023: From Actuarial to InsurTech Founder and Imposter Syndrome Along the Way with Bijal Patel

Summary Bijal Patel, co-founder and CTO of Aurora, shares her journey from actuarial to digital commercial InsurTech. She discusses the importance of finding happiness in work and how to navigate career transitions.   Bijal also opens up about imposter syndrome and the challenges of being a leader in a startup. She emphasizes the value of building a strong culture and the power of reaching out to others for inspiration and guidance.   Takeaways Finding happiness in work is crucial for career satisfaction. When considering a career change, focus on what you enjoy and what brings you value. Building a strong culture and values is essential for a successful team. Imposter syndrome can be overcome by recognizing your strengths and focusing on your intentions. Reaching out to others for guidance and inspiration can lead to valuable connections and opportunities. Thanks to Send (https://send.technology/) for sponsoring this this episode. Send is an award-winning insurance software company. It’s flagship product is an AI-enabled Underwriting Workbench – a single platform from submission to bind, and beyond. The platform helps commercial and specialty insurers around the world drive greater efficiency, control and effectiveness. It has rich out-of-the-box functionality, workflow templates for over 40 lines of business, and proven deployments in multiple geographies. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:09 Choosing Actuarial Role 06:10 Transitioning to Commercial Insurance 08:10 Finding Happiness in Work 09:20 Building a Network and Exploring Options 10:32 Transitioning to a Startup 14:11 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome 15:47 Developing Confidence 19:09 Becoming a Leader 20:18 Finding Your Leadership Style 23:13 Building a Strong Culture 25:05 Bringing Talent Together 27:06 The Reality of Starting a Business 29:53 Skills and Traits in Startups vs. Corporations 32:15 Advice for Your Younger Self 33:13 Opportunities in Insurance 35:07 Reaching Out and Inspiring Others