It’s All in a Day’s Work
From learning about insurance compliance to solving a murder mystery!
By Wajiha Kazmi, JD
Where do I begin? After graduating law school, I thought to myself, “how difficult can it be to learn about compliance in the world of insurance?” And boy, was I mistaken. Analyzing legal and compliance issues/reviews in the insurance world is a whole new arena for me. Despite studying various areas of law in the past several years, I could not come to terms with how much there is to the insurance world. But, thanks to Compliance 101 and other sessions at the 32nd Annual Association of Insurance Compliance (AICP) Conference in Denver, CO last week, I learned a lot more about insurance compliance.
Margaret P. Jones and Wajiha Kazmi at AICP 2019
I’ve heard that AICP always puts on a great event and now I have first-hand experience. The speakers were professional, knowledgeable, and friendly and they presented exceptionally informative content. I felt honored to learn about insurance from people who have been in the field for decades.
Being a first timer at AICP initially made me feel a bit nervous. I was so far from home for the first time; it was a new place, new people, new culture, and a new environment for me. My worries quickly vanished as everyone there was so welcoming and friendly. It was a privilege meeting and conversing with people from different areas of the insurance industry. I particularly liked how interactive all the sessions were. Some people shared concerns and comments, while others raised questions. All the speakers engaged with attendees to the best of their abilities. It was noticeable how much everyone wanted to help one another better understand the issues.
Aside from the lectures, there was time for fun. Delicious food was provided by generous sponsors throughout the conference and this year’s conference was at the heart of the center of Denver; lots to do within walking distance. I didn’t think I would want to explore Denver since I was so far from home, but the tone set by AICP was so comforting that I knew I had to go out and explore what the beautiful had to offer. Of course, I had to buy a souvenir for myself! Speaking of fun, AICP selected a few places for people to have dinner on the last night. I opted for the “Dinner Detective” evening out. A new experience for me! It was different, to say the least. While we enjoyed dinner and conversation, there was a murder mystery that had to be solved. Throughout the night, the “detectives” gave us clues and we had to solve the murder. At the end, someone won a prize for guessing correctly. It was a fun evening with a lot of laughs, good food and conversation — an excellent opportunity to socialize in a casual atmosphere.
Although I felt a little home-sick toward the end of the conference, I was grateful that I had an opportunity to attend this conference. There is no better place to connect with people who do similar work, gain knowledge from people with a great deal of experience, and build relationships that I hope will continue far beyond the realm of the insurance industry.
As a first timer at AICP, I surely hope there will be a next time!
