In recognition of Insurance Careers Month, we asked a few of our employees why they pursued a career in insurance and what they love about working at Intact. This week’s story features Mike Calabro of our Commercial Surety team.
1. How long have you been with Intact/your industry?
My career in the Surety industry began in May 2013 and I joined Intact in August 2016. Roughly 12 years in Surety and 8.5 years with Intact, all with the Surety group.
2. Why did you choose your career?
Like most folks in Surety, I accidently stumbled upon the industry. Between my Junior and Senior years of college I was presented with an internship opportunity in Surety in NYC. After spending the summer learning about the industry, I decided it would be a great fit for my career.
3. Looking back on your career journey so far, can you identify any specific turning points that have significantly influenced your growth and development?
Joining Intact back in 2016 was the turning point in my career. Being given the opportunity to join a rapidly growing, fast-paced Surety team allowed me to vastly expand my understanding of the Surety product and learn first-hand from people at all levels of the Group. The access I was given to well established Surety professionals gave me a leg up in Surety knowledge as compared to my peers.
4. What do you like most about your job?
My job is a good blend of both sales and analytics – or as I refer to it, the “art” and “science” of Surety. There is the obvious financial aspect to underwriting where understanding credit risk is essential. However, there is also a certain level of deal-making and negotiating that goes into every opportunity. I enjoy communicating with people both internally and externally everyday to ensure a deal gets done.
5. What do you love about working at Intact?
At the risk of sounding too cliché – the people. In my time at Intact I have met nothing but friendly and supportive people at every level, whether within the Surety group or another business unit. When I first joined Intact (at the time OneBeacon) we were the new game in town, and since then we have become arguably the most stabile team in the Surety industry. This ability to retain our top talent is a testament to the people and the culture that we have here at Intact.
Interested in working with Mike and the Surety team? Check out our open roles and apply today.