At Accelerant, we’re motivated by our mission to rebuild insurance so that it’s fair, transparent, and efficient. We’re often asked what it’s like to work at a global company with an audacious vision, so we thought we’d give a peek behind the scenes through our Employee Perspectives… series. After all, people are at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to bring together individuals and teams who share our passion for creating an amazing experience and working in an amazing environment. In today’s spotlight, meet Amanda Donnelly.
Please introduce yourself, your role at Accelerant, and an interesting fact about you:
Hi, my name is Amanda Donnelly; I am a Member Relationship Manager for Accelerant based in West Sussex, England. I joined in November 2022 and never looked back!
I love Disney and the magic that it gives people, which helps me as I have unidentical twin daughters who are six and the perfect age to embrace the Disney magic! We are off to Disneyland Paris in March for their 7th birthday, and I can’t wait – I have been there six times before; the last time was nine years ago, so itching to get back! I haven’t made it to Florida yet – hopefully, in the next few years – I would love to do a Disney Cruise too!!
Describe your day-to-day work at Accelerant.
In my day-to-day role as a Member Relationship Manager within the Distribution team my primary focus is to consistently be there for our Members, providing support to help them successfully grow their business. Establishing and maintaining these strong relationships is crucial, as it builds trust and contributes to the success of our Members.
If you weren’t in your current profession, what alternative path might you have pursued?
Before joining the wonderful world of Insurance, I was studying fine art and graphic design; I always wanted to be a graphic designer, spending my days merrily creating marketing material/posters, etc. However, the universe had a different path for me, and after a brief stint in Mortgages, I joined Insurance as a Small Business Underwriter.
What makes the culture at Accelerant unique or different?
The people, without a doubt – honestly, they are the best people I have ever worked with – are so supportive, honest, and hardworking. Lots of insurance companies say they are customer-focused, but Accelerant and everyone here really is – Member-obsessed and put them at the heart of everything to really make a difference. It is also great to be able to work with such a wealth of insurance knowledge across the various teams I have learnt so much from my colleagues over the past two years that I probably would not have been exposed to before.
Describe a time when you felt particularly proud of your team’s achievements.
Sounds a bit cringy, but I am proud of our team’s achievements every day; it’s easy to get into the grind of day-to-day work/life, but sometimes when you take a step back and think about everything that has been achieved by Accelerant over the last five years it is truly inspiring and impressive – which is down to the people behind the wheel.
What advice would you give someone looking to enter the insurance field?
The advice I would give anyone looking to enter into Insurance is to simply put your all into whatever part of the business you are in, whether that be Underwriting/Claims/Actuarial, etc. There is always something to learn; the more effort you put in, the more you get out. Don’t be scared to get stuck into something that you may not feel 100% confident in, as each experience is an opportunity to learn and grow professionally and personally.
What’s one myth about working in insurance that you’d like to debunk?
The biggest myth about working in Insurance is that it is really boring, and honestly –It couldn’t be further from the truth! (I mean, maybe sometimes!) There are so many different roles within the Insurance industry that provide massive variety in a day-to-day role and lots of areas where you can use so many different skills – I have even used my graphic design experience throughout my career!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
To believe in yourself and just be you! There is a lot of anxiety in this ever-changing world, and it is really easy to think you are not good enough. If you put in the hard work and believe that you can do it … then guess what you can!
