JAESA McCULLIGAN | Age: 30 Pooling administration manager

Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc.

Sacramento, California

Like many, Jaesa McCulligan entered the insurance industry by accident. After graduating from California State University Sacramento in 2010, she began a job search, and was hired as an administrative assistant at Bickmore in Sacramento. The company was acquired by York Risk Services Group in 2014 and by Sedgwick in 2019. She now serves as executive director for two public-sector self-insurance pools, where she enjoys building relationships and serving as a resource for clients.

How will your work change going forward?

Working in the pandemic has required creative thinking. For coverage and solutions, this sets the stage for us to evaluate over the next few years what other things could occur that we need to be thinking of proactively.

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

To be open to learning about everything. One reason I’ve had success is that I’ve been open to special projects and assisting others. So, say yes and be open to working on things outside your comfort zone.

What should the industry do to attract more young people to work in it?

I am also vice president of a group called the Emerging Insurance Professionals Sacramento chapter. Many see the industry as old school, but we are trying to bring people together and to show them that insurance is not what people often think it is. We attempt to highlight the fun areas.

What do you know now that you wish you had known at 18?

I wish I had known about all of the opportunity available in this industry and a bigger picture of what this job could be.

All-time favorite movie?

“Legally Blonde.” I’m a sucker for Reese Witherspoon. At one time I wanted to be a lawyer, but quickly learned that being one is not like in “Legally Blonde.”

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