NAME: Steve Miller
NEW JOB TITLE: Pleasanton, California-based innovation lead, Insurance Office of America Inc.
PREVIOUS POSITION: Pleasanton, California-based vice president, McGriff Insurance Services
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: Bright, but challenging. We have some amazing thought leaders making inroads. Our industry must focus on data, artificial intelligence and innovation. If legacy insurers cant figure out how to compete with insurtech, theyre going to find themselves with greatly reduced market share.
GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: I want to build new solutions. If I can help move the industry away from the status quo and toward a more nimble, bespoke, data-driven set of solutions, Ill be very happy. I also want to foster an atmosphere that enriches the lives of my team members, my clients and myself. Its easy to find a job; its difficult to build a mission.
CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: I have several focuses. One of the most emerging is future mobility. Autonomy, mobility-sharing and ride-hailing have all emerged in the past decade. Because theyre so new and varied, there is not adequate actuarial data to measure and price on. Broker/insurer trust and partnership are critical in building new things.
FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: I started out as an account assistant at a small agency in Honolulu. It was a fantastic area to spend the first years of marriage to my wife, also a great place to watch the clock until Aloha Friday.
ADVICE: Find an industry to specialize in that you are passionate about. Throw yourself into it and be proud of the role you play in facilitating the growth and success of your clients. Look for successful people and build friendships.
OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: Id love to own a gym or martial arts academy. Make it a place people build community and never want to leave. Yes, I spend a fair amount of time at my local Crossfit and Jiu Jitsu academy.
COLLEGE MAJOR: Insurance? My wife Megan and I married at 18. Best decision of my life. I was at an insurance desk before I turned 19.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: My why is to do hard things better than anyone else. Im looking forward to building new products, insuring new industries, and pushing forward with IOA in our goal to transform customer expectations.
FAVOURITE MEAL: Anything that came in the ButcherBox.
BOOK: I have a goal to read 50 this year. So that makes it hard to pick a favorite. I recently finished Educated, by Tara Westover. It was phenomenal. Dr. Seuss is my favorite author. I didnt say childrens author
HOBBIES: Lifting things up and putting them down. Were an active family (three kids four if you count the American Bulldog). I enjoy weightlifting. My daughter and I do Jiu Jitsu together. My middle son is in competitive soccer.
TV SHOW: Currently the 20 minutes or so a night of Parks and Recreation reruns.
ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: If its a lucky Saturday and the soccer is over, an ideal afternoon would be relaxing and getting ready for a date night.
