Grace Ries
FM Global
Boston, MA USA
"What do you want to be part of? Sign yourself up for something that is uncomfortable even to you. You don’t need to fit in—just try to be part of it, and see what difference you can bring to the table."
Career Roadmap
Grace's work combines: Numbers, Technology, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
This was the norm in my culture growing up. Families expected certain things from you. I chose to major in engineering, but stumbled into the insurance industry when I realized I truly valued working with a lot of different people in a diverse industry.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Chemical Engineering
University of California-Davis
Bachelor's Degree
Materials Science
University of California-Davis
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Born and raised in Hong Kong—growing up, her family put pressure on her to either be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer.
2.
After high school, she decided to move to California where she attended the University of California, Davis.
3.
Received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering with a focus on materials science engineering.
4.
She’s an accomplished pianist and also minored in music performance while in college.
5.
Always had an interest in math and science—says this impacted her choice of majors in college, and has given her a valuable perspective in the insurance industry.
6.
Her first job right out of college was conducting risk identification and assessment as a field engineer for FM Global.
7.
Has been working for FM Global for over 10 years in a variety of roles, most recently as the staff vice president managing cyber risk insurance products.
8.
Grace’s current work is on the forefront of research into cyber risk—her team is developing and engineering the tools necessary to help clients measure cyber threats they may encounter.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
You have three choices: you can be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. That's it.
How I responded:
This was the norm in my culture growing up. Families expected certain things from you. I chose to major in engineering, but stumbled into the insurance industry when I realized I truly valued working with a lot of different people in a diverse industry.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My family had expectations of me that didn't always fit with what I wanted or what my new life in America allowed me.