Owen Shepherd is a third-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student pursuing a major in Finance. Originally from Toronto, he was eager to experience life on the east coast and was drawn to the Commerce Co-op program’s strong reputation for the opportunity to gain real-world experience through work-integrated learning.

For his first co-op this past winter, Owen worked with AIG, a globally recognized insurance company, where he supported their Cyber team in Toronto. As part of a seven-person underwriting unit, he supported critical business operations. “I was responsible for preparing detailed underwriting documents, conducting analysis on client risk and exposure to better support the team’s underwriting decisions and overall process.” A standout moment during his co-op was getting involved in a major underwrite for a new client seeking cyber policy. “I was tasked with interacting with brokers, conducting analysis on the company, and pricing the exposure while supporting the team as they looked to agree to terms with the prospective client.” This hands-on experience gave Owen a strong understanding of the underwriting process and helped him build confidence in a professional setting.

Prior to his first co-op, Owen launched his own business, Shep’s Plow and Mow, to explore entrepreneurship and develop a range of personal and professional skills. “Most notably, this venture required me to put myself out there, particularly through door-door sales while ensuring that clients’ needs were met,” he says. “It reinforced the idea that growth comes from being comfortable with the uncomfortable while also improving my time management skills and ability to prioritize tasks and meet tight deadlines.”

Reflecting on his job search, Owen recognizes the challenges of balancing schoolwork with finding the right opportunities. “Scheduling time for either the job search or school allowed me to hold myself accountable and ultimately achieve my objective of getting a job in insurance.”

For students going through their own co-op search, he emphasizes the value in maintaining a positive mindset during the search process. He also recommends starting the process as early as possible and being proactive. “Ensuring that you’re prioritizing the co-op search early while talking to as many people as possible can help you to better understand your own interests and strengths.” Finally, he encourages other students to reflect on their motivations for pursuing a specific position. “Understand your own reasoning for why you want to pursue a certain job and be able to connect that ‘why’ to your previous experiences through a story.”

Looking ahead, Owen is excited to be joining CNA’s Management Liability team in Toronto for his second co-op, where he’ll continue to explore the insurance and financial services industries. “Going forward, I’ll continue to surround myself with good people who align with my values and interests while ensuring I seek out roles that provide an opportunity to learn, be involved, and make a meaningful impact.”