NAME: Christy Kaufman
NEW JOB TITLE: Madison, Wisconsin-based vice president, risk management, Zillow Group
PREVIOUS POSITION: Madison, Wisconsin-based vice president, risk management, Zillow Group
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: The insurance market has hardened, which means itll soften at some point. The question I ask myself is whether its going to transition into a new paradigm as it softens. Theres no rule that future insurance products and services need to resemble past ones, and with the surge of insurtech, we may be on the verge of a sea change. Im confident the insurance landscape will continue to evolve through advancements in self-insurance, perfect pricing, default insurance and other data-driven solutions.
GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: Our customers come to Zillow simply wanting to move. We are building a seamless experience, with a suite of offerings, to get them from searching and dreaming into their new home. Its an exciting time to be joining the Zillow team where Ill be evangelizing the value of risk management to my internal partners.
CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: We need to press ourselves for an answer on whats coming next. Were living in an age of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity), and as an industry, we have to get better and faster at anticipating risk. 2020 showed us that very low-probability risks can still occur, and the impact can be devastating. As risk managers, we need to grow an appreciation for these potential events, even if they live outside the imaginable.
FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: Coming out of graduate school, I was a consultant for Ernst & Young, helping a wide array of clients develop and strengthen their risk management programs. When I say a wide array, I mean everything from household conglomerates to nonprofits. That experience showed me that risk management is far from one-size-fits-all. It needs to be aligned to an organizations strategy, complexity and culture.
ADVICE: This is a fun question for me because I also teach risk management at the University of Wisconsin, and I tell my students to stay current and prepare for the risk industry that exists today digital, data-driven and fast-changing. For anyone who just joined the industry, I point them to the Risk & Insurance Management Society. Im proud to serve on the RIMS global executive board. Its a supportive community for risk professionals, and full of resources and insights that will help you progress in your career. And for those further along in their careers, I would challenge you to continue to disrupt yourself. If youre at the top of your learning curve, it may be time to jump to a new one.
OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: Thats easy: fashion designer. Given that I cant even sew, its likely not happening anytime soon!
COLLEGE MAJOR: For undergrad, I majored in risk management and insurance as well as finance at the University of Wisconsin. I also have an M.S. in risk management and insurance from UW.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: I came to Zillow because its an opportunity to show others how risk mitigation looks in a 21st-century business. Im excited about translating risk management a time-honored field into a digital-first setting. The talent within Zillow is astonishing and the challenge to position risk management as a business enabler have me excited for whats to come.
FAVOURITE MEAL: Big shocker, Im a pretty risk-averse eater. I stick to comfort foods; even the occasional PB&J brings a smile to my face.
BOOK: Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms, by Shellye Archambeau. We as risk managers are not programmed to take risks, but this book is a great reminder that even though we minimize risk for a living, being too cautious as an individual can limit your potential. Ive had the opportunity to meet Shellye, and shes just amazing.
HOBBIES: Like everyone else, I bought a Peloton at the start of the pandemic, and Cody the instructor is my new best friend, which he probably is to thousands of people, but dont tell me that. I also love to travel to new destinations with my husband and two sons (ages 16 and 12). We cant wait to hit the airways once travel restrictions lift.
TV SHOW: I cant stop watching Ozark. We even went on a family trip to the Ozarks this year to check it out. It was very different.
ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: I have a posse of other career-driven women who inspire me, and Saturdays are for reconnecting with family and them. They are food for my soul.
