Liberty Mutual

Chris Sanchez

Chris Yong

Lead Financial Analyst in Corporate Finance

Chris Yong started his professional career at Liberty Mutual while a sophomore in college, and he hasn’t looked back since. In the seven years he’s been at the company, he’s risen the ranks through three internships and a rotational program to his current position as a Lead Financial Analyst, all while completing two masters degrees. He also started a trend within his family—both Yong’s brother and sister followed in his footsteps and work at Liberty Mutual.

How did you first become interested in Liberty Mutual?
In college I never thought about working in insurance. After my sophomore year, I was looking for a finance internship through INROADS, a nonprofit that places minority undergrads in paid corporate internships. Liberty Mutual is a national sponsor for INROADS, so I was able to get my foot in the door here through the program. I liked that Liberty Mutual was an established and stable company, and I continued to come back as an intern—I held positions in Planning & Analysis, Corporate Taxation, and Investment Accounting. After I graduated, I entered the company’s Fellowship in Finance and Accounting development program (FIFA), which consists of three eight-month rotations where I worked in Personal Markets Financial, Commerical Markets Financial, and International Financial. Then I accepted a full-time position in the Reinsurance Financial group.

Has the job met your expectations?
It’s met and exceeded my expectations. Liberty has really found a way to keep me busy. I’ve been with the company since 2002—it’s rare to stay with a company so long, especially when it’s your first job out of school.

What surprised you the most when you started?
I was surprised to see how flat the social structure is. It’s not uncommon for the CFO or Comptroller to come over and chat with us. I specifically remember on the last day of my summer internship, as I was leaving the office I passed the Comptroller’s office, and he came out to thank me for my work during the summer, and let me know I could contact him at any point if I had questions or needed anything. That really made a lasting impression on me, and it was a great way to end the internship.

What are you most proud about in your work? What was your most fun project?
I really like seeing how my contributions impact the company’s goals. One of my most fun projects was Liberty Mutual’s acquisition of Safeco in 2008. I got to work directly on the acquisition. The newspaper article about the announcement is still hanging in my cube.

Why is diversity important at Liberty Mutual?
At Liberty Mutual, creating an inclusive work environment is essential to our business success. Our growth is dependent on the ability, performance, and aspirations of our employees, and it’s always been our policy to treat everyone with dignity and respect—which we do. By fostering an inclusive environment, we can achieve our business goals and solve problems more efficiently, since we’re able to look at situations from different perspectives.

Has your diversity influenced your success?
I was taught that skill and hard work defines how successful you are. I learned these qualities at an early age, and that’s what I attribute my success to. However, because of my multiethnic background—I’m primarily Chinese, black, Portuguese, and Caribbean—I can identify with a variety of people, both fellow employees and clients. That certainly has been helpful.