Despite the unexpected conclusion of spring semester, the 2019-2020 academic year brought nothing but great learning experiences, unforgettable collaborations, and countless memories for Risk Management and Insurance Society (RMIS) members! Though we were met with uncertainty in the middle of spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RMIS leadership was adamant in maintaining the high-quality caliber of our events. We successfully transitioned our remaining speaker events to be conducted virtually and found new and creative ways to ensure that our members could continue to interact, both for fun and for professional development purposes.
As president of this incredible student-led organization, I would like to reflect on all of the aspects that made this year so unforgettable, and take a moment to recognize our members for their adaptability, patience, and continued desire to learn.
Reflection of the Year
RMIS has always been focused on developing the knowledge and skills of future risk and insurance professionals. This is mainly done through various speaker events and networking sessions with industry experts. This year we had the privilege of learning about several topics including trends in InsurTech, corporate ethics and its impact on brand reputation, contemporary systemic risk, and the state of the casualty insurance marketplace. Guests graciously travelled from near and far, and included representatives from American Family Insurance, Alcon, and Chubb, just to name a few. Though the transition to online events seemed intimidating at first, RMIS was still able to hold 16 speaker events over the course of the entire year. Eight each semester!
During the second semester of the year, RMIS also added one new requirement to becoming a full member: attending at least one of our Career Exploration events. These events focused on topics to help members navigate recruiting as well as learn more about the gamut of career paths available to them. We hosted three of these events this semester – two of them online – and each was led by RMIS leadership! Specific topics included resume building, virtual networking tips, how to conduct an informational interview, and best courses to take given your major. These events proved to be of interest to our members given the high attendance and volume of questions, but the most fulfilling part of these events was seeing fellow Business Badgers offer advice to one another.
In addition to our amazing learning experiences, RMIS also holds a variety of social events. As RMIS takes pride in kicking off every semester with a notable Cheese Curd Crawl through downtown Madison, we are no strangers to having a good time! This year we explored new social events for the organization to help members stay connected including trivia at State Street Brats (I wish I could report a victory), a Halloween costume party and game night with Actuarial Club, as well as a study social before finals – with complimentary Colectivo coffee and Greenbush donuts of course!
Some of my favorite social events were the virtual game nights we began hosting upon transitioning to online coursework. We had three virtual game nights – two with Actuarial Club – where members spent hours playing various Jackbox Party Games with one another. These nights were always filled with laughs, friendly banter, and lively competition; they always served as a reminder that despite having to be apart, we all still could, and wanted to, be together.
Thank You to Members
This year ended in a state of unprecedented times and uncertainty. It is in times like these that we recognize more than ever the importance of human interaction, collaboration, and well-being. Though each day of spring semester brought with it a new challenge, it was consistently met with help, flexibility, patience, and gratitude by each and every one of the members of RMIS. I could not be prouder of my fellow officers, leadership members, and RMISers for maintaining the quality of our learning experiences, preserving the strong friendships we all have made, and offering an even greater helping hand to one another despite the unforeseen circumstances we have been faced with.
Thank you to everyone in RMIS for showing me and one another what it means to be a part of this amazing program. This has truly been an unforgettable and rewarding year for our student organization.
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