Empowering Youth to Shape the Future
Celebrating International Youth Day with 10 Tips to Kickstart Your InsurTech Career
On August 12, the world celebrates International Youth Day 2025, themed “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond.” This year’s focus recognizes the vital role young people play in translating the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into real-world impact within their communities.
With more than 65% of SDG targets linked to local governance, youth participation isn’t optional—it’s essential. Young people bring fresh thinking, digital fluency, and deep ties to the communities they serve. They are the bridge between bold policy ambitions and real-world implementation.
This year’s observance is especially meaningful, as it also marks the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth, a framework for recognizing youth as key actors in sustainable development.
At InsurTech NY, we believe the insurance industry is ripe for transformation—and we believe that transformation will be led by young innovators. Whether you’re aiming for your first internship or already building in the ecosystem, this is your moment.
To help you get started, here are 10 real tips to break in, stand out, and make your mark in InsurTech:
01
Start with Curiosity
Not Corporate Jargon
Skip the generic “I’m passionate about innovation.” Be specific.
Are you excited about embedded insurance? AI-powered claims? Parametric models? Show what makes your interest real.
02
Know That Insurance
Is Half the Equation
You might love tech, but don’t ignore the “insurance” in InsurTech.
Study the basics—how underwriting, distribution, or claims work—and how technology is reshaping them.
03
Tell Your Story
Not ChatGPT’s
We love AI tools, but we value authentic voices more.
Your application should reflect your personal journey—what drives you, how you think, what you’ve built or learned (even from failure).
04
Show You Know
The Ecosystem
Don’t just name-drop Lemonade or Root. Mention a startup solving a real problem you care about –
maybe it’s in climate resilience, underserved communities, or small business protection.
05
Be Active on LinkedIn
(Yes, Really!)
Your LinkedIn is your personal landing page. Add a clear headline and “About” section.
Pin a post or portfolio piece that reflects your interests or projects
06
Ask Smarter
Questions
In interviews, ditch the “What’s a typical day?” question. Instead ask:
“What tools surprised you by how much you rely on them?”
“What’s one problem your team’s solving that most overlook?”
07
Quality Over Quantity
in Applications
Don’t blast the same resume everywhere. Take time to tailor your message to each role.
Especially at startups, customization shows you care.
08
Find the Pain Point
You Want to Solve
Great candidates don’t just want to learn—they want to fix something.
Identify an inefficiency or problem that sparks your interest and talk about how you’d approach it.
09
Don’t Be Afraid To
Be a Little Weird
Are you a philosophy major who loves spreadsheets? A coder who makes comic books?
A self-taught insurance nerd? Own it. InsurTech rewards creative, unconventional minds.
10
Remember: Insurance
Is a Force for Good
Insurance helps people recover, builds resilience, and creates financial stability.
If that mission inspires you, you’re already one of us.
For more events and upcoming programs from InsurTech NY, visit www.insurtechny.com. Stay connected with us on LinkedIn for future roundtables, conferences, and community announcements.
To all the young builders, dreamers, and doers—thank you for shaping the road ahead.
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