YAC Spotlight: Kala Mays

My mom works in the insurance industry at The Marsh McLennan Agency. Watching her support people in challenging times, offering a reassuring presence when they’re anxious about their most valuable assets being damaged and holding their hand through the entire process really inspired me. Now, in my role, our team gets to be that face helping them through the recovery process. 

First off, I would say take a risk management class in college and see if it’s something you like. Then I would suggest getting a paid internship—whether you hate it or love it, you’re getting paid for it. That way, you can dive in and see if risk management is a good fit for you. I would also say to branch out and try other things outside risk management. Go to a job fair and meet people from different companies and see what they have to offer. There is no ceiling in sales and insurance, so it’s worth a deeper dive.  

I think the market that we've been in recently is evidence of the importance relationships play in everyone’s career. Whether people transition to different companies, insurance companies go out of business, or new ones are made, there is a consistent change. The insurance community is smaller than you think; you have no idea who someone's mom is or who someone's sister is, where that person came from, or more importantly, the influential connections they have that could help you. Once you show people you care and win them over as an individual, they will begin to naturally advocate for you, regardless of your career moves.  

I love getting in the field and being hands on with the team during catastrophe events and running my own water and mold jobs. Being able to help the team mitigate the damage from events like Hurricane Ian and also build a relationship with the homeowners – it's probably my favorite part; which I know surprises a lot of people.  

I would say the INVEST program is a great way to get students exposed to the different companies and opportunities within the industry. Exposing them by taking them on field trips, events, and getting them to spend time around people in an agency setting so they can see a day in the life. 

What I’ve seen is that being adaptable when things don’t go the way you want is one of the most important things. I've also seen that adaptability transforms into resilience. When it's a bad market or you're just getting fires left and right—if you’re able to power through and get things done, it’s a great character trait and valuable to any team! 

My favorite restaurant is probably Benihana, but I also love Mexican food especially nachos. If there's nachos on the menu, there's about a 90 percent chance that's what I will order for any meal.  

I like to go hunting which is something I picked up from my dad. Fun fact: My husband got his first buck the day he proposed to me. If the time allows, I also like to run half marathons, it is a great stress reliever and something I can do to quiet my mind.  

I would say my husband, Mike. He pushes me to keep going even when I think I’ve hit my limit. With his encouragement, it has really contributed to growing our business and establishing a strong reputation as a new company. Witnessing his dedication and work ethic, especially during the challenging times of Hurricane Ian, was truly admirable.  

Unmet and unclear expectations, whether I am giving instructions or receiving them, can be frustrating. I heard on a podcast to “inspect what you expect.” So, if you're expecting someone to do something like set the alarm before they leave the office, it is important to follow up and check if the task was successfully completed. Failing to communicate those expectations can lead to many misunderstandings and unfulfilled responsibilities.