Last month marked a significant milestone for AIG as its early career professionals graduated from the esteemed two-year analyst program. This initiative underscores AIG’s commitment to nurturing talent by bringing high-performing college graduates and early career individuals into entry-level positions. A distinctive feature of the Aig 2018 Early Career Analyst Program is the opportunity for participants to rotate through various roles within their function or business unit, typically every few months. This immersive experience provides them with a comprehensive understanding of AIG’s operations, fosters invaluable relationships with colleagues and managers, and often establishes mentorships that extend well beyond the program’s duration and throughout their AIG careers.
Formal development programs, especially when combined with informal mentorship, are pivotal in shaping successful careers and can have a lasting positive impact.
This perspective is deeply rooted in personal experience. The trajectory of a career can be significantly influenced by mentors who offer guidance, understanding, and belief in one’s potential. For many, including myself, mentors provide the essential confidence to navigate challenges and pursue ambitious professional goals.
Reflecting on my own journey, two individuals stand out as having profoundly shaped my personal and professional development. Their guidance and support were instrumental in my growth and success.
One such figure is Monty “Coach” Moss, the Owner and Director of Camp Lenox in The Berkshires, a summer camp with a century-long legacy. My journey with Lenox began in 1970 at the age of 16. During my very first summer, Coach Moss entrusted me with the responsibility of overseeing the Camp Olympics, a significant event held during the initial weeks of the summer season.
The Camp Olympics was an event that involved the entire camp community, dividing approximately 200 campers and counselors into four “countries” for a day of diverse competitions, ranging from track and field to swim meets. Traditionally, the event culminated in a closing ceremony speech delivered by Coach Moss. However, that year, he surprised me by asking me to deliver the closing speech. Having never spoken in public before, especially to such a large audience, I was understandably nervous and unsure of what to say.
Nearly half a century later, Coach Moss’s advice remains vividly clear. He simply suggested, “Say what comes from the heart and you’ll do just great.” While seemingly simple, this advice was transformative. It empowered me to overcome my nervousness, deliver the speech, and receive a warm reception from the supportive audience.
Coach Moss’s belief in my capabilities and his simple yet powerful message from that evening continue to resonate and significantly influence my approach to challenges throughout my career.
Another pivotal mentor in my life was Fred Dawson. My association with Fred began at Beneficial Commercial Corp (BCC) and continued at The Beneficial Insurance Group (BIG), both subsidiaries of Beneficial Corporation. Fred Dawson was an impactful leader who served as CEO of BIG. Renowned for his expertise in turnarounds, he had successfully revitalized Beneficial Corporation’s Banking and Credit Card divisions before taking on the CEO role at BCC, a Leveraged Leasing operation where I initially worked under him. Following another successful turnaround at BCC, Fred was appointed CEO of BIG, which was Beneficial Corporation’s largest subsidiary outside of its finance operations.
Shortly after Fred assumed leadership at BIG, he presented me with an extraordinary career opportunity. He offered me the role of President of BIG’s numerous life, property casualty, and reinsurance subsidiaries, which operated across the US, Canada, the UK, Bermuda, and Australia.
His offer was both astonishing and daunting. At just 30 years old, with a background as a lawyer and limited knowledge of the insurance industry, I felt unprepared for such a significant responsibility. However, Fred recognized potential in me that I had yet to see in myself. He believed I possessed the essential qualities for success and was willing to invest in my capabilities.
Under Fred’s guidance, Beneficial Insurance Group, which had faced significant challenges, not only recovered but thrived, eventually leading to the successful sale of many of its operations. For me, the three years under his mentorship were a crucial springboard for my subsequent career achievements. Beyond professional mentorship, Fred also played a personal role by introducing me to my wife, Claire.
Reflecting on the mentorship from Coach Moss and Fred Dawson, the most impactful element was their unwavering belief in me, even when I doubted myself. This, to me, encapsulates the essence of true mentorship.
Given the profound impact of mentorship on my career and with a desire to pay it forward, I offer the following guidance to AIG graduates and other early career professionals:
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Proactively Manage Your Career Development: While many may offer guidance, actively steering your career path is crucial. Waiting for opportunities to come to you can lead to missed connections. Take the initiative to build relationships at all levels that align with your career aspirations.
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Focus on Building Relationships, Not Just Finding a Mentor: In your early career, you will encounter numerous colleagues. Invest time in understanding who they are, what they do, and especially in getting to know those you admire, trust, and respect as individuals. These genuine connections can naturally evolve into valuable mentorships.
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Don’t Hesitate to Seek Advice: Platforms like LinkedIn are designed for professional networking and advice-seeking. Utilize these resources. Identify individuals whose career paths you admire or from whom you believe you can learn and reach out to them. Personalized InMails, for instance, can be a great way to connect. Many senior professionals, including myself, take these requests seriously and strive to respond, sometimes leading to unexpected opportunities for those who reach out.
I am deeply grateful for the career I have had, and I firmly believe that the guidance and belief of my mentors were instrumental in my journey. For senior professionals, I encourage you to similarly invest in junior colleagues – get to know them, offer advice, and provide them with challenging opportunities. Remember, your actions and words can profoundly impact a young professional’s career trajectory and have a lasting effect. The AIG 2018 Early Career Analyst Program is a testament to this philosophy, fostering an environment where such mentorship and growth can flourish.
