2017 Break Out Awards, Northeast: Manan Patel

MANAN PATEL

Managing director

The Spofford Group Insurance Brokerage Ltd.

Hingham, Massachusetts

Age: 34

Manan Patel got his start in the insurance industry through an internship in the casualty department of Marsh L.L.C. while a student at Boston College. He joined the brokerage after graduation, then joined The Spofford Group Insurance Brokerage Ltd. in 2012 where he works in management liability.

Best advice you’ve been given

One of my mentors at my prior employer, when we went through a lot of changes, he said to keep your focus and don’t worry about the noise around you. Doing the right thing, working hard and working smart always gets ahead.

Top industry concern

The lack of real talent development initiatives. In the old days, there used to be training programs and a lot of cross-company training. I think some of that has stopped because of cost pressures, and it’s widely published that there’s a drought of young people joining the industry. So if you don’t have a training program and you aren’t training people, 30 years from now who’s going to be running the insurance industry?

What inspires you?

Smart, talented, humble people inspire me. Usually our client base is C-suite individuals — CEOs, CFOs, general counsel. I’m amazed that I meet a lot of C-Suite individuals who have these qualities that I really try to learn from their success and how they got there.

Hobbies and interests

For somebody who is a vegetarian, I would like to think I’m a real foodie, which is tough, because there are not that many choices out there, but I really try to enjoy new restaurants. I really like to read interesting articles. I’m always curious.

Something people don’t know about you

I went for my undergrad to study premed to be a doctor and somehow I decided to change course and get into the insurance industry.

 

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