For decades, insurance has carried a reputation as an unexciting or even boring career; an industry that people do not choose voluntarily but rather end up in unintentionally, often because they do not know what else to do.
Yet this perception is increasingly misaligned with the reality of a sector that is dynamic, socially relevant and rich in diverse career pathways. As the industry competes for young talent, shifting these stereotypes through education and meaningful outreach has become essential.
Few insurance professionals illustrate this better than Menziwa Radana, Schemes Manager at iTOO Special Risks, whose own journey into insurance challenges the outdated narrative and demonstrates the diverse opportunities this sector offers to young professionals.
Not your one-dimensional career
Far from stumbling into the field, Radana chose it deliberately, describing a major insurer’s graduate programme as “my first pick… it seemed like the more attractive offer of the grad programmes that were available.” His experience underscores a truth that the industry must amplify; insurance is not a fallback career, but a purposeful and rewarding one.
One of the most persistent misconceptions, according to a recent report, is that insurance offers limited or linear career paths. Radana’s story dismantles this entirely, as over a period of 10 years, he has worked across risk management, sales, technical underwriting support, reporting and distribution.
“It has not been boring for me at all. People believe that you go into one sort of dimension when you pursue an insurance career, but this is not the case,” he points out.
Radana describes the industry as a canvas, saying that sales and marketing bring colour, claims and underwriting provide the outline, and functions like compliance, credit control and data “make sure that we stay within the lines of the drawing… and make it a beautiful picture”.
It is a compelling metaphor for an industry built on collaboration, creativity and problem-solving. This is precisely the message young professionals need to hear; insurance is not a single job, but rather an entire ecosystem.
Meeting young minds where they are
“I believe that the industry must become far more visible in the spaces where young people learn, socialise and form career aspirations. The media plays a powerful role in shaping perceptions. You always see shows about lawyers or investment bankers, but you don’t have a drama or comedy about a young insurance professional,” says Radana.
He sees enormous potential in expanding initiatives like The Insurance Apprentice, seeing it move beyond YouTube to become more conventional on TV and hoping it reaches other streaming platforms to bring the industry to life for younger audiences.
But outreach must also be hands‑on, and Radana proposes inter‑school competitions were learners debate insurability topics, such as whether self‑driving cars should be insured, to “spark the mind of someone considering a career in the industry”.
He also advocates for case-study challenges, apprenticeships with loss adjusters and school-based CSI programmes that expose learners to real-world scenarios. These ideas share the common thread of demystifying insurance by making it tangible, relevant and intellectually stimulating.
The next generation of insurance
“A major barrier to attracting young talent has been the lack of understanding about what insurance actually does. But this awareness is increasing, and it is now more about being able to attract the right talent by bridging the gap between knowledge and the transfer of knowledge,” he says.
The next generation will reshape insurance in ways that reflect their digital fluency and appetite for innovation, and Radana sees Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a major catalyst for this.
Rather than resisting this shift, insurers must embrace it. The youth will bring fresh thinking; the industry will provide the risk frameworks that turn ideas into sustainable solutions.
“Changing perceptions about insurance requires more than marketing. It demands authentic engagement, visible career pathways and a commitment to nurturing young talent. If you are looking to extend yourself and challenge yourself, insurance is the right place to be,” Radana concludes.
Menziwa Radana
Schemes Manager
iTOO Special Risks