Startup energy, without the risk: my career in surety

In my career to date, I have worked in banking, fintech and investment firms. I was curious about insurance because it was adjacent to the work I was doing, but never something I had the chance to fully understand.

Allianz Trade was particularly interesting to me because it’s an international company that operates on a large scale. I was looking for a role that would keep me engaged and challenged while offering opportunities to pursue the projects I’m passionate about. Add to that the collaborative culture and the work life balance that Allianz Trade offers, and it was everything I wanted!

Surety in particular intrigued me, as it presented a new and diverse challenge. The surety division is a growth engine at Allianz Trade and, in my opinion, it’s the place to be right now. I joined the company three and a half years ago – and the rest is history.

We work on complex projects that rely on careful reflection and analysis to be successful. Having financial and legal knowledge going into surety has helped smooth relations with banks and brokers. My sales and negotiation skills certainly stay sharp as well.

Flexibility is also an invaluable skill. I consider surety account managers to be both loyalty officers and business developers. In practice, this means encouraging clients to use their existing facilities while also acquiring new business. It takes agility, patience and effective organization.

Come into the role with a startup mindset. It’s a fast-paced work environment that thrives on outside-the-box thinking. An ability to communicate well combined with an interest in learning from your coworkers will translate to a good experience on the team.

You will face challenges, but the work is stimulating, and your strengths will have a chance to shine through. I benefit from an environment with all the energy of a brand-new business and none of the uncertainty. 

I’m proud of what I have been able to accomplish so far at Allianz Trade. When I first joined, I was surprised at just how competitive the market is in France and how successful Allianz Trade is within it.

When I go to work each day, I not only make progress toward personal goals, but also toward Allianz Trade’s larger goal of becoming a surety market leader in France.

My managers and teammates have shown trust in me from the beginning. I will never forget the sense of fulfillment I got after spearheading our effort to incorporate a new digital platform. The whole team congratulated me, and I knew my hard work made a difference.