A Letter To My Younger Self

To My Younger Self,

Let me give you some advice that you will only fully appreciate later in your career.

Don’t let your education limit your opportunities. Your degree is a starting point, not a boundary. What will matter far more over time is how you think and tackle problems, how you exercise judgment, and how you adapt. Those skills become increasingly valuable as your career progresses.

You may start out as an engineer. That’s a solid foundation and a great career in itself. But don’t be afraid to look beyond it. Engineering will open many career paths – design, construction, insurance, project finance, or risk management. Stay open and curious. Resist the urge to judge opportunities by how neatly they fit traditional career paths.

While your previous experience is valuable, learning on the job is worth more. It’s important to identify your transferable skills and understand where they can add value. You definitely won’t leave high school thinking you’ll have a career in the insurance industry.

Be intentional about your personal brand. This isn’t about self-promotion; it’s about trust. Your brand will be built through consistency: how you prepare for tasks, how clearly you think, how reliably you deliver, and how you behave when challenges arise. Do the work when no one is watching.

Invest just as deliberately in relationships. Networking is a long‑term game, so take a genuine interest in people. Listen carefully and offer help when you can. Remember, it’s also okay to say no when you don’t have the capacity.

Stay connected, even when you don’t need anything. Most opportunities won’t come through traditional avenues. They’ll come because someone knows you, trusts you, and is willing to advocate for you. Believe it or not, your entry into the insurance world will come from a teammate in your water polo club. Not every opportunity comes from LinkedIn.

As life progresses, opportunities will arise – both personal and professional. Be brave and consider them all. You’ll never know what’s on the other side of a door unless you open it.

Don’t be afraid of change or where it takes you. Johannesburg, London, Sydney, New York – each move will challenge your assumptions and your confidence. That’s the point. Growth doesn’t come from familiarity; it comes from putting yourself in environments that demand more of you, forcing you to adapt and grow.

Work and career aside, remember that a successful career is meaningless if it consumes everything. Pay attention to balance early. Protect your relationships, interests, health, and time away from work. Family will be there when work is not.

When an opportunity feels like a stretch, treat that as a signal rather than a warning. You don’t grow by waiting until you feel ready; you grow by stepping forward and letting confidence catch up. Push yourself – but not at the cost of burnout or lost perspective. Ambition and balance can coexist if you’re intentional.

You don’t need a perfectly mapped‑out career plan. Focus on developing transferable skills, maintaining strong relationships, and choosing opportunities thoughtfully. Always leave room for a full life outside of work. And make time for some golf.

Keep going.

A mentor who is a couple of steps ahead.

Nicholas is a qualified Civil Engineer with an internationally recognized MBA and over 20 years of experience spanning specialist engineering, global risk management, and construction underwriting. His career began in South Africa, followed by assignments in London and Sydney, before relocating to the United States, giving him broad exposure to both developed and emerging insurance markets. He spent more than a decade with Allianz Commercial (formerly AGCS), where he served as a senior member and Global Strategic Expert Group Leader within the Risk Consulting Heavy Civils team, advising on complex construction, erection, mining, and operational risks worldwide. Over the past 13 months, he has been with SCOR Business Solutions as a Vice President – Senior Underwriter in Construction, applying deep technical expertise and disciplined risk assessment to support complex construction portfolios.