When Andrew Long joined WTW's Retirement business in the UK in 2001, he did not expect to still be building his career at the company 25 years later. What he did know was that he wanted to work alongside talented people, solve complex challenges and continue learning.
Today, as a Senior Managing Director in the UK Retirement business, Andrew's career journey reflects how far curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to embrace new opportunities can take you.
A global perspective from day one
Originally from Jamaica, Andrew spent the first half of his life there before moving to the UK to pursue his master's degree. After qualifying as an actuary, he joined the company that would later become WTW and began building a career that extended far beyond the UK.
Although based in London throughout his career, his work quickly became international. Over the years, he has advised pension schemes across the Caribbean, collaborated with global teams and worked on projects spanning Africa, Asia and Europe.
"It's allowed me to apply my expertise in different parts of the world while continuing to learn from local markets and client challenges," Andrew explains.
One opportunity, in particular, became a defining moment. Early in his career, a client asked whether he could help solve a pension challenge in the Bahamas. What began as a single request evolved into expertise that enabled WTW to advise organizations operating across the Caribbean region.
Three experiences that accelerated his career
Looking back, Andrew identifies three pivotal moments that helped shape his professional growth.
The first came through working on overseas pension schemes. As a relatively junior actuary, he was given the opportunity to lead projects, develop strategies and work directly with clients.
Instead of waiting years to gain leadership experience, he found himself developing it much earlier: "Working on overseas schemes allowed me to lead while still relatively junior. That experience became a springboard to larger and more complex UK schemes."
The second milestone emerged when he was asked to explore how financial services organizations should manage pension risk. What began as a year-long deep dive into a highly specialized area led to the creation of a playbook for advising banks, insurers and investment firms.
The work eventually contributed to the formation of a dedicated financial services initiative within the UK business and opened the door to a new area of specialization for Andrew.
The third acceleration point came through managing some of the largest pension schemes in the market. Leading increasingly complex projects and larger teams enabled him to establish himself as a trusted adviser and industry expert.
The power of staying curious
When asked what qualities have contributed most to his success, Andrew's answer is immediate: curiosity.
Throughout his career, he has approached challenges with an openness to understanding different perspectives rather than assuming there is only one correct solution.
Whether working with clients in the Caribbean, Africa or the UK, he believes the best outcomes come from combining expertise with genuine curiosity about local practices, cultures and challenges.
He also describes himself as "allergic to no." For Andrew, a rejection is rarely the end of the conversation. Instead, it is an opportunity to ask questions, uncover constraints and explore alternative solutions.
"It's about understanding whether a barrier is permanent or temporary and looking for ways to create the right solution for the client."
Learning from leaders
Another key factor in Andrew's development has been the opportunity to work alongside experienced leaders throughout his career.
He credits mentors and sponsors with helping him identify stretch opportunities, broaden his responsibilities and navigate increasingly complex client relationships.
Working with different leaders also taught him an important lesson: successful careers are built by continuously learning from others while remaining authentic to yourself.
Over time, he observed different leadership styles, communication approaches and consulting techniques, adopting the elements that aligned best with his own strengths and values.
Why stay for 25 years?
In a world where career paths are becoming increasingly dynamic, spending more than two decades with one organization can seem unusual. Yet Andrew believes the answer is surprisingly simple.
For him, the combination of exceptional colleagues, challenging client work and the freedom to discover your own niche continues to create opportunities for progression.
He points out that while many colleagues may start their careers on similar paths, their journeys often evolve in very different directions.
"The opportunity to discover what you're naturally drawn to and then build a career around it is something special."
💡Read also Nichelle's story of 25 years with WTW
One word to describe a career
After 25 years of international projects, client successes, leadership opportunities and continuous learning, Andrew chooses a single word to describe his career at WTW: Excellence.
For him, excellence is the mindset that drives colleagues to keep learning, improving and delivering lasting outcomes for clients. It is also what has kept his own career moving forward for more than two decades and what continues to inspire him today.
Interested in building a career where curiosity is valued and opportunities can take you further than you imagined?
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