Risk Management

2018 Break Out Awards, West: Krissy Kyjovsky

June 04, 2018 Reprints

Agents & Brokers General liability P/C Insurers More + Less -

KRISSY KYJOVSKY

Vice president of underwriting

Tangram Insurance Services Inc.

Petaluma, California

Age: 37

California native Krissy Kyjovsky began her career with Walnut Creek, California-based Heffernan Insurance Brokers in 2004. In 2005, she joined Heffernan subsidiary Tangram Insurance Services Inc. as an assistant underwriter to the contractor general liability program. She was promoted to vice president of underwriting in 2018.

Job changes over the next 10 years

The younger generation wants to shake things up and have new ideas, and it’s being open to those ideas and being able to be flexible and adaptable and having some agility around underwriting.

Advice to someone starting in the business

If I were talking to somebody starting out today, I would say be a sponge, soak up everything, be proactive about engaging those people you want to emulate. A lot of what I know is from on the job and from the people who have been there and have run the show before me, and it’s almost more valuable than sitting in a classroom absorbing content.

Best-kept secret about insurance

It’s more exciting than people give it credit for. It’s forever changing, like the housing market. It almost allows you to be forever learning new things within the industry, to be exploring new ways of doing business. I like that it’s never going to sit still. It’s never going to be a dull day.

Something people don’t know about you

I’m an identical twin, and I’m extremely close with my sister. We have three stepbrothers, and there are nine kids between us. What a lot of people don’t know is just how dedicated I am to my family.

Favorite meal

I would say the best cheeseburger you can get, and I really mean that. My stepdad is a fabulous cook, and so I say to him, “Can you make me a cheeseburger?” and that is just so good.

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