“I only strive to give the best of myself,” was how Jessica Sewell wrapped up an emotional acceptance speech after collecting her trophy for being named the 2023 JN Life Insurance Employee of the Year. Sewell, who is the executive assistant to Hugh Reid, general manager for JN Life, walked away with the honour at the organisation’s Golden Triumph Gala awards ceremony held at Spanish Court Hotel in March 2024.

Close to tears as she delivered her speech, she described 2023 as a rough year due to personal and professional challenges. However, she said that did not stop her from maintaining her composure and superseding her objectives.

“This is indeed an honour, and I am grateful. To God be the glory; this is not merely a dream fulfilled but a promise kept,” she said while acknowledging her team and others who played a role in her triumph.

“I am a very dedicated, committed and self-motivated individual who strives only to be better than I was yesterday,” she later shared.

Sewell, who started her journey with JN Life in July 2021, has been instrumental to the organisation’s staff engagement activities and, among other things, currently leads the entity’s engagement with Mary’s Child, an apostolate in the Mustard Seed Communities located in St Andrew. It shelters teenage mothers.

“JN Life had adopted the home prior to me joining the company, and it was a great joy when I was asked to take lead on this initiative. We make regular visits to the home — at least once per quarter — taking necessary items for the mothers and children there,” she explained.

“I love what we do for Mary’s Child and I’m proud of the impact and support we are able to provide as a company,” she added.

According to Sewell, the support she receives from JN Life’s leadership team and other team members makes the numerous portfolios that she oversees more manageable. “Mr Reid is simply the best general manager ever, and I am very appreciative of his support and coaching as well as that from the other members of the leadership team,” she said.

Sewell noted that she appreciates the small stature of the company as it promotes an intimate workplace culture that fosters trust and transparency. JN Life Insurance, which is celebrating 10 years, is one of the youngest and smallest companies in JN Group.

“You are able to have closer relationships with your colleagues and my experience has been really overwhelming. I really love my job and I love the people at JN Life,” she said while also commending the company for its continued rise in the insurance market in 2023.

In 2023 the company’s share of the individual life market grew more than threefold over its 2021 share, and it also more than doubled its 2022 stake. It also increased its share of the group life insurance market and achieved a staggering 261 per cent of its annual pension contributions target in its pension business, the JN Individual Retirement Scheme.

“When you see the different records being broken each month, it makes you feel extremely proud to be a part of a team where everyone works together on this transformative journey. The admin staff is here to ensure that the policies are updated and that whatever work the agents are out in the field doing is recorded and properly documented, so it’s really rewarding to see the team achieving great things together,” she said.

Sewell’s boss, commended her on her award and for her dedication to the organisation and the wider JN Financial Group. And Margaret Stewart, claims and operations supervisor at JN Life echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that Sewell has been able to build a friendly rapport with her colleagues in her three-year journey with the company.

“Jessica is thorough in her work and she’s really reliable. She’s true to her word and she is a dedicated team member. She’s also fun to work with,” she said.