Petite and unassuming, Supriya Chawla looks like

a typical housewife  next door.  Her easy mannerism and

 and lackadaisical smile suggest nothing that within there lurks a

dynamic career-woman who means business.

   An Agent   Advisor of  Max New York Life Insurance Company,  Supriya Chawla of Panchkula,  is a  highly decorated Insurance Advisor of the Company having  all the prestigious awards of the company in her kitty.    She has qualified  for  the    Million Dollar  Round Table  (MDRT) ,  the Executive Council   and became a Centurion  for  selling more than 100 policies during  a  year  - a rare distinction achieved  by any Insurance advisor of the Company especially  from northern India that, too,by any woman !

Wow!

That’s creditable indeed, considering that Supriya has never been

a working woman before or after her marriage.  ”To become an Insurance Agent was never one of my ambitions,” she remarks, “But fate is truly remarkable.” she adds.

Then how did she  choose  insurance  as her  calling ?

It all started in June, 2001 when Max New York Life Insurance Company (MNYL)

was in the process of setting up its office in Chandigarh.  The company was looking  for insurance advisors who could deliver the goods.   Supriya was approached by a Sales Manager of the Company for references for finding quality agents.   After listening to their requirements, she  realized that she  could fit in their set- up.   She was free. Her two daughters were going to school then.  She found time  hanging heavy on  her.   She took the training and  joined the Company as an Insurance Agent just for the heck of it. 

She found the work very interesting and  extremely convenient as it was not a  nine  to five job.  The working hours were flexible which suited her because she could work after finishing her household chores. 

Accompanied by her husband, she visited  her friends and relatives and started selling the policies.  During the first year of her joining, she sold a record number of policies nearly 111 , did a roaring business of Rs. 17  lacs and qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table  (MDRT)  held in  USA – a rare feat  accomplished   by any woman  insurance agent of the company from the North India.  “It was a thrilling experience,” she goes on, .  ”There  I got an opportunity to meet the best of people from the insurance  sector from all over the world.  And, I learned quite a lot.”

This prompted her to do still better and achieve more in order to maintain her position which she did  remarkably well.  From 2002 to 2007  consecutively she qualified for the MDRT.   This was followed by her qualifying  for the Executive Council  five times from 2002 to 2007   for achieving the target of earning a  specific amount of commission  during  a year.

She  became a Centurion five times for selling more than 100 policies in each  year.  The Company took notice of this extraordinarily talented Advisor.  For her overall performance, she  was  conferred the prestigious Chairman’s award  four times.  She was invited twice to participate  in the New York Life International Sales conference  (NYLI) held in  in New York in USA in 2002  and in Paris in 2005 respectively – a  great  honour for her as she was one  the top 25  insurance agents  of  the  campany from India to be invited to attend this conference.  Adding to her repertoire of awards, she bagged a National Award for referring  10 new  agents in 2004 under the Referral Programme  of  the company.

It was marvellous !  It was amazing!

How does she view her list of achievements ?

“With a great deal of satisfaction,” she  says modestly.  “It was an honour.  Awardsa are great, and encouraging.  They make you feel you’ve done  something  worthwhile,” she  chuckles.

Her drawing room corner display her prized possessions including  all the trophies and citations received by her so far in recognition of her work.

Taking this sudden recognition in her stride, she plays down this honour by  owing her success to hard work and her family.  Her cool-headedness coupled with her organisational skill, has been the hallmark of her  best performance.  Supriya is so well-organised that she keeps track record of each and every policy sold by her.   This helps her in reminding  her clients  in advance of their renewal and in pursuing  the matter in case of any claim, if  there is any.  So far, she has sold more than 800 policies, settled  six  cases of claim and referred  ten  new Insurance agents.

Married  to Rajan, a businessman and a mother of two  young  daughters Parul

 and Tarranum, she tries hard to strike a balance between her house and work.   Her elder daughter Parul is doing M.Phil.  in English literature from Vanketeshawar University  and  the younger one Tarranum  has just completed  her ten  plus  two.   Supriya is all praise for her mother-in-law who helped her a lot in managing her household chores while she was away doing her work.  She  considers herself extremely   lucky to have a very supporting and understanding  family .   Above all, she  complements her husband and  owes her entire success to  him.    “He has done a lot  to  help  me with my work,” she remarks. “In fact, he is the one who  has made me what I am today.    He is responsible for all my success.  He has even designed and got printed  my letter-heads and  encouraged  me to go ahead and achieve my targets without bothering about the household work,” she  remarks proudly. 

Nevertheless,  at home, Supriya is just like any other housewife, taking pride in  her household chores and in serving tea,  snacks and meal  to her guests and family.

Other than the helpful and encouraging home atmosphere,, she also attributes her success to the motivation and confidence instilled in her by the seniors of the Company.  In her words,”  They  are the real ones to make her really ‘GO’  to  achieve greater heights in this  profession.”

What goes into making of a successful Insurance Agent ?

“Grit, aptitude,  monumental patience and of course, knowledge also,” she remarks. 

According to her, a  person aiming  to be an Insurance Agent must possess self-confidence and  determination to succeed.

“To be successful  in this profession,” she maintains,” one must be daring, determined and diligent.”

  Says she,”Insurance as a career has immense scope.  In this field, the money is good, work challenging and the promotional avenues excellent.  The best thing about this work is flexible working hours.  Unlike other jobs, you don’t have to dash out at nine and pant in at five.”

 Today Supriya is a successful Agent Advisor of Max New York Life Insurance  Company.  So with no investment and no experience, she has found a profitable venture  for herself  at home.

 Besides having a  lucrative profession  and a list of achievements, it gives her a tremenduous sense of fulfilment, too.

By any conventional wisdom, Supriya- a simple housewife coun’t have asked for more.

Her future plans involve hitting the target of 1000 policies and do a business of 5 crores.  She has already sold more than 800 policies.  She already has three policies of Rs.1 crore each to her credit.  After achieving her target, she wants to concentrate on

 her  client service which is very dear to her.  This is because she  feels that life cover is very  essential for all those looking to protect their family should the worst happen to them.

“It is the noble cause that motivates me the most”, she concludes.

Good luck to her !

By:  ANJANA DATTA

#312/G.H.1,

Mansa Devi Complex,

Sector 5,

PANCHKULA

PIN- 134 109

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