Steven Krey, ’26
My path into the Risk Management and Insurance industry was not something I envisioned when I first arrived at the University of St. Thomas. But during my time here, I was introduced to new opportunities that have impacted my journey so far.
Coming into the university, I struggled with the idea of choosing a major that might limit my future options. Because of this, I decided to pursue a major that offered both versatility and flexibility, which led me to Economics. This degree allowed me to develop strong analytical abilities, along with high-level critical thinking and decision-making skills. Looking back, those traits became the foundation for my success in the Risk Management and Insurance industry.
As part of the economics curriculum, I was required to take several business courses, including four credits of business electives. One of the options was the cross-listed Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance course, ACSC/FINC 220. The class provided a broad overview of the industry and featured multiple professionals who shared their academic journeys and career paths. These individual stories from industry professionals were extremely valuable to me, as I was able to learn more than what the textbook stated. What began as simply fulfilling an elective requirement quickly turned into an eye-opening introduction to a field full of potential.
Since taking that course, I’ve completed two internships in the industry. My first was as an Underwriting Intern at RLI, where I worked on projects that provided real value to my team. The experience was incredibly rewarding, and I learned and grew a lot. My second internship was as a Ceded Reinsurance Intern at Palomar, an opportunity that strengthened my analytical and modeling skills and gave me deeper insight into reinsurance markets and transactions. I’m excited to return to Palomar next summer, where I’ll take the next step in my career as a Junior Reinsurance Analyst.
The Risk Management and Insurance industry has given me so much academically, professionally, and personally. I’m genuinely grateful that I “fell into it,” and over the past few years, I’ve come to appreciate just how rewarding and wide-ranging the industry can be.
