Build your confidence in your risk management career path
Paths to Risk Management Careers Look Different
For anyone who’s ever looked around a conference room and wondered, “How did I get here?”, Samantha Wallace and Michelle Powell are ready to meet you exactly where you are.
At URMIA’s 56th Annual Conference this October in Las Vegas, two dynamic professionals will lead a session that promises to resonate with young professionals, career changers, and risk management newcomers alike. Titled “Career Chameleons: Changing Colors in the Job Jungle,” their session dives deep into the messy, winding, and often surprising paths that lead people into risk management.
Real Paths, Real People
Both Sam and Michelle bring unique, non-traditional backgrounds into their current roles—and that’s the point.
Prior to becoming the enterprise risk management analyst with the University of Massachusetts President’s Office, Wallace was with the UMass Amherst's Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department since 2016. In the span of eight years, she evolved from a clerical role to executive assistant, gaining hands-on experience in radiation safety, emergency management, and asbestos training. Her academic path followed a similar zigzag: she returned to school in 2019, graduating in Spring 2024 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies focusing on public health and emergency management. She's now pursuing a master’s in business analytics, diving into advanced analytics while continuing to apply her real-world experience.
Michelle, the current risk manager with Florida Polytechnic University, has an equally compelling journey. A former teacher, she transitioned from education into admissions, then took a bold leap into risk management—prompted by a chance encounter at a local community event just two weeks after moving to Florida. Despite her initial doubts, she quickly discovered that her previous experience provided a strong foundation for success in a brand-new field.
Why This Session, and Why Now?
The idea for this session started with Michelle brainstorming topics that felt both relevant and personal. After a YoPro (Young Professionals) meeting sparked further inspiration, she reached out to Sam with a list of potential session ideas. Sam, always looking to push herself outside her comfort zone, was immediately on board.
For both presenters, the session is more than just sharing stories - it’s about encouraging others to see value in their own. “The biggest thing people get hung up on when applying for jobs is thinking they have to check every box,” says Wallace. “But you don’t. If you can do 80% of it, you have room to grow. Don’t underestimate your full potential.”
Building Confidence in Unfamiliar Spaces
Their personal experiences have taught them that confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything; it comes from knowing you can figure it out.
Wallace’s ability to “manage the chaos,” whether balancing single parenthood or pivoting careers, gave her a steady hand in even the most uncertain professional moments. Powell’s shift from a role where she felt highly confident to one where she questioned her abilities helped her understand the power of transferable skills and the importance of pushing through imposter syndrome.
What Attendees Can Expect
Their session, scheduled for Tuesday, October 15 at 11:30am PT, will focus on:
- Recognizing and leveraging transferable skills in new roles
- Navigating career transitions with purpose and adaptability
- Finding your voice when stepping into unfamiliar territory
- Building confidence when the learning curve is steep and the job description feels foreign
Whether you're new to risk management or simply in the middle of your next big pivot, “Career Chameleons” will leave you feeling more grounded, more capable, and more connected to others on similar journeys.
As Wallace and Powell put it best: We hope people leave our session with more confidence being the new person, even when they feel like they’re supposed to know everything already.
Come for the real talk, stay for the inspiration, and leave with tools to thrive, wherever your career takes you next.
By Olivia Watson, Risk Manager, Colorado School of Mines
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