FOR Ottieno Channer, joining JN Life Insurance wasn’t just a career move, it was fate in action. Back in 2019, Channer made a bold leap. He walked away from a high-pressure job at a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm with no back-up plan, no job offers — just a gut feeling that something better was out there. Frustrated and unemployed, he took a chance and posted the opening paragraph of his cover letter on social media. That spontaneous act went viral, racking up over 2,000 retweets and opening the door to a life-changing opportunity.

“It was destiny that placed me here at JN Life,” Channer said. “I will always be eternally grateful to a schoolmate of mine from The University of the West Indies who saw it and told me that the HEART Trust/NSTA has a programme which allows you to go on an internship. If you’re successful, you will be employed. I came for an interview at JN Life Insurance on Christmas Eve 2019 and started January 2020. It was destiny because I started as an intern five years ago and I am now an assistant manager. It’s fate mixed with hard work, because I came at the right time when JN Life was expanding.”

Five years on, Channer wears two powerful hats: underwriter and assistant manager. He’s not just crunching numbers; he’s making critical decisions that shape the future of JN Life and its clients.

“As an underwriter, I get to assess the risk for new applications,” he shared. “For life insurance we look at the people seeking insurance and decide if they are eligible based on risk factors, such as their health. As an assistant manager, I train, support and motivate the junior staff. The experience has been one where I have learned a lot and it is also very rewarding. I have a good cadre of team members whom I enjoy working with.”

Channer’s journey into insurance was unexpected. With a double major in international relations and human resource management, he once dreamed of joining the diplomatic corps, but his current job has placed him on an entirely different trajectory.

“My bachelor’s degree is a double major in international relations and human resource management but, underwriting found me,” he affirmed. “My manager, Susan Holness, saw that I had the ability to discern things and could identify even the most minute detail in something. Being an underwriter is a niche field and it is not very popular. When I tell people I am an underwriter they confuse it with another profession. It is a career that requires intense training and courses which are ongoing. You also must attend conferences.”

“I have done four years of training so far and I have more to do,” he added. “I recently became a certified professional underwriter which is an international certification which is given by the Academy of Life Underwriting. I am grateful to JN Life for their continued interest in my career development because they continue to support and motivate me.”

So far, the St Elizabeth native is enjoying the challenge.

“No two days are the same. There is always something that you find intriguing. Some days you are looking at applications and doing research and it sends you down a rabbit hole as you decide on the applications. There is never a dull day,” he said.

His dedication and commitment have not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, the Munro College old boy was named Employee of the Year for 2024. The announcement was received with a rapturous response during the JN Life Insurance staff awards ceremony held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel. His performance and leadership enabled JN Life to record another year of profitability.

“It was a shock for me; but it feels good to be recognised by my peers. I wondered if I would have been disqualified because I am an assistant manager, but I was confident because of the level of work I have done. I am a social butterfly who tries to have a good rapport with everyone. I celebrate the wins of my colleagues and they celebrate mine. I am always rooting for them, and this is one of the reasons they were happy to see me succeed.”

Susan Holness, chief, new business and underwriting, JN Life Insurance, praised Channer for his team spirit.

“Ottieno is a very diligent employee who has shown an instinct for the field of underwriting. Apart from that, he has regularly gone above and beyond when called upon, such as working one weekend when called upon. He also gets on well with everyone and is an integral part of the team. We are proud of him and believe he will continue to excel,” she said.

Outside the office, Channer is a proud soca music enthusiast who takes every opportunity he can to enjoy a good fete. He also enjoys reading, debating social and political issues and baking what he claims is the ‘best banana bread you can find’.

Channer credits his family for his values.

“I grew in an extended family household, with my mother, maternal grandparents, uncle, aunt and siblings — two sisters and a brother. My grandmother who raised me as a staunch Anglican always told me that ‘manners carry you through the world’. It is a mantra that I live by and I try to be respectful to everyone. My family is in St Elizabeth and I don’t see them as often as I’d want, because I work in Kingston, but my JN Life family and the support of my close friends makes up for that void,” he stated.

And while his path to insurance was unplanned, Channer has no regrets. In fact, he has brought lessons from his BPO days into his current role.

“Customer service is everything. Treating people well helps you grow and helps your company thrive.”