Thought leader spotlight: Lizzie Egan
Behind the data are our world-class thought leaders. Over the next month, we will be introducing you to the people responsible for Comperemedia’s industry expertise.
Q: What topics do you specialize in?
A: I specialize in insurance at Comperemedia. My background is in social media, specifically social listening and social customer care, which I have been able to extend to multiple sectors.
Q: How did you get to where you are now?
A: State Farm had a prominent presence on my campus at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL., so that’s how I first got into insurance as an undergrad. I held two internships with the insurer and loved it! It was easy to network with people throughout the company and learn about the different pieces that all fit together in a Fortune 500 powerhouse. The same goes for Allstate, where I worked for four years after college in social listening and social customer care. In that role, I was quickly introduced to people across the enterprise who were eager to learn and help us meet evolving customer needs. It was in this role that I realized I wanted to learn more about the insurance industry and had an interest in research. I was reconnected with fellow-IWU alumni Tara Clemens, who is Comperemedia’s Industry Analyst for insurance. It has been exciting and rewarding to get a wider scope on the overall insurance industry as well as the larger financial services ecosystem.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in your industry, who would it be and why?
A: Progressive CEO Tricia Griffith. One of the only female CEOs in insurance, Tricia is a trailblazer! She is extremely intelligent, focused on expanding Progressive’s footprint to better serve customers, which I find inspiring.
Q: Tell us about a brand campaign or shift in strategy that has recently caught your eye?
A: Across the entire insurance industry in the last several years, we’ve seen a shift to focus on mobile capabilities and self-serve options to meet changing customer expectations. While improving technology is critical, Mintel Reports and external data suggests that Millennials are relying on agents for guidance more than ever. Progressive recently funneled more resources and focus on agents behind the scenes, which illustrates that while the company is becoming increasingly digital, agents are still on the front lines of business and must be valued and supported in order for the company to achieve an omnichannel customer experience. While I love discovering new technological developments and marketing shifts, I especially appreciate how companies are fitting agents into an increasingly complicated puzzle.
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
A: I enjoy discovering new trademark filings from companies, as it is often one of the first signs of a strategic shift.
Q: Last but not least- tell a fun fact about yourself.
A: I swam throughout high school and for two years in college, but recently got reacquainted with the sport because I am signed up for a 5k open water swim in September! I’ve joined a masters swim team and am learning to love the smell of chlorine once again.