Chantal Kapani reviews the news
This week we spoke with Chantal Kapani, a Junior Reporter from Insurance Times, to get her take on the past week’s insurance news.
1. What has been the stand-out story for you in the insurance market this week and why?
As the nation grapples with the tightening grip of the cost of living crisis, the revelation that one of the "strangest" fraudulent claims received by Aviva in 2022 involved a six-year-old allegedly driving a car caught my attention.
2. Who is your insurance personality of the week and why?
There are so many to choose from, but I have to give a special shout-out to Sam White. While there are many influential roles within the insurance industry, Sam White stands out for unapologetically being herself.
I must also extend a special shout-out to Insurance Times; everyone in the office always bring laughter into my day, and they truly deserve recognition for that, even though I can be a little grumpy in the winter…
3. Which news this week do you think will have the most long-term impact on the insurance profession?
The insurance industry anticipates an improvement in diversity and inclusion (D&I) through the recruitment of young talent. D&I is a prominent topic in the industry, and the competition for talent is closely linked to this focus. The incoming young professionals are not only passionate but also driven to present insurance as a viable career option. I am looking forward to seeing the progress in the next couple of years.
4. If you could interview anyone from the world of insurance and they had to answer your question 100% truthfully, who would it be and what would you ask them?
If given the opportunity to conduct an interview with anyone, my top choice would undoubtedly be Nikhil Rathi, the Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). As for the specific questions I would ask him, well, you know what they say: a magician never reveals their secrets!
5. If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about our industry, what would it be?
In my relatively brief eight months within the insurance sector, I have only encountered one person who did not conform to the stereotype of stumbling into insurance as a career choice. Nevertheless, I've often heard the ongoing joke in the insurance industry that many people "fall into insurance," myself included. Did I ever envision myself as a journalist covering insurance? Certainly not. Yet, I wouldn't trade it for anything and have no regrets. Did I ever envision writing an article pondering if TikTok could be the remedy for the talent war in insurance? Certainly not – but that revelation speaks volumes. I would use my magic wand to make the younger generation realise that insurance can be a fun career.
6. Finally, would you survive a zombie apocalypse?
After careful consideration, my answer is a resounding yes. Despite my height of five feet, I can run very fast and, without delving into the reasons, let's just say there's a sword in my house.