MEET Michael McConnell
Data Services Consultant
(former Data Services Graduate)
Team Data Services
Segment Human Capital & Benefits
Location Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Program Graduate program 2016
University University of Virginia and McIntire School of Commerce
How did you come across our Graduate program offering?
In 2015 I was in my final year of university and decided to apply to companies where I could see myself working and building a career. I was drawn immediately to Willis Towers Watson for its breadth of career opportunities and business portfolio. That paired with the organization’s inspiring values made me feel from early-on that Willis Towers Watson would be a great place to work and begin building a career. I joined Willis Towers Watson’s Graduate program in 2016 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which concluded two years later.
Tell us a bit about your key responsibilities when you were a graduate
Upon joining the company, I began working in the Data Services team. My responsibilities included growing our annual surveys by managing a list of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia-based existing and potential clients, supporting clients with salary benchmarking and contributing where needed on proposals and projects.
What were some key things that you learnt during your Graduate program?
The Graduate program was an excellent learning experience for me – I hadn’t written a proposal, made an outbound call or managed a client relationship before joining Willis Towers Watson. By the end of the two year program, I had strong client relationships, acquired new clients and gained greater confidence as a Consultant. This combined with the great client diversity in the Middle East, the different types of sectors, industry sizes and geography has made my experience very enriching.
Do you recall your best memory? Tell us about it!
It’s hard to choose a best memory since I have many. If I had to name one, I would say it was my first CEO presentation with my Line Manager, Laurent Leclère. The two of us were working on a project for a major oil and gas company in Saudi Arabia and were invited to present our findings to the Board of Directors. As a new colleague, I was grateful for the trust I was given and the unique opportunity to participate in a senior client presentation. I hadn’t heard of many people at my experience level to be given that opportunity at other companies. This is part of what I love about working at Wills Towers Watson – we are truly empowered as colleagues.
What did you like the most about our culture and values?
While I could emphasize the values themselves, which are certainly inspiring in their own right and help make us a successful company, the actual implementation and living of these values day-to-day is what I like most. After having worked with colleagues from across the world, I realized that every single one of them truly lives up to our values. It’s one thing to have values as part of your brand, but it’s another thing to put them in practice, which is the most impressive in my view.
Which other position(s) have you filled since you finished your Graduate program and where? Did you ever imagine you would fill these positions when you were a graduate?
I’ve only been a Data Services Consultant, but I have been able to work on a variety of projects that have given me exposure to other work in Rewards and even some Talent projects. I expected to work in Data Services, of course, but I didn’t expect I’d have the exposure to the other lines of business as I’ve had.
How did being a graduate help you prepare for your current position at Willis Towers Watson?
Certainly as a Data Services Consultant my graduate years on the team were indispensable for me to better understand the position and to be more successful. That early exposure also made the job more fun as I’m more comfortable and confident in the role now.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or who was integral to your experience?
There’s many people I could thank, but the key people who have helped me are Dr. Ahmad Waarie, Roman Weidlich, Tom O’Byrne, Lea Farhat, and Eungchang Lee. I also owe a special thanks to my Line Manager, Laurent Leclère, who has taught me a lot about data services, client relationship building and how to be successful in the Data Services team. They say good line managers are key to an enjoyable and successful career and Laurent has certainly been that for me.
What advice would you give to someone who’s eager to apply to a Willis Towers Watson Internship program?
Simply put – I’d say definitely apply. Whether unsure of your desired career path or about which company you’d like to work for, I can only say Willis Towers Watson is a great place to begin your career. The skills you learn, the network of talented, authentic colleagues and the opportunities are all excellent. Working for a global company allowed me to experience countless learning opportunities – such as my own story of coming from the United States and working in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Learn more about our early careers programs here.
MEET Mel Scrutton
Hub Manager
(former Retirement Graduate)
Team Retirement
Segment Human Capital & Benefits
Location London, United Kingdom
Program Internship program 2014 and Graduate program 2015
University University of Warwick
How did you come across our Graduate program offering?
Willis Towers Watson sponsored the society associated with my degree: Maths, Operational Research, Statistics & Economics (MORSE) at the University of Warwick. Some consultants from their Birmingham office ran some careers’ evenings and office visits and it seemed like a really friendly and interesting place to work at.
Tell us a bit about your key responsibilities when you were a graduate
I was able to get involved with real client work straight away as both an intern and when I returned as a graduate, with tasks ranging from calculating pensions and transfer values for individual members to calculating the funding level for whole pension schemes. The work was and still is very varied. After a year and a half I took on the responsibility of organizing some of the new graduates’ training within my office while still being on the Graduate programme myself, which I really enjoyed since it was an opportunity to have a more people-facing role.
What were some key things that you learnt during your Graduate program?
Aside from learning about the technical side of pensions, I’ve also improved my communication skills and confidence, particularly in presenting to others. The variety of work that I have been involved with has been much greater than I ever expected and the main thing I have learned is that pensions are in no way dull!
Do you recall your best memory? Tell us about it!
I have a lot of good memories, particularly on the social side of work. We attend the Staple Inn Actuarial Society ball each year in London which is attended by actuaries from a range of companies, and my intake have won the annual Reigate Rounders tournament twice which is always good fun.
What did you like the most about our culture and values?
The main reason for which I decided to return as a graduate after my internship was because of the friendly, supportive and welcoming environment. I felt I was a ‘perfect fit’ with Willis Towers Watson’s culture and values. Here, work is intellectually challenging but also fun and dynamic. I am also proud to work for a company where excellence and client focus are highly valued, as well as maintaining respect for all colleagues.
Which other position(s) have you filled since you finished your Graduate program and where? Did you ever imagine you would fill these positions when you were a graduate?
I am now a Hub Manager within the Retirement team where I’m responsible for people and resource management for a portfolio of around 40 clients. I have always been a ‘people person’ and thought that I would like to be involved with people management or mentoring, but the opportunity to be involved in this from a relatively early stage of my career was not something I expected. I enjoy this more people-focused role alongside my technical work and I’m glad to have the opportunity to do both.
How did being a graduate help you prepare for your current position at Willis Towers Watson?
Being an intern helped with my initial transition from university to working life and gave me some foundation of pensions knowledge. However, this is definitely just a head-start and not a necessity to coming in as a graduate. The best way to learn is on the job and through the training program provided by Willis Towers Watson, which is of a very high standard. The Graduate program gave me the foundations to build on with client work. However, one of the perks of working here is that every day you continue to learn new things.
What advice would you give to someone who’s eager to apply to a Willis Towers Watson Internship program?
My advice would be to take as many of the opportunities offered to you as you can, even if they seem daunting at the time. I think this is the best way to learn and to realize that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything you want to.
Learn more about our early careers programs here.
MEET Basil Al Hatoum
Actuarial Analyst
(former Retirement Graduate)
Team Retirement
Segment Human Capital and Benefits
Location Toronto, Canada
Experience level Graduate
University University of Western Ontario, Bachelor’s degree, major in Actuarial Science
Personal interests
Playing sports, cooking and reading. I was in the Canadian Navy, so I learned a lot about sailing.
Please tell us about your current role
I am a member of multiple client teams. As the most junior person on the team, I am generally responsible for preparing data, doing benefit calculations for our clients, setting up processes in our programs that reflect the plan we are working with, preparing deliverables for clients, and much more.
What was your greatest challenge or learning in this role?
The key challenge for me, especially at the beginning, was learning about all the different pension plans that clients set up for their employees. They are all unique either in their plan benefit formulas or their assumptions, or in the benefits they offer. While the basic idea of a pension plan is simple, clients’ needs vary greatly and their plans will reflect that.
What is your proudest achievement since joining Willis Towers Watson?
Definitely my first in-person client meeting. I was given the opportunity to deliver a portion of the presentation that we had prepared. The senior consultants on my team had faith in me, and that gave me the confidence I needed to deliver calmly under pressure.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
People who like to work hard and are self-motivated will do very well at Willis Towers Watson. If you put your hand up and ask for interesting new projects, you will get them! The more you put into your work, the more opportunities you’ll have to lead new projects or work on things that interest you. People here are very supportive and like to have fun as well. I’ve had the opportunity to play sports in many corporate leagues with my coworkers, not just from Retirement but from the entire Toronto office.
What do you like best about working at Willis Towers Watson?
Definitely the people. My colleagues are supportive of my work and have become great friends as well. We regularly go out for lunch, play sports outside of work, and we genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Also, the business casual dress code of ‘dress for your day’ is amazing!
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I would like to continue to grow within our company. I don’t think of progress as a role or a title, I’d like to get to a point where I’m using my experience to simplify problems for my clients. I’d like to solve real world problems.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering employment with Willis Towers Watson?
Obviously the technical skills are very important, but what recruiters are looking for are great people they can connect with. Having a meaningful conversation with a recruiter where you can demonstrate your people skills is a great first step.
MEET Hee Jung Kim
Health and Benefits analyst
(currently on rotational Graduate Development Program)
Team Property & Casualty
Segment Corporate Risk and Broking
Location Toronto, Canada
Experience level Graduate
University Sungkyunkwan University, M.Sc. in Statistics; University of Waterloo, Masters in Actuarial Science (M.Act.Sc)
Personal interests
Exploring the city of Toronto, discovering new favorite restaurants, reading a good book and listening to music, mentoring others.
Why did you pursue a graduate position with Willis Towers Watson?
I was seeking a position that would enable me to fully utilize my actuarial background as well as my outgoing personality. I researched entry-level actuarial consulting positions and was fortunate enough to be granted an interview with Willis Towers Watson.
Please tell us about your placements within the company so far.
I have joined a rotational graduate program. I am currently in my second rotation in the Corporate Risk and Broking Segment where I focus on risk management — identifying areas for clients that need risk mitigation and finding the appropriate coverage. I also help to advise clients on mitigation strategies.
Previously I worked in the Human Capital and Benefits Segment where actuarial resources are used to provide clients with fiscal year-end reports, help design and customize their employee benefit plans, and develop cost projections. Our team also helps to engage clients in wellbeing programs and drug plan management to help contain benefit costs.
Can you tell us more about your current role?
I currently work as a member of the Financial Institutions team in the Corporate Risk and Broking Segment, where I assist client managers. My day-to-day work consists of attending internal and external meetings, confirming and reviewing policy documents that insurers have sent, and preparing our own documents (e.g., summaries of insurance, quote proposals) for clients. There is also a large emphasis on documentation, so I help streamline all of the administrative work to better service clients.
What was your greatest challenge or learning opportunity in this role?
Coming from a more mathematical background, going through policies line by line and trying to understand the wordings of these documents required a shift in thought process. The main challenge that I face now is adhering to the deadlines, especially in light of unanticipated events. However, this has taught me how to work under pressure and ensure accuracy in and quality of the work.
What training and development opportunities have you enjoyed as a result of the graduate program?
I have learned not to be shy about asking questions. There have been many times when I found myself in a new situation that I needed help understanding. Many times the solution is as simple as requesting further information from the client or carrier. Aside from asking questions, I’ve also learned a lot from observing my seniors and peers. Once I started feeling more comfortable with the work, I was given plenty of opportunities to increase my involvement and communication with clients and within the team.
What is your proudest achievement since joining Willis Towers Watson?
At only three months into the job, I received recognition and appreciation from my senior manager for the good work I had done for a new large client.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
I see the culture as collaborative, client-centered and goal-driven.
What do you like best about working at Willis Towers Watson?
I am surrounded by people who are not only bright and ambitious, but also kind and supportive. Teamwork is valued, and most people take this commitment seriously; they show appreciation for your input. I find there is always something to learn from those around me, and this creates a positive and productive environment in which to work.
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I would eventually like to move into a role where I can manage and mentor other employees. I have always found mentoring a very rewarding experience (whether it was in academia or personal) and would like to continue these opportunities in my professional career.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering a graduate opportunity at Willis Towers Watson?
Willis Towers Watson is known in the industry for its excellence in service and work quality; thus, we are held to a very high standard. As a new hire this can be daunting, but if you are up for the challenge, there is no better place to learn than here. Ultimately, the most important thing is to have an inquisitive mind and positive attitude — and those around you will guide you on your path to achieving your career goals.
MEET Charlotte Olson
Retirement Analyst
(former Retirement Graduate)
Team Retirement
Segment Human Capital and Benefits
Location London, United Kingdom
Experience level Graduate
University University of Bath, Mathematical Sciences
Why did you pursue a graduate position with Willis Towers Watson?
I completed an internship with Willis Towers Watson in 2016. I very much enjoyed the work I was doing and liked the people with whom I was working. I liked the culture of the company and felt the values fit with my own. I also wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to further build upon the mathematical skills I gained throughout my education. So when I was offered a graduate position, I was only too happy to take it and return to Willis Towers Watson.
Please tell us about your placements within the company so far.
I had a one month rotation at the Lisbon Service Centre, where I learned a lot about valuation work. It was useful to see how all the calculations are done, and thus get a better understanding of how the whole process works. I was able to help with a number of different stages of the process, and everyone was keen to get me involved with the work.
And your current role?
I am currently an analyst in the Retirement group, where I have been able to take on a number of responsibilities. What I do day-to-day varies quite a bit, but I tend to have a good supply of individual calculations to work on, for which I organize the log and delegate to people on my client teams. There are a range of things to get involved with: factor reviews, pension increase exchanges/retirement transfer options, accounting and valuations. Every pension scheme must undergo a formal valuation every three years, and these tend to take around 15 months, so there will always be a client with a valuation going on!
What training and development opportunities have you enjoyed as a result of the graduate program?
There are a lot of technical skills needed for my role, and the company has provided the necessary training to help me strengthen my knowledge base. I have also improved my time management skills and ability to prioritize tasks.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
The culture is very inclusive. Everyone I’ve had the pleasure of working with has been very friendly and welcoming.
What do you like best about working at Willis Towers Watson?
The people! Everyone is very willing to get you involved and answer any questions you may have.
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I hope to qualify as an actuary in a few years, and would like to continue doing this type of work. I think the industry will change a fair amount over the next few years. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds.
MEET Anshul Garg
Risk analyst
(former Investment, Risk and Reinsurance Graduate)
Team Insurance Consulting and Technology Life Insurance
Segment Investment, Risk and Reinsurance
Location Gurugram, India
Experience level Apprentice
University University of Delhi, Bachelor in Commerce (honors)
Personal interests
Reading and playing badminton.
Why did you pursue a graduate position with Willis Towers Watson?
As one of the leading and most sought after companies for actuaries, Willis Towers Watson enjoys goodwill in the market. The highly positive reviews of people who work, or have worked, here was the most compelling factor for me in deciding to start my actuarial career here.
Please tell us about your placements within the company so far
I have primarily been involved in life insurance consulting projects, with a bit of exposure in non-life insurance consulting as well. For life insurance consulting, I’ve worked extensively on valuation and regulatory reporting as well as various other aspects of life actuarial work. For non-life insurance consulting, I’ve worked on competitor benchmarking for an overseas insurer.
And your current role?
In my current role as an analyst, my primary responsibility is producing quality work within a defined timeline for various projects. In one year’s time, the scope of my responsibilities has expanded, and now I also get to review the work of my peers.
What was your greatest challenge or learning opportunity in this role?
The main challenge that I face is adhering to deadlines, especially in light of unanticipated events. However, this has taught me how to work under pressure and ensure accurate, high-quality output.
What training and development opportunities have you enjoyed as a result of the graduate program?
The graduate program has been a great stepping stone for my career. As part of my graduate onboarding, I was provided with extensive training sessions and workshops, which helped me build industry knowledge, gain practical insights and learn various software used in the industry.
How would you describe the culture at Willis Towers Watson?
The culture at Willis Towers Watson is unmatched. Everyone works as a team here and is always willing to lend a helping hand. People are hardworking and passionate about what they do, which is conducive to a great work environment. There is also a focus on training and development; everyone has numerous opportunities to learn more and progress in their careers.
What do you like best about working at Willis Towers Watson?
The best thing about working here has got to be the people. The people who work here tend to possess great knowledge and also great humility at the same time. If you need someone’s help, they often take the time to assist you even if they’re loaded with their own work. Everyone loves what they do and is really ambitious, which serves as a source of motivation — especially when you’re just starting out in your career.
What is your hope for your career in the future?
I aspire to become an actuary. I would like to learn and grow, and become a seasoned professional, excelling in my field of interest, which is insurance.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering employment with Willis Towers Watson?
Research the company well and make sure it’s the right fit for your ambition and career path. If it is, then give it your best shot by preparing well in advance and progressing a bit every day, instead of leaving it all to the last minute.
