The Big Picture
UTEP students connected with professionals from Accenture, Aon and AXA XL during Risk Manager on Campus, a two-day visit Oct. 19–20 at the Woody L. Hunt College of Business.
Supported by a Spencer Educational Foundation grant, the visit gave students opportunities to learn about risk management and insurance careers and speak directly with professionals in the field.
Industry Access
The guests included Andrea Dudek, director of global risk assessment and financing at Accenture; Janine Smith, managing director at Aon; and Jeanmarie Giordano, global chief underwriting officer at AXA XL.
Across five classroom visits, 288 students in courses including global business, international strategy, financial markets and business finance heard from the professionals. A panel drew 32 students, and seven Risk Management Academy students joined the guests for lunch and a Q&A.
Discussions covered the professionals’ career paths, skills employers value and opportunities across the industry.
Career Preparation
For Denisse Casas, a finance undergraduate concentrating in risk management, the visit reinforced her decision to pursue the field.
“Connecting with industry leaders and hearing their experiences reminded me why I chose this field,” Casas said.
Paulina Ramos, manager of the Risk Management Academy, said the visit gave students access to conversations that can help them prepare for their careers.
“Many of our students have never had the chance to speak one-on-one with executives from leading global organizations,” Ramos said. “Through these interactions, they gain a clearer understanding of the profession, learn what employers value, and begin building the relationships and confidence needed to pursue careers in risk management and insurance.”
