NAME: Jessica Lyons
NEW JOB TITLE: San Bernardino, California-based director of risk management, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
PREVIOUS POSITION: San Bernardino, California-based director of risk management, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: A hard market existed before the pandemic and the reality is that the market is ostensibly getting worse. Unfortunately, there are no positive signs that the hard market will dissipate. I expect to continue to encounter stress across multiple lines for 2021, into 2022. Correspondingly, cyber liability is now seen as a requirement rather than an extravagance, given the remote work environment many companies have adopted in the wake of the pandemic and the increasing number of cyberattacks. These are extraordinary times, and businesses should recognize the challenging landscape and anticipate continuing to feel the effects.
GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: One of my goals is to take a proactive step toward incorporating a risk management information system, which will allow us to forecast, prioritize, identify, manage and monitor the assortment of risks affecting our organization.
CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: Outside of the challenges the pandemic has created, California wildfires and climate change pose additional and costly challenges for us, particularly in the property marketplace where insurers are reevaluating the capacity they are willing to write.
FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: I started as an executive administrative assistant for the vice president of risk management in the gaming industry, not really knowing what risk management truly encompassed. I quickly began to appreciate the necessity of a good risk management program and immersed myself into each aspect to gain more knowledge and understanding.
ADVICE: Create allies, friends and partnerships, ask questions, lots of questions. Listen, observe, know your audience and most of all take ownership of your work.
OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: I would love to get paid to travel and explore.
COLLEGE MAJOR: Business management
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Im looking forward to new challenges that can help me broaden my experience. I am excited by the opportunity to work with such an innovative, successful enterprise whose mission I firmly believe in.
FAVOURITE MEAL: I dont really have a favorite meal, but I love Thai food and pretty much anything spicy.
BOOK: The Alienist, by Caleb Carr. Although its a crime novel, I enjoy reading historical and psychological books.
HOBBIES: I love to garden; its extremely rewarding and it helps me unwind.
TV SHOW: My guilty pleasure is watching DIY shows regarding home.
ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON:
