Falcon West Academy

12 Weeks. Unlimited Upside.

Our Academy introduces motivated rugby athletes to real opportunities in property and casualty insurance. Built for the in-season athlete: 12 weeks, 6 hours per week, fully remote, with full flexibility around training and game schedules. This is a paid internship. You'll get a working overview of both the broker and account manager roles, which are the two paths that define an insurance career.

What It Looks Like:

12 weeks. Paid. 4 to 6 hours per week, including 30-minute weekly one-on-ones, optional team and client meetings, and zero conflicts with training, games, or life. You bring the time. We bring everything else.

Real experience, not making copies

Academy participants are taught intentionally and provided with mentorship and coaching throughout the program. There will also be frequent opportunities to attend meetings with prospects, clients, and carrier partners.

Here’s a sample of subjects covered:

• Policy and coverage types
• Creating SOVs for CRE submission
• Due diligence and policy review methods
• Energy sector risks and strategies
• MSA indemnity and fundamentals
• Building a prospect list and networking
• Managing client renewals and workflows

The Academy requires strong time management skills and a combination of self-study and meetings with others on the Falcon West team. Frequent invitations to client meetings provide real-time understanding and use of learned skills.

By the end of the program, participants have a working knowledge of P&C insurance and real experience they can reference in future interviews.

Meet Our Academy Athletes

"Who do we want here with us next year?"

That's the question our leadership team asks every time we get together. We want to grow, but we want to grow the right way, with the right people. Sometimes we get to choose who those people are, and other times we simply get to introduce people to our industry. The Academy is built to satisfy both of those answers.

How Can Firms Cultivate Talent Organically?

A prime example of an innovative, organic talent development strategy is the Falcon West Academy. This program was specifically designed to create a pipeline of new talent by recruiting professional rugby players and providing them with a structured pathway into the insurance industry. The academy offers a comprehensive 12-week training program that covers insurance principles, sales techniques, and the professional skills needed to succeed as a broker. This initiative represents a long-term investment in human capital, focusing on individuals with a strong work ethic, discipline, and a competitive drive: qualities often found in professional athletes. By looking outside the traditional recruitment channels, Falcon West is building a unique and loyal team from the ground up.

The success of the academy is already evident. In its first year, the program ran four cohorts and has successfully transitioned several graduates into full-time roles within the firm, including Maceo Brown, Karl Keane, and Bart Vermeulen. Meet every group on the Academy athletes page. The curriculum is continuously refined based on feedback, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness. For 2026, the firm plans to run three sessions with a goal of training 12 more athletes. This model of "building" rather than "buying" talent stands in direct opposition to the poaching strategies of larger firms. It demonstrates a commitment to not only the growth of the company but also to the personal and professional development of its people, creating a culture that values mentorship and opportunity over aggressive acquisition.

What are you working toward?

We will sometimes ask applicants, "What are you doing today to prepare yourself for this role tomorrow?"

It's critical to know your personal why for joining this Academy; however, because this isn't a job interview, here are a few things you might consider while answering that question:

• Understand the insurance industry
• Improve your résumé and/or Curriculum Vitae
• Learn how a business works
• For high performers, earn a letter of recommendation
• Join a growing network of alumni
• Future job opportunities

What's the commitment from you?

Everyone who wants to join the Academy must write a short essay explaining why they want to complete the internship. Beyond that, you'll need four to six hours per week to complete the material, 30 minutes per week for a mandatory one-on-one meeting (available between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Pacific), and a commitment to doing the work without AI.

What sets you apart

You're a rugby athlete or a professional looking for your next career. You already know what it means to work when no one's watching. But success off the field takes more than grit. During this internship, we focus on four core traits that define high performers in our business, and how we'll evaluate your progress throughout the program.