Risk Management Analyst, Gautami Kamath, shares her experience on finding out she had been chosen to become part of the High Performers Club and how this has encouraged her to continue growing as a professional at Willis Towers Watson.

Where are you based?

I am based in Mumbai, India.

How long have you worked at Willis Towers Watson?

I’ve been at Willis Towers Watson for over six years.

What are you responsible for at Willis Towers Watson?

I am responsible for training the Know Your Client Team in performing quality checks and enhancing the due diligence of financial crime sanctions.

How would you describe your experience working at Willis Towers Watson?

My journey at Willis Towers Watson has been a growth story ever since I started. Every day has brought a new opportunity to learn and grow as a professional.

What is your proudest achievement since joining Willis Towers Watson?

In 2020 I became part of Willis Towers Watson’s High Performers Club, which recognizes colleagues in India that have made outstanding contributions to our company’s growth. Being part of the High Performers Club comes with a lot of joy and responsibility. We’re the flag bearers of our company’s core values, which I will proudly continue to role model in order to positively influence new colleagues.

What was your initial reaction when you realized that you had made it to the High Performers Club?

It definitely took a few minutes for the news to sink in and to truly comprehend that I had finally made it to the High Performers Club. I was very grateful to see that my hard work had been recognized in such a unique way. I also felt a mixed bag of emotions, particularly happiness, pride, gratification, and of course encouragement to continue delivering excellent work.

What do you think helped you become part of the High Performers Club?

I followed the footsteps of colleagues who were already part of the High Performers Club. They helped me to identify growth opportunities and showed me how to align my work with the vision of Willis Towers Watson.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or who was integral to your experience?

My parents! They have supported and inspired me to stay on my toes and make the most of opportunities at first sight. I am also grateful to my mentors at Willis Towers Watson. They have guided and coached me so that I’m able to excel at my responsibilities.

Would you like to share any positive feedback that you have received at Willis Towers Watson?

I felt incredibly honored when one of my senior colleagues commended my excellent work and out-of-the-box thinking. I’ve also received feedback from fellow colleagues praising my collaborative ways of working.

What is your favorite part about working for Willis Towers Watson?

The healthy, collaborative, and transparent work culture at Willis Towers Watson motivates me to give my best and challenge myself every day. Also, the never-ending learning opportunities and recognition of our colleagues’ efforts truly inspire me to go above and beyond in everything that I do.

When you’re able to find extra time in your role, what do you do to further your professional growth?

I spend my extra time expanding my knowledge and building my skillset by researching about the latest regulatory guidelines on anti money laundering and sanctions as well as reading financial crime journals. I also like to study from the rich source of knowledge available on the Willis Towers Watson Intranet.

Based on your experience, do you have a message for colleagues aspiring to get to the High Performers Club?

Align your efforts and work with the company’s overarching vision.

Learn more about our different roles and business areas here.

How long have you worked at Willis Towers Watson?

I’ve been at Willis Towers Watson for just over two months.

What are you responsible for at Willis Towers Watson?

My team is responsible for ensuring the timely detection, triage and appropriate escalation of security events that might affect the availability, confidentiality and integrity of Willis Towers Watson’s data and systems.

How did you find the virtual recruitment process?

It started with one of our recruiters reaching out via LinkedIn who told me that Willis Towers Watson was looking for a Head of Global Security Operations based in the Philippines. Although I wasn’t looking to change jobs, the recruiter’s friendly and professional approach, along with Willis Towers Watson’s good reputation and culture, made me look into the opportunity and apply.

What did you like most about the recruitment process?

I was impressed with the level of detail and effort that recruiters put in to make me feel comfortable and ensure that the process ran smoothly. For example, I received timely and detailed communication about my interview schedule, interviewers’ names and technological specifications (since all the interviews took place virtually due to the lockdown).

I was also very pleased with the fact that my recruiter reached out regularly to let me know about the status of my application and next steps.

What would you recommend to a candidate who’s preparing for an online interview at Willis Towers Watson?

When you are invited to an online interview, you need to make sure that technology will be on your side. This means planning ahead:

• If your internet connection is stronger at certain times of the day, see if you can arrange your interview during that period, while bearing in mind the time zone of your interviewer(s)
• Check you have installed the required conference call software – this also includes checking that your audio and camera are working. Remember to pick a quiet, private place where you won’t be interrupted
• Join the interview a couple of minutes early – that way you’ll be able to check that everything is working and relax into your interview

Starting a new job can be a stressful experience. Did you have any concerns about starting a new role virtually?

I cannot deny the fact that sometimes starting a new job can be a bit stressful, particularly because we’re still adapting to the ‘new normal’. However, I was still very excited and enthusiastic. I was concerned about how teamwork and collaboration might be affected by starting a new role virtually. While I don’t think we can replace the benefit of interacting live in person, technology has empowered me and my colleagues to stay connected through video calls.

How do you stay connected with your team and other colleagues?

With the current situation, we have had to get creative about staying connected online. While normally team building activities with colleagues is something typically done in person, we have moved this to the virtual sphere. As well as being present on team catch ups and organizing one to one sessions with my colleagues, we have built a Microsoft Teams group where we share some of what we do outside of work hours. This has proven to be a great tool to find out about my colleagues’ hobbies and interests outside of work!

How was your first day and week at Willis Towers Watson?

The local HR and IT team managed to safely send to my home all the necessary equipment ahead of my first day. I also received a welcome package from the company with some helpful guides on how to get started and with some important contact information.

During my first week I focused on introducing myself to my team and to other colleagues around the globe. My manager was also very helpful and involved me in meetings that helped me dive into the work and understand our main priorities and projects. Even though I’m quite new within the company, what I love the most about working here is the opportunity we’re given to collaborate with different teams and meet colleagues from different business segments and parts of the world. These first couple of months have been exciting, different, and full of positive experiences. I’m looking forward to what the future will bring for me and my colleagues at Willis Towers Watson.

Learn more about our different roles and business areas here.

How long have you worked at Willis Towers Watson?

Just over two years.

What are you responsible for at Willis Towers Watson?

It is my job to notify the insurers of the claims on behalf of our clients. I specifically support the US Claims and Legal group and provide assistance during the lifecycle of a claim.

How does your day usually start?

It all starts with Prayer followed by a good breakfast. I also love to spend time with my niece, her smile and laughter fills my day with joy and positivity.

What are some of the other activities that you do during a typical day at work?

A typical work day starts with reviewing the claims files, to plan and prioritize the tasks for the day. My work involves a lot of communication with claims advocates in our US offices via Skype, calls and emails. I am also responsible for preparing and maintaining the trackers related to the claims as well.

What is your favorite part about your role?

Reviewing and analyzing files and data, doing research and providing support to the client is something I love the most. I am glad to play my part in bringing value to our clients.

What is your favorite part about working for Willis Towers Watson?

The best part of Willis Towers Watson is our hobbies at work, through which I am part of the ‘Bikers and Trekking Club’. It helps me to connect and socialize with other colleagues. Willis Towers Watson also organize many sports events like internal cricket and football matches, which help you to showcase your other talents outside of the office. I was even a part of United Cricket League winning team: Bangalore MVP’s!

What is special about your team?

In the Mumbai office, we receive a lot of co-operation, support and empowerment from senior colleagues. This produces a positive and productive work environment.

Learn more about our different roles and business areas here.

How has your life been affected by COVID-19?

Due to government protocols in the Philippines to manage COVID-19, my family and I have been quarantined at home together since March 16.

Working from home now has made me rethink how I can blend my full-time work and my full-time fatherhood. Often, I have an hour-long meeting with adults then followed by playtime with kids. It feels like a dream that I can do both and still have time left in the day to live a balanced life. I feel trusted by my managers that I can continue to deliver quality work and, more importantly, I feel loved by my kids when we greet each other ‘good morning’ every day and kiss goodnight every night.

What does ‘flexible work’ at Willis Towers Waton mean to you?

To me, flexible working is #adulting. I am trusted by the organization to deliver quality work, on-time while balancing other personal responsibilities. I’m thankful to the organization for having a progressive mindset and entrusting us to be productive colleagues, whether we’re physically together in the office or at home.

How has Willis Towers Watson made flexible working easy for you?

I appreciate the communication provided by local leaders and Global Operating Committee that working from home is the preferred approach at this time. The organization has been flexible to the reasonable needs of colleagues as well as our clients where possible.

As part of the local HR team, I have learned to appreciate the consistent message of care and warmth from our leaders during this pandemic and I’ve seen this translate to sustained excellent work from our colleagues.

What tips/tools would you recommend to others working from home at this time?

Mental resilience is important. I have typically seen my house as a place to rest and unwind. It’s been a journey of mental resilience to understand that things have changed now.

Compartmentalizing has also really helped me. Having a dedicated place to work made me more aware when it is time to work vs time to rest. Recently, I decided to wear the same clothes, scent, and watch as I would normally in the office, and change into more relaxed clothes when I’m done with work.

Seeking help is critical. At certain times during our local community quarantine, I had to ask for the help of my family members to keep our house clean, bathe the kids, and of course taking out the trash. I certainly do not mind doing these things, but it has been humbling to admit that I could not do it all by myself (at work and at home).  Now, with even my 5-year old daughter and 9-year old son pitching in at home, I’m thankful that we’re all doing our fair share!

Seek help and be thankful.

What have you learned from this ‘new normal’ so far?

Looking at this new normal with a glass-half-full mindset, I can certainly see how to be a better colleague and father at the same time.

Learn more about our different roles and business areas here.

How long have you worked at Willis Towers Watson?

5 years.

What are you responsible for at Willis Towers Watson?

A few of the things included within my role are: the co-ordination with brokers and client managers for strategy meetings; preparing pre-renewal documents for client meetings; managing accounts receivables and preparations for WEM audits.

Basically, I remotely perform all the tasks that an Assistant Client Service Specialist would perform in a local US office.

How does your day usually start?

I don’t need an alarm as my two angels wake me up. Family is my source of energy, so I spend some quality time with them before I head to work.

What are some of the other activities that you might do on a typical day at work?

My day starts with checking and prioritizing the daily requests received from the US office. I will usually call my colleagues in Texas to discuss tasks and strategize further actions. I’ll then co-ordinate with our other Mumbai teams to get the work completed. I sometimes also play table tennis during my breaks to rejuvenate myself!

What is your favorite part about your role?
Performing tasks remotely from Mumbai is the most exciting aspect of my role; it is more like virtually working in a local US office.

What is your favorite part about working for Willis Towers Watson?

I am an active participant of the Hobbies @ Work biking group. This gives me an opportunity to fulfil my passion of long rides on weekends.

Learn more about our different roles and business areas here.

As I walk into Willis Towers Watson reception in London on my first day back at work following over a year on maternity leave, my first thought is wow! The building looks great, I feel happy and excited to be back and genuinely feel proud to work here.

Having spoken with many new parents (both in my personal life and with candidates as part of my role) I know that I am very lucky to have had such an incredibly positive experience. My line manager has been very supportive of my flexible working application, which has been significant in enabling me to effectively manage my job and family life. It can be a daunting experience those first few weeks back. What has changed? Will I remember everything? How will I balance my work with a hectic family life? As well as having the great support of my line manager, I spoke with my mentor at Willis Towers Watson who made themselves available to me within those first couple of weeks. I felt I gained advice and reassurance when I most needed it.

I feel valued at Willis Towers Watson and know, with the support of the company, I can still have a successful career while also leading a fulfilling life as a parent.

Learn more about the Willis Towers Watson values and benefits here or take a look at our current roles here.

Hello everyone! My name is Sara Cesin and I recently joined the Global Employer Brand team at Willis Towers Watson.

Apart from introducing myself I wanted to share with you my experience of joining Willis Towers Watson under the unusual situation caused by Coronavirus and say thank you.

Starting a new job can be a challenging and stressful experience under normal circumstances, never mind when there is a global pandemic. During such times we see the importance of technology as well as having an organized, welcoming and communicative team. Fortunately, this has been my case at Willis Towers Watson. With only five days in the company and working from home I already feel part of the family.

I’m based in Madrid, one of the cities with the highest number of people affected by COVID-19. We are in full lockdown and under state of alarm. However, the local HR and IT team managed to quickly and safely set up and send to my place all the necessary equipment for me to have a great first week. In addition, all the members of my team had already organized a full two-week onboarding process for me to get to know, understand and absorb everything about Willis Towers Watson’s culture, people and values.

As part of the employer branding team I’ve learnt in one week the importance of being coherent and sensitive about our messaging. Also, I’ve seen how Willis Towers Watson has demonstrated resilience and a great understanding of the health situation by implementing the necessary measures to take care of the wellbeing of its employees.

I am excited and grateful to join such an amazing company that in difficult times shows unity and humanity. Thank you all who have welcomed me, I hope to meet you soon under better circumstances.