Sharmini Sundaram

5 questions in five minutes with Sharmini Sundaram

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1. Can you tell us about the day-to-day responsibilities of your job?

I am a Senior Associate based in our Financial and Executive Risks Practice in Melbourne. My main role includes managing a portfolio of medium to large corporate companies across a variety of industries.

Specific day-to-day responsibilities include;

• ƒ Marketing, Placement, and Management of Financial Lines policies including but not limited to; Professional Indemnity, Directors and Officers Liability, Management Liability, Cyber Liability
• ƒ Daily negotiations on behalf of my clientele with the wider insurance market
• ƒ Undertaking insurance contract reviews for clients
• ƒ Helping to educate clients in understanding their business risk exposures and working to tailor an insurance program to mitigate such exposures

I am the main Victorian contact point for our offshore team and part of this role includes assisting with any issues or concerns that need to be raised both onshore and offshore, to ensure effective and smooth service.

I also oversee a facility we have in place with an insurer whereby we transact our small to medium enterprise business. This includes fortnightly discussions with our external stakeholders as well as regular calls with internal stakeholders to address any concerns/issues.

2. Can you tell us about your career progression with Willis Towers Watson?

I joined Willis Towers Watson in 2011 as a junior broker, working in a support capacity to some of the senior brokers within the team undertaking day-to-day servicing of accounts. In 2015, I was promoted to the role of Associate and undertook sole management of my own Financial Lines portfolio consisting of small to medium enterprise (SME) companies. In 2017, I was promoted to my current role of Senior Associate specialising in clients within but not limited to the Retail, Financial Services, Legal, Education, and Healthcare Industries. There has certainly been some career progression during my time.

3. How has your work changed or evolved since you first joined Willis Towers Watson?

I initially began working on clients within the SME space and was largely familiar with two types of financial lines products. Throughout my career, I have been given the resources and opportunities to grow and develop by means of internal training and further educational study. This has resulted in becoming familiar with more financial lines products, managing a portfolio of Corporate and ASX-listed clients across of variety of industries, and managing relationships with many senior C-suite external stakeholders.

4. What do you like best about working at Willis Towers Watson?

The culture. Despite Willis Towers Watson having an international footprint and being the third biggest broking firm in the world it still has that boutique feel where there is an interchange of communication with colleagues and senior leaders, with most people knowing everyone in their respected offices. The transparency, diversity, and just an all-around positive work environment are definitely key.

5. Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering employment with Willis Towers Watson?

Noting my comments above regarding culture, Willis Towers Watson provides many opportunities for growth and development, along with opportunities to move within the company, both locally and internationally.