YAC Spotlight: Shannon Conlon

When and why did you decide to pursue a career in insurance? 

• Back in 2018, I was an IT recruiter, and that was a job I fell into after college. I wanted to do sales and be around people, but cold calling wasn't really my thing. So, I stumbled across Johnson & Johnson. At the time, I thought it was the pharmaceutical company, and I did not know that I was applying for a family-owned MGA. The job description said no insurance knowledge was necessary and so, while I was a little confused, I was open to it. It turned out to be a happy accident for me because I'm not so sure that I would have found insurance otherwise. But I'm glad that I did. 

Why did you choose to join the Young Agents Council (YAC)? 

• Many of my coworkers, like my boss and Ricky Kopec, were part of YAC and told me to come along to these events, and it would help me network. But the best part to me is just having other people who are on the same age or have the same kind of experience level that you can talk to as a sounding board. It’s not only having fun together but being able to share your struggles and celebrate your successes together, too.   

What advice would you offer college students unsure of majoring in Risk Management? 

• I think that even just knowing about insurance is invaluable to your everyday real life as an adult. Insurance is one of those things where you should know what you're buying and what coverages are because you need it, and it's not going anywhere. So even if you don't get an RMI degree, just taking that introductory class is so important for life skills. And if you do enjoy risk management classes, there's more than just the contract portion of an insurance policy; you can do anything. We still need accounting, journalism, marketing, sales, and underwriting. Ultimately, whatever profession you feel like you're interested in, it all can fit within the insurance industry because it's so versatile. 

What is your favorite aspect of the job? 

• For me, I get to be out and about every day, so I get to enjoy the flexibility and the diversity of it because every single day is different. It keeps me entertained, and I'm never bored. It’s interesting because a lot of people think insurance is dry and dull, and I'm like, "But not my job!" I just have a lot of fun with it. I am a very extroverted person, so I enjoy being around other people, and getting to build those relationships every single day is gratifying to me. 

How would you help the next generation become interested in a career in insurance? 

• Thinking back to when I was in high school, I had big aspirations and huge dreams of being a surgeon, a lawyer, or some other demanding career, and I was expecting to have to go to school for a long time and invest a ton of money and effort into becoming something to be proud of. But I think insurance should also be one of those careers that you're like, "I could strive to be like that. I can make a lot of money in insurance." You can do so many different things with it that it could be one of those lawyer or doctor type of careers, where you're helping thousands of people, without requiring a ton of education. To me, it's a career you can get to a lot faster and still access just as lucrative opportunities. 

In your opinion, what is the most valuable skill that a young agent can have? 

• I'd say the soft skills. You can learn anything about the technical side of insurance, just like reading a math problem. And while you can learn that, you can't be taught a personality. So, I think not being scared to ask questions, not being afraid to be outgoing, being yourself, being professional, and just not being a jerk is crucial. Those things are a lot harder for a company to teach to mold you into what they want as an employee. They can teach you all the other stuff, but it's important to get out of the texting world, pick up the phone, and go back to the basics with soft skills. 

What do you do for fun?

• I love to do anything active. I’m a big yogi and I like to go to yoga classes or any kind of like workout class. Or just go for a walk.  

How would your best friend describe you? 

• She would probably say I’m just a super outgoing goofball if I had to put it into words. She would say I can’t go out and not make it a point to talk to anybody who's willing. 

What is the last book you read? 

• The last book that I read in my free time was Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica. I like very psychological thriller-type books. I also read a lot of books for insurance which keeps me busy! 

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

• Lack of caring. If someone doesn't care, they just don't try. The bare minimum these days is to show up, and I think it bothers me if I can see that they just clearly don't care. Even if somebody is bad at something but shows some effort, I can empathize with that. But I can't empathize with someone who just doesn't care. 

Are cats or dogs better and why? 

• I'm a dog gal. I love dogs. I understand they require more effort and work because they require more attention. But I think you get out what you put into it. With dogs, you can train and cuddle with them, and they'll give back the attention you give them.