By Julie Meyer, Alumna of the M.P.S. in Insurance Management Program, School of Professional Studies
Lateral moves to similar roles and one-step-up promotions are common in a corporate career. Much rarer is to do what I call long-jumping roles: leaping from one area of a company, or one side of an industry, to another.
After 17 years as a litigator and corporate attorney for three Fortune 100 insurance companies, I recently made the long jump to products. It was time. I was ready to get in over my head in a new learning space. Fortunately for me, Progressive is an employee-focused company that encourages cross-disciplinary growth and invests in cultivating talent.
With 50 percent of the current insurance workforce retiring in the next 15 years, now is a great time to think about taking a daring leap to a distant, exciting role. If you are unsure how to proceed, I suggest looking to the experts on the art of the long jump: Olympians. Olympic athletes break the long jump into five stages.
1. The Approach Run
Long jumpers begin with a sprint. To leap roles in the insurance industry, you too must build momentum. Mine came from taking Columbia’s Insurance Management program to improve, among other things, my business acumen and data analysis. I chose Columbia’s program because I wanted the discipline of a structured learning process as well as unstructured access to a broad range of senior industry professionals. In Columbia’s program, I developed a more holistic perspective on the industry and joined in a discourse with colleagues and professors about their career journeys, triumphs, and regrets. As you dash toward a career change, both formal and informal learning can help you pick up speed.
2. The Final Two Strides
Especially critical for long jumpers are those last few motions before takeoff. A major career jump in insurance also has a final critical moment: the interview. For long jumpers, those final strides may be a little different each time, depending on the conditions, the track, the environment. Similarly, you should not make the mistake of expecting interviews to be generic or predictable. There is no one-size-fits-all interview prep. Tailor your approach to the job description, the requisite competencies, and the hiring manager’s preferred qualifications. For example, if the hiring manager seeks someone who can influence others across the organization, reflect on how you have engaged in leadership upward and laterally, and make sure you have success stories to share. If it’s an internal position, find out in advance what an ideal candidate looks like.
3. The Takeoff
A long jumper’s last act before being airborne is to place a sure, confident foot firmly on the ground and direct their leap forward. Likewise, a major career transition requires you first to ground yourself in your professional identity and aim, as intentionally as you can, into the unknown.
At this moment of uncertainty, reflection is key. Rather than let your new role happen to you, and become someone in that role by chance, you should deliberate on your possible selves. Look ahead and place yourself there. Know who you are, but also imagine and be intentional about who you might become as you learn and grow. This might require you to “drop your tools.” That is, you may have to shed the weight of the conventional notions and instruments of your past roles as you prepare to take up new ways of thinking and being.
4. Action in the Air
After long jumpers leave the ground, their work is not done. After you score your dream job, neither is yours. While you transition into your new role, keep your action going. Continue to network, and seek mentorship from colleagues in your new space, as if you were still job-hunting. Be sure your efforts at this stage are meaningful. It’s about gaining real insights, advice, and respect from others, not just collecting LinkedIn connections. This work takes long hours, nights, and weekends. Always being “on” is mentally exhausting. If you’re doing it right, it feels like a second full-time job. But the insights and feedback can push your success farther.
5. The Landing
The landing is about finding your place in the sandbox, fitting into your new office and team. Try to gracefully settle into your new role without stumbling backward or squandering the momentum you worked to create. The hard work is done, but it’s not too late to blow it! Be cognizant of your relationship with and impact on the internal dynamics among your new colleagues. Land softly enough not to get a feel for how you fit, but firmly enough to make an impression. This is the most fun and rewarding part. Don’t forget to enjoy it!
About the Program
The Master of Professional Studies in Insurance Management is for career professionals who want to accelerate their advancement to leadership positions or broaden their expertise in the industry. It accommodates both professionals already working in insurance and those looking to make a career change. The program is part-time, online, and instruction is asynchronous to accommodate working professionals.
Applications are reviewed and candidates are accepted on a rolling basis for the M.P.S. in Insurance Management program. The final deadline for fall 2025 is June 1. Learn more about the program here.
