Employee Spotlight : Noël Murata

Interview with Noël Murata, Account Executive

What inspired you to start a career in insurance? What inspired you to specialize in healthcare?

I’d love to say there was this wonderful, inspirational story, but like many people in insurance, for me, it’s kind of one of those things you stumble into and then realize you really like it. I was lucky to get into healthcare right off the bat when I got into insurance. It started when I moved to Boise right after college; I graduated with a finance degree and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with that. My dad had a friend at the gym who knew an insurance broker down here in Boise who worked for this company called Marsh.

I eventually interviewed with them and got hired, and their focus was specifically in the healthcare space doing professional liability insurance. I fell into it that way and loved it. I really liked the healthcare aspect of it, and I think I’ve stuck with it because there’s never been a dull moment. It’s constantly changing, and there’s always something innovative going on.

What’s something exciting going on in the healthcare industry right now?

One of the cool things about healthcare right now is that AI is breaking its way in. The question is, how do medical professionals figure out a way to get AI into the practice setting and use it to their advantage? You’re starting to see some fantastic AI products emerge where they’re doing the backend administrative work that an administrator or nurse would typically do. AI can order the medication and follow up on certain pieces with patients that you’d normally have a human being do. You also may often see the doctor that’s taking care of you just typing while they’re sitting there and talking to you, and they’re barely getting to interact. To have an AI device within the clinical setting, taking notes for the doctor so they can have a conversation without having to look at their computer the whole time, will be a significant innovation.

What is a piece of advice you have been giving your healthcare clients lately?

Many physicians’ groups and medical facilities either don’t have a broker and work directly with the carrier, or have multiple brokers handling their insurance. If there isn’t a broker involved, I advise them to get one simply because we’re always on top of the latest products and emerging risks they may not know about yet.

The other thing is to have a clear understanding of the risks involved in developing AI innovations. There are a lot of complexities that may not be obvious at first, so staying informed is essential. Building a solid, transparent relationship with your broker can really help with this. You’ll be able to keep up-to-date on what’s available and what makes sense for your situation, especially if you’re exploring something new.

We talk a lot about the PS&F difference. How do you make a difference?

To me, it’s really about the team. Whenever I talk to people about PS&F, compared to other companies I’ve worked with, we set ourselves apart because we are an advocate for our insureds. We truly have our insureds’ back every step of the way. Whether it’s finding you the best price upfront, carefully reviewing your policies to ensure you have the best coverage, or tapping into our team’s expertise, we have all the resources we need to support you. In the event of a claim, you won’t have to deal with it alone. We have a dedicated team who will work tirelessly on your behalf, liaising with the carrier and ensuring your interests are protected. Our risk manager can also walk through your location and provide valuable insights and recommendations before the workers’ compensation or property carrier arrives.

What is something your co-workers would be surprised to learn about you?

I would say people would be surprised that I minored in Spanish because I could never really speak much of the language. I studied abroad for three months and took eight years of Spanish, but it was just one of those things that never really clicked. I’m still probably at a five-year-old vocabulary level, but I tried. People may be surprised because if they talked to me or tried to speak Spanish to me, they’d be like, “Wow, really?”

Do you volunteer with any organizations or charities? What causes are you passionate about?

Right now, I work with an organization called Toastmasters. I’m on their board. I also volunteer at our church as a greeter and coffee server.

I really want to get involved with organizations that help struggling kids and families, whether from a financial standpoint, emotional standpoint, or whatever situation they’re in. I want to help give them the same positive foundation that I had—I think I was very blessed growing up, and I’d love to be able to pay that forward and give other families that opportunity. I just haven’t found the right organization that I want to work with yet, so I’m searching for it. That’s where I feel like my heart is pushing me right now.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

When I’m not working, I have two children, and we have a dog. So we’ll either be playing sports, watching sports, or practicing piano—my daughter plays piano—or we’re doing some sort of family activity or taking the dog for a walk. I enjoy trying to do as much as we can as a family while our kids are around and still like being around us. They’re both still young, so they still think we’re cool. Then, if I have quiet time, I love to sit down and read. Reading a good book is one of my favorite things to do. I like having it as a getaway—I prefer to read a book over watching a movie a lot of the time. Your imagination can fill so many different gaps that a movie just can’t.

Where did you grow up? What is your favorite thing about your hometown?

I grew up in Great Falls, Montana. From a nature perspective, we had the Missouri River going through the middle of our town, so that was very beautiful. From a people perspective, everyone was very friendly. That’s what I love about the Northwest in general. But in Montana, people would make eye contact and say, “Hi, how’s your day going?” You make that small talk with strangers. If I go out to other places and try to do that, people are like, why are you doing that? We’re in a big city. You don’t do that here. I appreciate having grown up that way because I think it’s fun to have that human connection.

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