Mentorship in Action: A Two-Way Exchange

Mentorship is more than imparting knowledge. It’s about creating a meaningful exchange where experience meets curiosity and learning goes both ways. For Debbie Schaffel and Kate DeGrazia, their mentorship relationship offers an opportunity to share insights, ask questions, build confidence and gain a deeper understanding of the insurance industry. To explore what makes this dynamic so meaningful, we asked the mentorship pair to share their experience participating in the PLUS Mentorship Program(opens in new tab), what they’ve learned from one another and why mentorship continues to matter throughout their career and beyond.

What inspired you to participate in the PLUS Mentorship Program?

DS: I have had really great mentors throughout my career, and I wanted to pay it forward and give back to the next generation of professionals.  I have also had the perspective of being both an underwriter and a broker during my insurance career and felt that I had insights into both sides of the industry that I could share with my mentee.

KD: I joined the PLUS Mentorship Program to hear the career perspective of someone outside of my direct work relationships. I also was hoping to gain insight from someone with a slightly different specialty than my own.

What’s something your mentor has taught you that you didn’t expect to learn?

KD: I definitely expected to learn from this program, but I did not expect how valuable it really could be to hear practical career advice from someone with a different perspective. My conversations with Debbie have given me a better understanding of the industry, networking, broker interactions, and how to approach opportunities with more confidence. We learn each of these things in our respective roles, but hearing them from the viewpoint of someone else is equally meaningful, especially when you’re new in your career.

What’s one piece of career advice you’ve received, or shared, that has stuck with you?

DS: Our industry is very small. You never know who you may interact with again throughout your career, so it is super important to always be professional and respectful regardless of your personal feelings about people you work with.

KD: One piece of advice that has stayed with me is the power of saying yes. Debbie shared several examples of times when she volunteered or raised her hand for an opportunity, and how those decisions led to meaningful experiences later on. It was a great reminder that being open to new opportunities can have a lasting impact on your career.

What would you say to someone who is considering joining the PLUS Mentorship Program?

DS: Definitely participate.  It is a unique opportunity to meet people who are not in your direct reporting chain, which allows you to gain different perspectives and have interactions without worrying about how that may affect internal relationships and promotional opportunities.  Sometimes, you can get a clearer picture of what is important from someone not directly involved in the situation.  Additionally, if nothing else comes of it, it’s a way to expand your contacts within our industry.

KD: I would say go for it! The fact that established professionals are willing to devote time in their schedule to share their experiences and answer our questions is beyond generous and definitely an opportunity worth participating in. Debbie is a fabulous mentor but also someone I see myself remaining in contact with for many years to come. She is an incredibly kind and intelligent person. Through this program, not only have I gained valuable insight into my career, but I have also made a friend.

Complete this sentence: “Mentorship is…”

DS: … as beneficial to the mentor as it is to the mentee.

KD: … perspective passed forward.

A special thank you to Debbie Schaffel and Kate DeGrazia for giving us a glimpse into how meaningful this experience has been and continues to be.

To learn more about the PLUS Mentorship Program and get involved, visit the PLUS website(opens in new tab).

Meet The Mentorship Pair

Debbie Schaffel has more than 35 years of experience in the professional liability industry, with a career spanning underwriting, broking and leadership roles. Most recently, she served as Chief Broking Officer of Aon CoverWallet where she oversaw carrier relationship strategy and helped ensure small business clients received best-in-market coverage options. She spent more than two decades at Aon, as Managing Director of the Private and Nonprofit Practice within the Financial Services Group, where she specialized in risk analysis and coverage placement across management and professional liability lines. Debbie began her career as a management liability underwriter and is currently an independent consultant to the management liability insurance industry. Debbie is a past president of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society. She holds a B.S. in Statistics from Cornell University, an MBA in Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and multiple professional designations.

Kate DeGrazia is a Financial Lines Associate on the Financial Institutions team at Chubb. She first learned about the insurance industry through an internship opportunity at Chubb, and returned full time in June 2025. She enjoys learning about the Financial Institutions industry and is excited to learn more as her career continues. Kate graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she studied Finance.