ALEX PAZOOKI | Age: 35 Business development, Northwest

Coalition Inc.

San Francisco

Alex Pazooki began his career at Smith Barney in San Diego, working in the financial sector with an international team. He then worked for a little over a decade in a variety of roles at Travelers Cos. Inc., including in sales and underwriting, before assuming his current role in business development at Coalition Inc.

What is the biggest challenge of working through the pandemic?

The biggest challenge would be helping insurance brokers provide value to their clients in a time when their clients are being affected by this pandemic, both in their businesses and their personal lives.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the business?

When entering the insurance industry, really focusing on learning insurance coverage and seeking mentors. The ability to stay open to new ideas and data will allow you to expand your career into new avenues of insurance that we may not even be aware of today. Insurance is evolving, with technology playing a big part in understanding risk.

How will your work change going forward?

I think what would change going forward is continuing to educate our broker partners on data science, helping brokers not only to understand more data related to exposures, but to also use that data to help their insureds understand better controls. With a constantly evolving marketplace, I will always be up to the challenge in adapting and changing to meet the needs of my broker partners.

What do you know now that you wish you knew at 18?

The emphasis on data science and the effect it will have on risk selection. Life’s a game of inches, requiring tackling every challenge as it presents itself.

All-time favorite move?

That’s easy — “Gladiator.” I just love that movie. I’ve watched it like a million times. It’s the greatest story of redemption.

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