Lia Varga has known she wanted to work in the insurance world since she was 10.
That’s how old she was when her parents bought their insurance agent’s house. In the move, Lia gained a lifelong mentor and an inside connection into the insurance industry. As she got older, she jumped at every chance to learn more, from job shadowing with her mentor to helping her dad select workers compensation coverage for his business.
When the time came to start thinking about college and a career, Lia’s mentor told Lia that she had the unique combination of skills needed to succeed in the insurance business, especially in one crucial area.
“I had no fear of talking to strangers,” Lia said.
Now, more than a decade later, Lia recently celebrated a promotion to claims manager and senior technical specialist at Colony Specialty. She worked with her boss and company to develop a career plan, including gaining the know-how she needed to nail the promotion. Long term, she’s set her sights on one day managing the entire claims department.
“I love the challenge that comes with my job — no two claims are the same,” Lia said. “I like handling new kinds of claims and even having those tough conversations with clients. You talk to a lot of people and ask a lot of questions. I really enjoy that.”
Lia may be all-in on claims now, but that wasn’t always the case. Courses at Georgia State, where she studied risk management and insurance, were heavy on underwriting, so that’s what most of her classmates were focused on. It was actually her mentor who pushed her to consider claims and start using the school’s resources to jumpstart her career.
“My mentor told me, ‘It’s not all about good grades. You have to meet people in this industry,’” Lia said. “Looking back, it’s so true. You have to get out there and market yourself. You can’t just sit in your dorm room. College is the time when you can ask as many questions as you want without looking stupid or desperate.”
For the next year-and-a-half, Lia learned all that she could about the insurance industry. She attended networking events through Gamma Iota Sigma, the business fraternity for insurance, risk management and actuarial science students. And she met with every insurance pro who would agree to have coffee with her. After all that hard work, she landed her first job in claims after attending a career fair specifically for risk and insurance majors.
She has found mentors and advocates at every step in her journey, including Colony’s Senior Vice President of Claims Donna Biondich, whom Lia met at her first job. She had another great mentor at her first employer: Pete DeJesso, who took her under his wing and trained her in the world of claims. For her part, Lia puts a high value on maintaining relationships.
“Never burn bridges,” she said.
As a mother of two, Lia loves spending time with her family and doesn’t make it to as many networking events and happy hours with her co-workers as she once did. But she still loves the culture at her company and encourages everyone to venture outside their comfort zone and look into insurance.
“Don’t be scared to take a training position or internship to get your foot in the door,” Lia said. “The insurance industry has so many different aspects and so many routes to take. You’re not limited just to claims or underwriting. You’re not boxed in.”
To learn more about why other young professionals recommend the insurance industry, read these profiles.
