The RCCAQ met with Isabelle Landry, the winner of the 2021 Young Broker of Distinction Award, on November 24, 2021, during the closing event of the RCCAQ’s 48th annual convention. During this exclusive interview, Ms. Landry, an account director and damage insurance broker at Groupe Ostiguy & Gendron, looks back on her career and her ambitions and offers up some advice for the next generation!
“We are extremely pleased to see that Isabelle continues to progress in her career. Her rise up the ranks is a testament to her hard work and her balanced approach to advancing her ambitions and patiently learning her profession. There’s no doubt in my mind that Isabelle will have a great career in the insurance industry. At Ostiguy & Gendron, every single day we try to create an environment in which talent can flourish. So Isabelle’s success makes us very proud!” Jean Philippe Martineau, President and Partner
First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is Isabelle Landry (education, professional background, etc.)?
“I was originally working towards a completely different career. I wanted to become a special needs teacher. Then, in 2012, I took an intensive insurance course at Montmorency College. My specialty was vehicle rentals. One thing led to another and I discovered sales, which I really liked. During that intensive one-year program, I also discovered the broker’s and claims adjuster’s roles. So that course really sparked my passionate interest in the brokerage sector. When I completed my training in 2013, I happened to win the college’s Award of Excellence for my academic performance. That same year, I also won the Marcel Tassé Award and I’d say that really set my career in motion. In 2015, I joined Groupe Ostiguy & Gendron. I began working with small businesses and over the years, I kept progressing while continuing my studies. I’ve now been working for Ostiguy & Gendron for seven years and I’m working in the position I always wanted. I’m very happy!” said Ms. Landry.
What motivated you to become a broker?
“The thing that is really meaningful for me in this field is the feeling that I’m helping others. You can see that in my career path, because at first I wanted to become a special needs teacher who helps people who face certain problems. Today, working in the insurance sector, I protect my clients’ assets by offering them advice and helping them to find the best possible solutions.”
In your view, what qualities and skills should a broker have?
“Listening is very important. You also have to be very well organized and well prepared in terms of work habits. And I’d also say you have to be sociable and open-minded, because people skills are super-important in this field. In the insurance sector, the more people you know, the greater your access to information and sources of help. The key to success is teamwork.”
What do you feel passionate about in terms of your job?
“You can develop personal knowledge and come in contact with different types of businesses and industries. My field is commercial insurance. Today, for example, I might insure a corner store and tomorrow, a multi-national tech firm. That means you need to know about these different types of businesses because each one has its own characteristics. That’s what I find enormously gratifying,” said Ms. Landry.
Could you describe your involvement in the community and the insurance industry?
“In the industry, I was a member of the Quebec association dedicated to the ‘next generation’ of insurance professionals (LARAQ) before I went on maternity leave. It is very important for me to encourage people to come and work in our industry or at least to find out something about it. The labour shortage is a major issue for our industry and we will need fresh recruits within a few years. I am also an ambassador for the ‘next generation coalition’ (CPRAD). In that role, I try to attend a variety of events. Most importantly, I speak with young people and explain to them a bit about my work, not only what the day-to-day realities are for insurance brokers, but also the opportunities for advancement within a brokerage firm.”
What career achievement are you most proud of?
“The awards I’ve won are certainly a nice way to be recognized. There’s also the fact that I’ve been able to grow and develop quite quickly. So I’d say that my insurance broker career over the past seven years at Ostiguy & Gendron is my proudest achievement.”
“Isabelle Landry has a very inspiring academic background. The fact that she received the 2021 Young Broker of Distinction Award reflects her commitment to and involvement in the industry, particularly with LARAQ, not to mention all the time she invested in her firm in recruiting and bringing on board the next generation and her efforts to promote the brokerage sector,” said one the members of the award selection committee.
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now in the brokerage industry?
“I’m trying to gain a foothold on various boards. So I’d really like to be involved in the industry and to have my say in dealings with various organizations such as the RCCAQ or the Insurance Institute, both of which help to make our industry shine a little brighter. In my current situation, I see myself as managing the insurance side of the business. I’d really like to push our firm to keep on doing better, to be creative and to set an example by being a place where people are happy to be employed. We want Ostiguy & Gendron to be recognized for our dynamic approach and for the difference we make for our clients.”
What prompted you to apply for the 2021 Young Broker of Distinction Award?
“First of all, my colleagues really encouraged me to apply. Plus I told myself that it was a great opportunity to find prospective colleagues who might come and work for us. Groupe Ostiguy & Gendron is not based in downtown Montreal, so we sometimes go unnoticed. It was also a way to give my industry colleagues a nod and a wink and to let others know that we’re in the game as well. We’re a fine team and we really want to succeed! I also wanted to inspire brokers throughout the industry to embrace excellence and to demonstrate that if you’re ambitious, everything is possible.”
What do you see as the benefits since you won the contest, either current or anticipated?
“A few people contacted me and asked me to discuss my career. I hope that the next generation of college students will also contact me to ask questions. They’ll realize that everything is possible in the insurance field and that the results of your efforts can be seen quite quickly. I’m ready to help them and give them advice.
“In terms of my career, I’ve also received offers from a few companies, but unfortunately I’m already taken! However, for people who are unhappy in their current position, this award could be a great way to boost their visibility.”
“I had the opportunity to be on the team that took over the firm in 2015, and I went on to win the Young Broker of Distinction Award in 2016. I’m very proud not only of everything Isabelle has achieved, but also that we as a firm are able to perpetuate the transfer of knowledge and generate opportunities for a new generation of brokers.” Maxime Poulin, Executive Vice-President and Partner
What projects are you working on now?
“In the short and medium term, I’d like to continue to motivate my colleagues in terms of how they organize their day-to-day work. I’d also like to keep on communicating how passionately I feel about the brokerage sector. I’d like to put together short training videos in which experienced industry people share their knowledge and experience to motivate others and share their passion with them. They would focus on how we can transfer our experience. To protect our jobs as brokers, it’s important for companies to transfer knowledge to the youngest generation in order to ensure long-term viability.”
What advice would you give to prospective candidates who’d like to apply for next year’s award?
“I’d tell them to go for it and to have confidence in themselves. First and foremost, I’d encourage them to find the tools they need to set themselves apart and to be creative as they get involved with the industry,” concluded Ms. Landry.
