GA Insurance: Describe yourself in 5 words or less

First, I am a mother. I am also passionate, caring, hardworking and selfless.

GA Insurance: Tell our readers about who you are and what you do.

My name is Ann Aluoch and I work for GA Insurance as a Senior Care officer in the medical division.

GA Insurance: Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up? How was the culture where you grew up and how did it impact your education and career? Were you encouraged to pursue the same and did your family support you ?

I grew up in Nairobi, but I come from Siaya County. It is in my county where we had the first surgeon and doctor in Kenya in history. My grandfather was a clinical officer and I admired him very much, he was firm and very strict. When he retired, he started a clinic at his home. Back then, we never had disposable needles; the needles would be sterilized by boiling them in hot water before the patients could be injected. At the tender age of 7, I watched him treat his patients and when he was done injecting, he would disinfect and boil the needles. I was always very curious and had a tendency of asking many questions. I remember one day with a light touch, he told me that I was too inquisitive but slowly by slowly, I began to develop my passion of medicine.

GA Insurance: Tell our readers about your first job before and after college. Where did you start your career and how did that experience prepare you for your current role?

Within 3 months of finishing college at Kenya Medical Training College, I applied for a job at Marter Hospital. I ended up getting the opportunity and it was great working there. My first assignment was being a surgical ward nurse. Having been fresh out of school, this was a very challenging experience. We dealt with very sick patients, mostly accident cases. It was so traumatizing but every day I encouraged myself to be strong and through the years I became stronger. What kept me motivated was the love I had for my career, I had a strong passion for my job, and this really prepared me for my current role.

GA Insurance: What are your greatest takeaways from your first job?

My greatest take away is to treat people fairly and without bias. To give your all, not necessarily expecting  any reward.

GA Insurance: How did your career in Insurance begin?

My career in insurance begun when I decided to move from being a bed side nurse; the night duties and the long hours were taking a toll on me. I still enjoyed nursing, but I wanted a friendlier environment. I sent my CV to many insurance companies then one day I got a call from the HR of GA Insurance. I went through with the interview and a few days later I was offered the job. This was nine years ago.

GA Insurance: What are some things that you do or strategies that you use to constantly push yourself to the next level? How do you continuously set yourself up for success as you continue to grow?

Throughout my journey in nursing, I noticed we were dealing with difficult and traumatized patients. So, I sat down and asked myself “how can I improve myself?” I then decided to pursue a B.A in counselling psychology. That particular course began to help me understand people a lot better. Self-actualization is also key, when you understand yourself better, you can deal with others effectively.

GA Insurance: How do you approach setting and executing goals? Walk us through that process

My first approach is thinking about the results I want to see. I ask myself, “Is it important to pour hours of time and effort on it?” Depending on the answer, this will determine which goals matter to me most right now and which goals can be done later
The next one is to make my goal specific so that I can clearly track my progress and know whether I’ve met the goal. The more specific you can be with your goal, the higher the chance you’ll complete it.

GA Insurance: What are your biggest sources of motivation?

My biggest source of motivation is intrinsic in nature. My manager Ms. Atia Yahya has been my source of motivation. Atia has guided me through everything and allowed me to grow. She has given me many difficult assignments and offered me motherly support, even in difficult situations. She has always told me, “Ann, I know you can do it” and indeed I have always come out a better person.

GA Insurance: In your career, are there moments where you ever found that your personal values conflicted with your client goals?

Serving clients is sometimes not easy and sometimes, it is hard to convince a difficult client who has outrageous demands, but what has helped me through this is my firmness and assertiveness.

GA Insurance: Do you have values that you abide by? Values that are irreducible minimums, for you?

Yes, I do, and these include:

• Integrity . Know and do what is right.
• RESPECT. Treating others, the way you want to be treated.
• SERVANT LEADERSHIP. Serve the common good for everyone

GA Insurance: What’s it like maintaining a successful career and client satisfaction, while keeping your personal happiness above ground?

Patience and gratitude. I am a patient and selfless person.

GA Insurance: Can you share one professional goal for the year?

My professional goal for the year is the sucessful development of the core system project, medical division. This is and will be my greatest achievement.

GA Insurance: How often do you say no and what has been your journey to saying it unapologetically?

Not so often, but when I do say it, I say it in a firm and humane way.

GA Insurance: Have you experienced rejection in the course of your life or career? How do you handle it and what’s your advice for young, upcoming women who want to be like you?

Yes…whether it is big or small rejection,  they all affect all of us.
Rejection doesn’t have to be about the big stuff, like not getting into your top college or not making the team. Everyday situations can also lead to feelings of rejection like if your joke didn’t get a laugh or if no one remembered to save you a seat at the lunch table, or if the person you really like talks to everyone but you.

GA Insurance: Have you ever experienced [getting rejected] where it actually worked out in your favour?

Feeling rejected is the opposite of feeling accepted. But being rejected (and we all will be at times) doesn’t mean someone isn’t liked, valued, or important. It just means that at one time, in one situation, with one person, things didn’t work out. This actually worked for me as it helped me end the relationship

GA Insurance: What are you most proud of about yourself both personally and professionally?

I am proud of myself for being selfless, loving , helpful and gracious

GA Insurance: Did you have any mentors that helped guide you along the way?

Yes, my manager Miss Atia Yahya
She has mentored me so well. I will forever be grateful to her.

GA Insurance: Some moms are doing it all: working, going to school, raising children alone and trying to maintain their own mental health. How is it balancing your career with being a mother?

My children are my source of motivation. I remember when I went back to school to get my Counselling and Psychology degree, I was pregnant with my first child and I must tell you, the journey was not easy. Being pregnant while juggling work and school forced me to be focused and strong. Sometimes I felt like leaving school, but I told myself I must soldier on, and indeed I did. I believe in perseverance.

GA Insurance: As a professional woman and mom, how do you ensure you take care of your mental health and avoid having a burn out so that you are productive in all aspects of life?

When I feel tired and burnt out, I take a few days off work to rest. Rest is very important. During lunch breaks, I tend to take a rest as well and in the evening, I take a walk.

GA Insurance: What is one book that has greatly inspired your work and goals?

The book that has inspired me over a time is ‘Maybe you should talk to someone’ by Lori Gottlieb. This book says that people are going through a lot in life and maybe if you would talk to them, they can get help

GA Insurance: Fill in the blank. I am Anne Aluoch, and you may not know that I am a good cook, a doting mother, and a caring wife.

GA Insurance: How do you unwind?

I spend more time with my children, sometimes I hang out with friends

GA Insurance: What’s next on the horizon for you?

I intend to extend my reach to many people, to mentor and build good relationships.