Matt Fischer

Why did you choose the Master of Professional Studies in Insurance Management at the Columbia School of Professional Studies?
I chose this specific program because of the faculty. Unlike at a majority of other universities, where classes are taught by academics with research backgrounds who lack actual experience, the courses at Columbia are taught by professionals with extensive industry experience. Further, they represent some of the greatest minds in the industry and have been in the shoes of each student.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to prospective students?
If you have the slightest interest in the program, go for it; I can guarantee you will not regret it! The workload is manageable, and it will become almost second nature after a couple of weeks. The faculty understand that you are a working professional and work comes first, so they are incredibly flexible when needed to allow for the best result on both the academic and                                                                                         professional fronts.

What are the benefits of this asynchronous program from a learning and networking
perspective?
The asynchronous format allows students to learn on their own time with regular faculty support whenever needed. This grants the working professional the ability to maintain the necessary balance of their everyday routine. Additionally, students can learn at their own pace and review topics that are more intricate and possibly work through topics that are extremely familiar at a faster pace. The largest surprise I took away from the program was how much the cohort networked with each other. The problem-based learning acts as the perfect primer to engage in conversation of a familiar nature. From there, students get to know the backgrounds of each member of the cohort in a natural setting, producing lifelong friends and professional colleagues. 

How have you been able to integrate what you have learned in the program into the
workplace? Please give a specific example if applicable.
One concept that was introduced during the program in the operations class was the “playbook.” This document functioned as the central repository of all information that is applicable to the insurance function, making information easy to find for the owner as well as any internal stakeholders. In my current role, there was a lapse in employment between my onboarding and my predecessor leaving, creating a fairly unorganized mess when I arrived. Not only was this incredibly stressful and overwhelming, but the situation also made my job a lot harder. After I sat down to logically think about how to move forward, the answer seemed fairly obvious: create a playbook that houses all information in an organized fashion that allows all stakeholders to clearly understand the situation. Eight months later, I have a 191-page working document that has gotten me executive management recognition.

About the Program 

The Columbia University Master of Professional Studies in Insurance Management equips a new generation of professionals to lead insurance businesses with advanced industry knowledge, strategic and operational expertise, and the skills to champion new ideas.