How to Launch Your Career in Philly: Samuel Uko from Guy Carpenter

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Samuel Uko graduated from Lehigh University in May 2020 with a Bachelors degree in Marketing. While he was living in Bethlehem, PA, last fall, Sam connected virtually with a recruiter from Guy Carpenter at Campus Philly’s recruiting event, Spark Philly, and was hired as a Catastrophe Risk Analyst in January… and now, he’s moving to Philly! 

Guy Carpenter, located in Center City Philadelphia, helps its clients achieve profitable growth with a powerful combination of specialized reinsurance broking expertise, strategic advisory services, and industry-leading analytics. Learn more about Guy Carpenter by visiting their website or following them on Twitter or LinkedIn.

As a Lehigh University graduate with a Masters of Engineering in Technical Entrepreneurship, how did your college experience help prepare you for your role at Guy Carpenter?

Being a part of a master’s program helped me easily transition into the real workforce. While studying for my master’s at Lehigh, I learned how to efficiently solve client problems through engineering solutions and thinking quickly on my feet. Several tasks and projects I was involved in charged me to take on leadership roles, and further improve my communication and teamwork skills.

What has been your favorite project, so far, at Guy Carpenter?

I’ve already worked on a few projects so far, but if any specific one stands out, it would be an analytics project for a company that designs buildings. I am personally intrigued and a big admirer of infrastructure. I appreciate the incredible thought process that goes into bringing those designs to life. So in short, I got to work on a project with a really cool company that does this.

What do you like the most about living and working in the Philadelphia area?

I find Philadelphia very historic and artsy, which catches my attention every time. I like to explore the city, too, so whether I’m checking out City Hall, The Rocky Steps, or just looking at the beautiful murals on the side of buildings, I can fully see what Philadelphia is really all about. Commuting around is also very convenient. Whether it be by walking, road, or the subway, you can get around easily in a short amount of time.

If you were to offer one piece of advice to a college student interested in pursuing a career path similar to yours in Philadelphia, what would it be?

Be confident in the skills that you possess. In every role, there is always an aspect of learning on the job involved, but what makes you stand out is your ability to prove your value to the company. Your willingness to always keep learning is also another factor. Being an Analyst requires paying close attention to detail, good communication, and analytical skills. Thus, being a lifelong learner and an open-minded person also contributes to further success!

Want to learn more about Guy Carpenter? Check out their website, Twitter, or LinkedIn! Plus, head over to Campus Philly’s Job Board for NEW and OPEN job positions each week.

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