Diary of an Insurer: Miller's Alice Glenister

Monday

I start my week working from home. It’s a great way to ease into the week without the commute, and it gives me a chance to catch up on anything that might have come through over the weekend. 

My Monday morning starts with a strong coffee and a team pipeline meeting. We go through each account, discuss any new leads and enquiries and check if there are any challenges we need to address. 

It’s an opportunity to make sure everyone’s aligned on priorities and to set the tone for the week ahead. After that, I spend some time catching up on emails.

I’m heading out to Houston with the team in a couple of weeks, so I spend the rest of the day planning for that trip – arranging client meetings and ensuring the presentations are up to date and all logistics have been figured out. It will be a busy week in Houston, and lots of things need to be organised ahead of time to make sure it’s a productive trip.

Tuesday

Tuesday is my first day in the office this week and I start it with an early gym session in the city. I’m currently training for a marathon, so I try to get my runs in whenever I can. It’s a great way to clear my head before a busy day. 

After the gym, it’s a quick stop by M&S to grab breakfast before making my way to my desk to settle in for the day. Tuesdays are usually packed with internal meetings. 

These meetings are essential for discussing potential new opportunities, whether that’s exploring new parametric products or understanding any shifts in risk appetite from our partners

Today I have meetings booked in other broking teams across Miller to understand the challenges they face in the market and discuss whether a parametric solution might work. 

I then spend time with marketing to finalise our print-out materials for our upcoming trip. I’m often liaising with different departments to ensure everything is on track for the deals we’re working on. 

Wednesday

It’s back to the gym on Wednesday morning for another training session. I’m aiming to build up my endurance, so trying to complete longer runs as often as I can. Once I’m done, I head to Pret for some porridge, and then it’s straight into the office for a key part of my role – meeting with underwriters. 

These meetings are essential for discussing potential new opportunities, whether that’s exploring new parametric products or understanding any shifts in risk appetite from our partners. We also review any existing policies that might need tweaking, and it’s always an opportunity to brainstorm and bring new ideas to the table. 

Underwriter meetings are where a lot of the groundwork is laid for successful deals, so they’re a big part of my week. I really enjoy the face-to-face element of my role, going from coffee shops to underwriter offices across the Square Mile to meet people in person, something that I missed during the pandemic.

Thursday

Thursday is all about making sure my team is on track. I schedule reoccurring one-to-one meetings with each member, which is a good way to check in on their progress, offer support where needed, and ensure that they have everything they need to succeed. 

It’s a more personal touchpoint and allows us to address any concerns or roadblocks before they escalate. The weather doesn’t look great today, so these meetings will occur in the office. If it’s sunny, I enjoy a walking one-to-one meeting around the City to avoid any distractions in the office. 

As a broker, teamwork is vital, and these regular check-ins help to keep everyone motivated and aligned with our goals. The rest of my day is spent on client calls and preparing proposals – we’re always looking for new ways to add value for our clients, so a lot of collaboration is involved.

Friday

I finish the week working from home again. Friday mornings start with a team meeting to review what we’ve accomplished, reflect on any challenges, and plan for the upcoming week. 

It’s a relaxed yet productive session that helps everyone wind down before the weekend, knowing we’re set up for the next few days. After the meeting, I spent most of the day organising the final parts of our trip to Houston. 

It’s all hands on deck to ensure everything goes smoothly, and we are almost there now – just the final small pieces to organise. I also use Fridays to catch up on any outstanding tasks and ensure my inbox is clear so I can head into the weekend without any lingering to-dos.