Education &
Scholarships

The Utility Of An Industry Education

"It wasn't long after I began my career in commercial insurance, after I earned my first designation, that I began to see not only changes in myself but in how I was treated by my employer.  As my confidence in how I approached my work grew with every class and seminar, my participation in company meetings became more assertive.  I suggested solutions with confidence in the knowledge that my reasoning was sound.  My superiors picked up on this and things began to change."

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"Doors opened for me which had been closed before.  Within a few years my positions held greater responsibilities and I was leading groups and projects.  My awareness of the larger commercial insurance world had grown and my career was advancing.  Soon I had the confidence to apply for and occasionally win industry awards and scholarships (which I hung proudly on my office wall).  Office managers and somtimes owners began to take coffee breaks around my desk to discuss the day's business and, on occasion, asked for my input.  These changes were amazing.

"Industry education had grown my world-view and it was directly responsible for my career's new momentum.  In many situations, an IAIP education carried more weight than degrees from a traditional university.  A business degree can get you in the door but it's what you do with an industry education that propels careers in commercial insurance.

"So I extol the power of industry education at every opportunity.  I cannot recommend it highly enough, even if that education doesn't fit precisely into your field or into your vision of the future.  The insurance world is evolving and, to survive the progress profitably, career path changes can be required.

"Industry education is literally career risk management."

- Martha Elliott, presenting at an IAOSKC award ceremony in Greater Kansas City, MO

Martha Elliott's

Educational Industry Programs

Educational IAIP Programs

Academic Scholarships

   
"76 million - that is the number of Baby Boomers reaching retirement age over the next 15 years.  In the global insurance industry 50% of workers are Baby Boomers.  

Our industry is an educated one.  Many of us have college degrees and you can’t swing a cat without hitting a designation.   Imagine, all those educated, knowledgeable and experienced people gone, retired.  All those positions open and waiting for qualified people to fill them.

Our industry is already facing difficult times, with the current uncertainty of where healthcare is going and the effects of all the natural disasters around the world.  It is critical that we fill those vacant positions with educated leaders."

- excerpt from "Educating Our Future Leaders"
 Speech to Young New Professionals (YNP), 2012