“At BRS, I can contribute my expertise and personal experience”
Katia Andries works as a policy adviser at KBC Insurance and also does volunteer work for BRS. She contributes her knowledge and experience to organisations in the Global South, which she finds very fulfilling.
My work for BRS cannot be summed up in one sentence. I’ve contributed to various projects since 2017, starting with AMC, a cooperative microfinance institution (MFI) in El Salvador. My next project was at Serinsa, a Nicaragua-based company offering support to MFIs in selling microinsurance. I support these organisations mainly in the areas of process management, product development and marketing. As volunteers, we get to do half of our volunteer hours on the KBC clock.
I’m also a member of staff association IndeBReS, which we felt was due for a revival. As part of IndeBReS, I help organise the BRS quiz, which is quite a big event and I thoroughly enjoy being part of its organisation. And it’s intertwined with my commitment to BRS, which is an added bonus. I also sit on the Board of BRS, representing the staff association. Doing my bit to restore the fragile gender balance there. (laughs)
I support organisations on the ground whenever necessary, as well as from here. When you’re organising a workshop for people from every echelon of an institution and from all over the country, it’s better to be there in person. Obviously, during the coronavirus lockdowns, we had to work remotely, but we made it work. The organisations I work with have already made huge progress. I don’t necessarily have to get on a plane to support them. But if they need me, I’m here for them.
Long before I started volunteering, I applied for a job at BRS. I was eager to share my knowledge with organisations that really need it. That was when microinsurance was just taking root. Since I didn’t have an insurance background, I wasn’t a match. But then I thought: why not gain experience as a volunteer? Plus, BRS has a shortage of Spanish-speaking volunteers. And I speak Spanish well – my husband is from Nicaragua, I met him there, so I know the situation and needs in South America fairly well. I wondered from the start how I could put that knowledge to good use.
Exploring new horizons is what makes BRS so appealing to me. And also: how can I contribute my expertise and personal experience, within my own abilities and what’s practically feasible. It started when I saw what was needed in Nicaragua. Sure, you can set up your own projects from scratch, but it seemed more practical to join an existing institution like BRS.
.When I heard that BRS was looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place. Seeing how much value you can add with a few simple tips, for example on process management, gives me a great sense of satisfaction. And the memories you get to take home are so stimulating. It’s a nice change from working at KBC.
I also seek variety within my job at KBC. I’ve been working as a policy adviser in the Commercial Division of KBC Insurance for a year now, where I get to work on a great variety of projects. Before that, I went from real estate finance and payments to strategy and Open and Beyond Bankinsurance (OBI).
That said, I don’t consider myself a job hopper. I always commit to each job for three to five years to get as much out of it as I can. I’m not always on the lookout for something new either; new opportunities often find me instead of the other way around. I also aim to strike the right balance between my work within and outside KBC, such as the third parties at OBI, and between commercial and more technical work.
How do I contribute my KBC experience to BRS? Obviously by sharing the knowledge I’ve acquired here. My KBC experience also enables me to simplify business processes and improve efficiency. Organisations in the Global South often adhere to a certain hierarchy and methodologies, which tends to slow them down. By offering them tips and tricks, I can help them accelerate their progress.
Conversely, I always try to learn something from the cooperative principles of these organisations, and how they fulfil their role in society and still make the most out of challenging situations. And when I say challenging, I mean really getting your hands dirty. Need funding for a chicken farm? We’re talking about a family with 100 chickens in their garden. Not quite the same as a KBC Mobile marketing campaign. Which, by the way, was in no way meant to detract from the qualities of our app. (laughs)
