EXECUTIVE PROFILES
WOMEN IN REINSURANCE
MEET OUR PEERS SERIES
As we slowly adapt to living in this new normal, WiRE aims to help you connect with your peers in the industry as you get to learn about their life and experiences and foster new friendships along the way.
OCTOBER 2021
FAN YANG
Principal Data Scientist (Regional), Munich Re
What will you do if you strike a lottery?
Invest in people who are doing what I want to do in 10 year’s time.
How would you define yourself in three words?
Cheerful, positive, accountable.
What would you be if you were not working in this industry?
An executive coach to help other women to find the best of themselves. This is in fact my goal in 10 year’s time.
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Who do you look up to in our industry?
Insurance industry really carries the risk in front of big loss, really big ones, because of natural catastrophic event to help human beings recover sooner from tragedy.
What do you like to do during your free time?
Crafts, traveling and binge on movies/TV dramas.
Three things you can’t live without
Family, mobile phone and coffee.
What surprised you most about this industry?
It’s surprising that most people know more about life agents than the entire insurance industry and the industry is really more interesting than it sounds.
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What are your main takeaways from working in (re)insurance?
To always keep an open mind as there is always something new to discover and learn.
SERENA NG
Senior Underwriter, Partner Re
What are you most afraid of?
I am most afraid of aging. Though I must admit that as a woman, it is partially due to aesthetic reasons, but I do believe in aging gracefully. Hence, it does not really bother me from that aspect. I am more concerned about what to expect of our health due to aging. Uncertainties about our health as we age make me feel vulnerable. I fear falling sick, I fear losing loved ones due to aging. But I am not suffering from Gerascophobia! This fear has prompted me that it is important to “Live Life With No Regrets”.
Pet Peeve
One of my biggest pet peeves is hearing statements such as “You are so stupid!”, “Which part of my sentence is it that you do not understand?” and others along the line of implying that one is stupid. They annoy me even if not directed at me. Besides being derogatory and a display of elitist behaviour, it can have more serious consequences. During my childhood, I had witnessed a friend developed inferiority complex and depression after often being called “stupid”.
What would I do if I strike a lottery?
Although I do not normally bet. If I have a 1-2 million dollars windfall, it would seem like a life-changing amount of money at first thought and that I could just quit my job. Doing the sum will tell us that that’s not realistic. Moreover, at the end of the day, I do love my job and there are obviously reasons why many millionaires and billionaires are still working. Nevertheless, this money will be very useful in helping me attain a debt-free status. I could use half of the winning to pay off my mortgage loan. Since this is a bonanza, I would like to give it back to society. Being a firm believer in education, contributing to the Rural Schools Program in Cambodia would be on the top of my list.
Describe your best work-related trip
To me, the best work-related trip should be one that is both professionally and personally fulfilling. When I moved into the role of Credit Underwriter with a direct insurer, I was very grateful that the company invested the time and money to put me through a very specialised month-long training in Paris. Afterall, Credit Underwriting is usually not taught in school hence making the training a rare opportunity. Having it in one of the most romantic cities in the world was truly icing on the cake. The structured program gave me a crash course on key concepts and set the foundation for my career in this industry. The program was attended by new joiners from different countries. After the classes and on weekends, we would either explore the city on our own or with some local colleagues. During that trip, I developed deep friendships with some colleagues, learnt the culture of the organisation, and had the opportunity to immerse in local life.
Must watch movie
Mrs Doubtfire.
What surprised you most about this industry?
That how small this industry is. Most people know each other in the line of business that we are in even though we are working in different companies. People are approachable, friendly and helpful . We watch each other grow over the years and I like that!
What would you be if you were not working in this industry?
I would probably still be in the media industry as I studied Mass Communication in school.
Describe your best work-related trip
Watching a Premier League match – Tottenham vs Liverpool, live at Wembley stadium over the weekend! I was in London for work and I was telling my colleague at that time that I really wanted to watch a football match live. So happened there was an upcoming match and he helped me to secure a ticket. Bucket list check!