Will Barto

Vice President, Operations at Lockton

Location: Houston, Texas

Career Status: Established

Degrees: Bachelor's degree from Culverhouse in finance, MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Will Barto’s journey is a testament to the power of unexpected connections.

As a Culverhouse Ambassador, Barto’s chance encounter with Tim Kelly, a prospective BOV member and executive at Lockton, led to unexpected opportunities.

While giving Kelly a tour, Barto shared that he had done an internship with a large oil and gas services company in Houston that turned out to be a client of Kelly’s. Barto took Kelly’s business card but thought little more of it.

After his graduation was delayed due to injury, Barto reached out to Kelly at Lockton and was surprised with an opportunity to interview virtually the next day.

Now the vice president, operations at Lockton, Barto supports the chief operating officer in strategic decision-making. “My job is helping solve problems that don’t fit cleanly in the day-to-day functions of an insurance broker,” he explained.

Key Takeaways

Take chances, get involved: Will Barto’s story reminds us that seizing unexpected opportunities, embracing uncertainty, and honing our skills can lead to remarkable success.