulting industry, this is a very good place for you.
MEET Charlie (Charlotte) Garrod
Wordings Analyst
Team Property & Casualty Wordings practice
Segment Corporate Risk and Broking
Location Ipswich, United Kingdom
Year hired 2011
University The Open University, Business Management, Social Sciences and IT
Personal skills or interests
I play golf at county level for Suffolk and hold a single-figure handicap. I have 2 young children who make life interesting!
Can you describe your career progression within Willis Towers Watson?
After a variety of previous roles with insurers and brokers, I joined Willis Towers Watson as a client services team leader in Major Accounts (now Manufacturing and Industrial, Services and Utilities) within GB Retail. I then moved into an account executive role, managing my own clients within the Natural Resources Utilities team. When my personal circumstances changed (I had a baby), Willis Towers Watson was really supportive in enabling me to move into my current job where I can bring my industry knowledge and relationships to bear but also work with more flexibility. Recently, I have been promoted to lead the GB Retail Wordings Team and deputise managing the wider P&C Wordings team, both of which are exciting career opportunities within WTW.
Can you tell us about the day-to-day responsibilities of your job?
Our team works on wordings to establish the best insurance cover for clients. I provide technical knowledge and wordings analysis, including property, casualty, motor, personal accident and travel coverage.
What are the key challenges of your role? How have you overcome them?
One of the key challenges is the non-standardized nature of the policy wordings, as each insurer has its own bespoke style. This presents an opportunity to learn something new every day, as well as use the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my career.
What training and development opportunities have you received in your role?
There is a wealth of training and development opportunities available, whether personal (interpersonal communications and confidence building) or technical/IT-based support. I have completed many courses both face-to-face and electronically – including onsite “Lunch and Learn” sessions – and enjoyed the experience.
What’s been one of your most exciting projects to date?
I had an opportunity to work on the Model Office in 2012, in which the processes and roles of the client teams were mapped to help improve operational efficiency.
Also, I was honoured to be nominated and voted in as an Employee Representative (ER) through two consulting projects, and be the chair of the ERs in face-to-face meetings with senior management.
What is your proudest achievement since joining Willis Towers Watson?
I take pride in helping my team develop and watching their careers progress.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
The culture is changing – for the better. Management is taking a fresh view on everything and making appropriate changes, which is encouraging.
What do you like best about working at Willis Towers Watson?
The people who work here are very knowledgeable and, because of its size and internal network, there’s always someone who is able to help – or can recommend someone who can!
I’m very lucky that as my life outside of work changed, Willis Towers Watson helped me find a position that fits with my home life.
Was there anything that surprised you about your role or the company?
I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the width and breadth of knowledge, and the longevity of service of colleagues.
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I’m very glad I have the opportunity to work at Willis Towers Watson and hope that my career here lasts a long time. I hope to be a go-to person for technical knowledge and be in a position to one day lead the team if the opportunity arises.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering employment with Willis Towers Watson?
Join Willis Towers Watson! It’s an interesting company with many different roles to consider and opportunities to learn and develop.
MEET Laura Punzón
Team Leader
Team Companies, Transport and International
Segment Claims department
Location Madrid, Spain
Year hired 2015
University University Rey Juan Carlos, Business Sciences and Business Administration
Personal interests
Walking in the country, passing time with friends and traveling.
Can you describe your career progression within Willis Towers Watson?
I came into the company in 2015 as a claim handler on the Companies, Transport and International team. Two years later I became a team leader.
Can you tell us about the day-to-day responsibilities of your job?
I currently lead a team of seven people handling Company, Cargo, Commercial and International claims. My day-to-day duties consist of running the team, attending to their questions, overseeing the deadlines established for the revision of claims, supporting the team as needed, and addressing client feedback.
What are the key challenges of your role? How have you overcome them?
My biggest challenge has been to assume a managerial role and take on responsibility for the entire department. I continued working on my day-to-day tasks, but with a higher level of responsibility, and I also work to make my team feel supported.
What training and development opportunities have you received in your role?
I received support from my superiors. When one has a strong commitment to the company, development opportunities are possible.
What is your proudest achievement since joining Willis Towers Watson?
I’ve worked in the Business Support Claims department, which handles high-frequency claims with maximum productivity, since its inception. Working together, this team has improved claim handling and created a more efficient process for our clients.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
The culture is dedicated to serving clients with proven solutions that can be targeted to their needs.
Was there anything that surprised you about your role or the company?
The warm attitude and transparency shown to all colleagues was a nice surprise, as this wasn’t what I had experienced in other multinational companies.
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I would like to continue growing personally and professionally with this great company, and help meet our business and strategy objectives while looking to increase value for our shareholders and clients.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering employment with Willis Towers Watson?
With hard work and patience, you can meet all the challenges that come your way.
MEET Nick Alexander
Senior Enrollment Operations Manager/Tempe Site Lead
(Director)
Team Individual Marketplace
Segment Benefits Delivery and Administration
Location Tempe, Arizona
Year hired 2010
University Brigham Young University, Business Management
Personal interests
My family — four kids and one on the way! I also enjoy golf and carpentry work, building furniture to use around the house. I also make commemorative videos for graduations and wedding receptions.
Can you describe your career progression within Willis Towers Watson?
I was hired as a seasonal benefit advisor, which is an agent licensed to sell Medicare plans to retirees of Willis Towers Watson client associations. Benefit advisors talk to participants nationwide to assist them in transitioning from group insurance to individual insurance through the Medicare marketplace. I then transitioned to a seasonal customer service representative, which is a customer support role for those enrolled through our Individual Marketplace, where I assisted participants with claim resolution, appeals and other account services. This led to my role as enrollment operations supervisor, where I led a team of 15 benefit advisors in selling Medicare plans to retirees of our client associations, and then to the position of enrollment operations manager of 10 to 12 benefit advisor teams. Now, as senior enrollment operations manager, I’m focused on new client transitions while managing multiple enrollment operations managers and their respective teams. I also serve in a dual capacity as a corporate site lead, focused on site-wide operations for our Tempe, Arizona, call center facility.
Can you tell us about the day-to-day responsibilities of your job?
In my role as senior enrollment operations manager, I manage transitions of new client employers who are moving their retiree populations from group to individual health care coverage. I’m responsible for meeting transition enrollment goals for all Medicare-eligible clients, daily check-ins with enrollment teams focused on the retiree experience, and successful plan enrollments, weekly reporting to segment leadership for enrollment progress and performance management of enrollment teams and agents.
In my role as corporate site lead, I oversee site-wide operations relative to performance management and employee engagement. I also host site tours for current and prospective clients visiting the center and oversee site-wide activities related to charitable events, safety, new-hire onboarding, and so on.
What are the key challenges of your role? How have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge in my role is the degree of staff turnover from year to year, as a large percentage of the staff are hired for seasonal positions to handle the influx of calls during enrollment periods. This requires constant retraining year over year to ensure we deliver a quality experience. We do our best to overcome this by maintaining simplified processes and having a focus on career development. The goal is to help these seasonal colleagues develop quickly enough to progress to other roles in the organization prior to their seasonal position ending.
What training and development opportunities have you received in your role?
I have had many opportunities to drive my own professional development at Willis Towers Watson. I’ve been responsible for creating the performance management system used for all operations roles within our Individual Marketplace for retiree benefits. This tool is used by operations supervisors and managers to track the daily, weekly and monthly performance objectives of colleagues. In the last two years, I also was the project lead for implementing semiannual performance reviews of seasonal colleagues not evaluated in our company-wide system. This gives all colleagues an opportunity to receive real-time feedback and coaching in addition to semiannual reviews, which include a broader summary of completed work and adherence to Willis Towers Watson values.
What is your proudest achievement since joining Willis Towers Watson?
I’ve been most proud of my role in helping to launch our new customer service facility in Tempe, Arizona. I was involved with building layout decisions, initial recruiting efforts, off-site training accommodations and establishing the culture of a completely new workforce. The Tempe site was also the first of its kind, having multiple lines of business within the same building. This required a lot of integration work, which is still ongoing. The site has now been operational for three years, with over 500 employees including seasonal colleagues.
Additionally, I was recently one of 100 employees who received a CEO Circle award. To qualify, I had to be nominated by at least two colleagues. Reviewers judge the recommendations based on how well the nominee lives the Willis Towers Watson values of client focus, teamwork, integrity, respect and excellence. Contributions are also evaluated based on value brought to the company upon project completions. Being recognized for the hard work you put into your daily work is humbling and motivating.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
There is a client-first culture here where people at all levels are focused on constantly improving how we can better serve our clients. This includes the new agents who come on board to speak daily to retirees enrolled in our Individual Marketplace — to ease their burdens and concerns, and let them know we are the place they can turn to for help.
What do you like best about working at Willis Towers Watson?
I really enjoy meeting with prospective clients and talking to them about the experience we can provide for retirees transitioning from group to individual coverage through our Individual Marketplace. There is an emphasis on client choice; we make more options available for participants so they can find something that best matches their individual needs. There’s no bias in helping people enroll in plans, the focus truly is on finding the best fit for each person.
Was there anything that surprised you about your role or the company?
I am proud of the company’s focus on the client/retiree experience over revenue. There is a large emphasis on doing what’s right for the client and trusting that this focus will have a positive impact on revenue and growth in the long run.
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I would love to be more involved in strategy and sales. I feel like my knowledge base of the segment can be useful to help innovate and move the company forward, expanding into new markets and increasing our product offerings.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering employment with Willis Towers Watson?
This is a company where you can advance. Focus on learning your role quickly so you can progress and move into other positions within the company. Take what you learn from one role and learn how to make the next role even more impactful. The more impact you can have on the clients we serve, the more value and fulfilment you’ll be able to derive from your role.
MEET Paul Dowding
Account Executive
Team Latin America and Caribbean Property
Segment Property & Casualty
Location Ipswich, United Kingdom
Year hired 2018
University Leeds Beckett University, Spanish and Tourism Management
Personal interests
Weightlifting, Investing, and political affairs.
Can you tell us about the day-to-day responsibilities of your job?
I work alongside brokers in a supporting administrative role – anything from the initial placing of an account to drafting contracts between insurers and reinsurers, to keeping track of ongoing amendments to the policy during the active period. We negotiate with underwriters to make agreed-upon changes and liaise with our Mumbai office to ensure that our billing for the accounts is processed in a timely manner. No day is never the same!
What training and development opportunities have you received in your role?
I thoroughly enjoyed the online training provided by Willis Towers Watson as it put aspects of my role – such as various protocols and legal requirements – into perspective for me before I actually had to conduct business.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
The culture is friendly and professional. Everyone appreciates that we all have certain responsibilities to deliver in conjunction with the business units and we all work together to accomplish our goals.
What do you like best about working at Willis Towers Watson?
I enjoy the autonomy within my daily routine. I can decide when to take a break, when to have lunch, when to put in the work and when to go home. I believe this freedom allows me to maximize the time I put into my job.
What is your proudest achievement since joining Willis Towers Watson?
I worked on a large account based in Panama, which required careful strategic planning due to its size. It was a good experience for me in terms of its scope and also getting to know the team I worked with. I enjoyed getting to know my colleagues in London and observing the entire process of working on a client account.
Was there anything that surprised you about your role or the company?
The commitment to delivering excellence and the strong work ethic within the team has been pleasantly surprising. If a task is nearing a deadline, the team works cohesively to complete it, even if this entails putting in additional hours.
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I am currently focused on my short-term goals to ensure that the work I produce as an account executive is the best it can be, while making sure I have time to continue my professional and personal development. I don’t have a specific role in mind for the future, but I imagine it would entail working with others, creating positive relationships and coming up with innovative ideas to address a variety of situations.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering employment with Willis Towers Watson?
Update all of your professional and social media accounts to be more “professional”. Do your research on the role, the company and who you’ll be working for. Also remember that the employer will do their research on you too, prior to you even landing an interview, so ask yourself – would my profile be acceptable to represent this organisation or a prospective or current client?
MEET Pei Wang
Actuarial Analyst
(former Life Intern)
Team Insurance Consulting and Technology, Life insurance team
Segment Life and Annuity
Location Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Experience level Intern
University University of Connecticut, Master in Applied Financial Mathematics
Personal interests
I am passionate about learning, travel (anywhere I haven’t been is attractive to me) and music.
Why did you pursue an internship with Willis Towers Watson?
Willis Towers Watson was on the top of my list as I had been aware of its name and reputation for years. Consulting was the area I knew I wanted to explore.
What was your experience of the application process?
It was positive. The responses I got from the recruiting team were always quick and clear. The online application process was easy to follow.
And of the internship itself?
My responsibilities included sorting and analyzing data, making clear outlines and summaries, and communicating efficiently to managers and clients. I participated in major projects, which included summarizing data on provider assumptions on pricing models, rates and the like, as well as reviewing tech reports and conducting an analysis of potential outsourcing clients.
What training and development opportunities have you enjoyed as a result of the internship?
I gained professional skills and knowledge and improved my communication skills. Every project I took part in, every discussion I attended, every colleague I worked with — contributed to the overall educational experience.
Is there anything about the internship that you found really challenging? What support did you have to overcome those challenges?
It was somewhat overwhelming at first to realize that, as an intern, I had full responsibility for a specific part of a project. Getting used to a new role initially felt challenging, and I wasn’t sure if I was understanding things correctly or delivering things as expected. But all my peers and managers were so encouraging. They gave me positive feedback and full credit for doing my part. All this helped me feel supported throughout my internship. I felt appreciated and trusted by my team, which made me want to work harder.
What were the highlights of your internship experience?
The outsourcing case I worked on was creative and interesting. We needed to analyze the financial data, strategic information and human resource strategy of potential clients. We used various information sources to create benchmarks for pursuing new business and making deals. It was a great opportunity for me to solve open-ended, real-world problems from the ground up.
I also enjoyed getting to work with nice, friendly people who were always open to questions and offered help when I needed it. As an intern with limited knowledge, they were always patient with me and taught me a lot. Also, the company provided a great deal of support for me to continue my course of study and take certification exams, which I very much appreciated.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
The culture is flexible and respectful. Working on multiple projects while studying for my exams required good time management skills. People and management are flexible — you get to make your own plan as long as you can deliver your work on time.
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I look forward to studying and passing exams so I can get industry certifications. I’d like to explore different business lines and work toward becoming an expert in the insurance industry, and pursue a consultant role.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering an internship at Willis Towers Watson?
Be willing to learn quickly. Working in a consulting company can be diverse and intense, and you have the opportunity to try different roles on different projects. You should take the initiative and be confident, as the work moves quickly. Know you were hired for a reason and are there to make a contribution. Every single day can be your opportunity if you are willing to take it in and enjoy it.
You’ll feel comfortable and appreciated working here.
