MY CONTRIBUTION TO MY PROFESSION AND MY COMMUNITY
Name
Tutor
Course
Institution
Date
In April 2019, I was seated behind a couple of women at a wedding in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. I remember being very annoyed with them because they would not stop talking and quite loudly too. Eventually, I was forced to listen to them instead of the hilarious speech the groom’s brother was giving. One of the ladies was complaining about how she had not found the perfect insurance company for her. Her father had recommended one of the oldest insurance companies in the country when she first needed insurance. However, she only stayed with them for a year on account of their costly premium cover. She then moved to a different company, also traditional but had the same challenge, very outdated customer portal online. Whenever she had inquiries or concerns, she had to visit their offices in person which frustrated her because she was already used to seeking a lot of services via digital platforms. As I listened to this stranger rant about her woes with the insurance, I realized that low customer satisfaction is the reason why my company, Ark Insurance Brokers, retained fewer customers than the target. During the remainder of the ceremony, I did my research. I found that newer and smaller companies are aware that the end-user expects to have a smooth digital experience while seeking insurance. I presented my findings to my supervisors, who agreed that we needed to update our customer portals and provide speedy online chatting options. This is what the end-user is used in the digital era. I introduced a bi-monthly training program for my colleagues to teach them the contribution of digital offering to customer satisfaction and therefore, customer retention. At the end of that financial year, we saw a 95% customer maintenance, which aligned with the company goals. I am very proud and happy that I made such a significant contribution to my company. Before this experience, I used to feel like I was floating in my career. I felt like I had made an outstanding contribution to my organization which is a satisfying feeling. I also felt invigorated and able to make even more significant contributions to the world of insurance.
Aside from adding value to my organization, I have had a chance of contributing to my community. In 2018, I came across several posts on twitter, talking about an organization known as Communicating Nigeria. I was captivated by their mission which is working towards zero hunger in Nigeria. After reading through their website, I signed up as a member because I felt like I had found a community program that resonated with me. I believe in eradicating hunger in my country since it is one of the most significant community issues. In the past, I would give donations to children homes and occasionally drop a few coins in beggar’s cup on the streets of Lagos. However, I felt like I was not doing enough. Whatever amount of money I gave was only enough for a single meal or two. I had a strong urge to make more contributions, and Communeating Nigeria gave me the perfect opportunity. At Communeating Nigeria, we do more than donate food to disadvantaged families in Lagos. We raise nutrition awareness, plant seedlings, and offer health services by integrating private and public resources. By participating in all these programs, I believe that I have made a more significant impact on food security than I did before.