The day began with meeting the RMI leadership: Jim Swanke, Ty Leverty, and Linda Barrett. It was an informal gathering where students new to the specialization—like me—were able to go over RMI’s curriculum, culture, history, and expectations. It was great to get to know each other in a casual setting, allowing us to ask questions and get comfortable in the risk suite. The program has a rich history stretching back more than a century. It is also ranked in the top two programs nationally. The longevity of success is exciting to be a part of, and it means we, as students, have high expectations.
This year’s orientation was a great start in developing community and learning all aspects of the Risk Management & Insurance (RMI) specialization. The day was spent connecting with RMI faculty, fellow classmates, and alumni across a variety of careers in the industry. We spent about seven hours together, going over everything from curriculum and program history to the utilization of networking as a strategic career development tool. The RMI specialization is a small, tight-knit group, and it was nice to connect with them before the whole MBA class orientation, which happens the following week.
Following the introductions to the program, we shifted our focus to the day’s main topic: learning how to network and build meaningful professional relationships. Laura Berkan, Assistant Director of Career Management, stopped in to lead an interactive workshop designed to transform networking from an intimidating task to a strategic tool. We discussed elevator pitches, understanding the “why” behind our “what.” as well as how we can reach out to Wisconsin’s alumni network. Overall, it was a great learning experience, emphasizing the importance of building and maintaining relationships in a competitive industry.
After that, we met with second-year RMI student Alexander Porte at Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry for lunch. There, we discussed summer internships, our career aspirations, and life outside of the MBA. It was fun to catch up and gain insights into each other’s work experiences.
The highlight of the day was when we returned to Grainger and met five Wisconsin RMI alumni who shared their experiences and offered valuable advice. From venture capital and portfolio risk management to enterprise crisis management, the careers were diverse, and the topics covered were insightful. We discussed AI in insurance, current events, and issues in RMI, as well as career paths and advice for future success in the industry. The advice included making use of the many relationships we’ll build during our time in the MBA, as well as staying open-minded about what career paths to pursue. Overall, orientation was a valuable day of learning, networking, and fun.
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