The 54th Annual Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) Conference in Hartford, Connecticut, in September offered LSBE seniors, Connor Pederson, Noah Baird, Matthew Mehr, and Kenzie Skoglund, a powerful industry opportunity, where their coursework on risk management came to life. They were able to clarify career goals, build confidence to step into their future, and form meaningful professional connections.
Features of the conference included an extensive career fair, hundreds of on-site internship and entry-level job interviews, high caliber keynote speakers, subject matter expert-led sessions, professional development workshops and more.
For Pederson, the conference provided a sweeping view of the risk management world he did not know existed. Speaking with dozens of professionals—from catastrophe reinsurers to medical malpractice specialists—expanded his understanding of what the industry encompasses.
“These conversations served not only to build relationships with highly skilled professionals but also introduced me to new realms of risk management I hadn’t previously considered,” Pederson, who has a double major of Risk Management & Insurance and Finance, said.
“With an expanded perspective on potential careers, I came away from the conference placing a higher value on career development. I feel empowered to seek mobility and develop my skills across multiple lines of business. Though I intend to continue pursuing underwriting for the immediate future, I now have numerous connections to contact should I ever need a change.”
The conference delivered clarity to Baird at a crucial moment. Before attending, he was unsure of his future direction, but he left the conference with a strong interest in brokerage—thanks to candid conversations with peers, hiring managers, and UMD upperclassmen.
“It finally clicked how producers, brokers, and underwriters all work together,” Baird, who has a double major in Risk Management & Insurance and Finance, said.
“The conference made me feel more at ease about my career after graduation. Instead of stressing about whether I’ll find a job, I now see there are so many different routes I could take like interning at a large company in New York or Chicago or starting at a smaller broker in the Twin Cities. Knowing there are multiple paths makes me a lot more confident about my future.”
Mehr, who has a double major of Risk Management & Insurance and Finance, found the conference “incredibly rewarding and interesting. I could see how much the classes I have taken in the Risk Management Insurance (RMI) program have already prepared me,” he said.
“I was able to understand the event to its full extent and apply the material we were taught. It was one of those moments where you realize just how much you’ve actually learned, and it felt good to know I could apply it in a real-world setting.”
Additionally, one of the benefits of attending has already paid off for Mehr.
“Because of the opportunities I had to meet with professionals and companies, I met people from a few firms that I’m quite excited about and have contacted them since being back. Those connections would have been almost impossible to make without attending the GIS conference. The conference is one of the best opportunities out there for anyone trying to get their foot into the RMI world.
“I left the conference feeling motivated and more excited than ever to continue down this path. Though insurance might not sound flashy at first, it’s honestly a career path that’s full of potential. It is stable; it pays well, and there are endless directions to grow in.”
Attending the conference was a pivotal step in Skoglund’s professional development. Practicing her elevator pitch with potential employers boosted her confidence for future interviews, while networking with peers, recruiters, and industry leaders helped her identify new opportunities.
“Conversations at the conference opened my eyes to roles that I had not considered before,” Skoglund, who has a triple major of Risk Management & Insurance, Statistics & Actuarial Science, and Mathematics, said. “For instance, speaking with a professional in loss control gave me a new perspective on how risk management isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet but about physically inspecting companies and designing solutions to prevent or mitigate losses.
“This blend of analytical thinking and hands-on problem-solving connects directly to what I’ve learned in my coursework on risk assessment and operations through case studies that I’ve done.
“The networking aspect was invaluable. Several of these contacts shared insights about rotational programs and certifications that could accelerate my career development, and I’ve already started following up with them on LinkedIn.”
The GIS conference offered real-world context, broadened perspectives, and opened doors to future careers for the students. They returned with new motivation, stronger networks, and a clearer sense of where their learning can take them next.