What's your job about?
Steadfast’s primary focus is on the intermediated general insurance market. In other words, Steadfast helps facilitate brokers with the distribution/selling of insurance products to their clients. Typically, these clients are Small-to-Medium Enterprises, however, they can also include corporate clients and households.
As part of my role in the graduate program, I have completed 3–4 month rotations between some of the business's core divisions, gaining exposure to a career in the insurance industry. Within this, I have been mentored by senior leaders through multifaceted divisions, including the Broker Network/Broker Services team, Steadfast Technologies, general insurance broking, reinsurance broking and Steadfast's mergers and acquisitions team.
As a result, my key responsibility is to learn as much as possible from the different teams I have been exposed to and assist with any administrative tasks they require. Essentially, Steadfast has invested in me to absorb the knowledge and experience which exists within the company and build my network so that I can add value to their business model into the future.
Steadfast values the perspective that graduates provide and this is exemplified by the end of year presentation in which the graduates perform as a team in front of the executives, senior leaders and the human resources team. This year, the other graduate and I presented on the Issue of climate change and its already observable impacts on the insurance industry as well as potential solutions to help alleviate issues associated with this.
What's your background?
My parents immigrated from South Africa just before I was born. Although I’m very proud of my South African heritage, I consider myself a true-blue Aussie as I was born here and lived here all my life. I’m definitely a wallabies supporter! I visited South Africa in 2014 for the second time (the first time I was too young to have any memories) and felt a connection to the place. I’m sure it helps still having plenty of families over there.
I graduated from Knox Grammar School in 2015 and then went on to study a Bachelor of Commerce with the Degree of Bachelor of Science at Macquarie University from 2016 to 2019. To be honest, I didn’t really know what to study at University as I hadn’t quite figured out my career path. In the end, I thought it would be wise to study the subjects which I was good at and enjoyed at school. This was Business Studies and Earth and Environmental Science, hence my choice of a Bachelor of Commerce with the Degree of Bachelor of Science majoring in Finance and Geology. Initially, with this experience, I thought I would end up in the Mining industry. However, many of the jobs within that industry require relocation out of Sydney. I was reluctant to follow through with this relocation as I play rugby union for the Warringah Rugby Club on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. I’m very ambitious with my sport and so I needed a career option which balanced my commitments outside of work.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely – The pre-requisite for the graduate program at Steadfast is the completion of any type of degree, so you are not restricted by what or where you studied.
Furthermore, the insurance industry is such a diverse industry with many different career options within it. This is because all industries require some sort of insurance/protection against their risk. In this way, any specialised knowledge about a particular industry or risk is valuable and so different understandings and diverse backgrounds are fundamental within the insurance industry, particularly broking.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The best part about the graduate program at Steadfast is meeting all the new people I get to learn from. With the multiple structured rotations that are a part of the graduate program, I have met and learnt from a lot of industry professionals. Also, I have a clear understanding of the complex business model which Steadfast is operating as I have been exposed to multiple facets of the business.
An added benefit is that I get invited to all the end of year staff Christmas parties for the teams I worked for. 4 Christmas parties in one year is not a bad effort!
What’s the coolest thing about working for Steadfast?
Steadfast genuinely care about their employees. Particularly in my situation, Steadfast understand that I’m ambitious with my sporting commitments and so they fully support me to leave earlier on my training days and manage my responsibilities accordingly.
In addition, Steadfast is very involved with charity and so there are plenty of opportunities to support these valuable causes. Two examples of this which I have been a part of including the KidsXpress Touch of Colour day and the Insurance Ashes, which through sporting events raise valuable funds for traumatised children and people with disabilities respectively.
What are the limitations of your job?
The main limitation of the graduate program is that there are sometimes when you may not be able to assist the team you are operating in fully. This is because often it is harder for the professionals who you are working with to sit down and explain every detail of the work they are currently performing rather than them just completing it themselves. This was especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when we were forced into WFH arrangements, where communication was more disjointed than it would have been in the office. In these situations, it is best to stay proactive and to seek learning opportunities that initially may not seem obvious.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
Study something that you enjoy, not what you think will give you solid job prospects or high earnings in the future. If you enjoy it, you’ll have that passion there and with that passion, you can make anything out of it.
Don’t be afraid to fail or make the wrong decisions. Most growth comes out of failure.
Set clear goals for yourself with work and outside of work. Goals give you purpose, and purpose gives your life meaning.