She traded students for clients and the classroom for the office.
Holly Lynch would still be teaching, chalk to the blackboard, if not for her summers as an intern at Lockton Cos, a global independent insurance broker. She’s now there as a full-time bond specialist in the surety department.
Lynch, 24, graduated in 2005 from St. Michael’s College with a double major in elementary education and Spanish. She started her career by substitute teaching and accepted a long-term substitute position in a Simsbury High School Spanish class.
“I think a good teacher has a realm of possibilities and experience to teach in all grade levels,” Lynch said. “So I was able to use my Spanish degree at the high school level. It was a great learning experience.”
The next year, Lynch took a job teaching first grade at Saint Mary’s School in Simsbury.
The West Hartford resident faced a personal decision when she no longer felt challenged by her role as a teacher.
“I’m not the type of person that’s just able to sit back and not continue to be challenged and learn,” Lynch said. “I didn’t see as great an outcome for myself with education as I did with insurance.”
Lynch joined Lockton in January. “It was something familiar to me and they saw that I had the capabilities to solve issues, manage situations and take this on full time,” Lynch said.
Her time in the classroom also strengthened her organizing capabilities.
Now, she is an account manager and writes performance and payment bonds for the global insurance company.
“I love working side by side with my co-workers to match everyone’s experience and specialties,” Lynch said. “Every day at the job is different. It allows me to challenge myself.”
Emily Boisvert is a Hartford Business Journal staff writer.
