Amy Cooper

Amy Cooper came to the insurance industry by way of a legaltech startup, and it wasn’t long before she identified a problem in need of a solution: She was at a conference listening to a presentation about the industry’s talent gap when she looked around and wondered, “Where are all the young professionals?”

Fast-forward to today and Amy is a recognizable name in the industry for starting RISE, a professional community dedicated to developing the next generation of insurance leaders through mentorship, education, networking, and leadership development. Amy says RISE is her most significant accomplishment “because I’ve impacted so many other people through it,” from recognition and awards for young professionals, to improving careers through RISE’s mentorship program.

Amy also excels at Gallagher Bassett. Describing the joy she finds in her role, she says, “I get to be an architect. I learn about a program—all of the nuances and pieces—and I help architect a claims solution for [clients]….” Given her passion for matching people with ideal opportunities, Amy particularly enjoys solving problems by pairing Gallagher Bassett’s suite of solutions with clients in need of expertise in those areas.

As a phenom dedicated to addressing the industry’s talent crisis, Amy has insights into the ongoing struggle to recruit and retain professionals: “I think there’s a gap in our education system where people aren’t taught about how insurance works,” she says. And once professionals do find their way to the industry, “we can’t keep them engaged because they don’t see the growth path for them, yet.” That is a challenge Amy will continue to confront and change.