At Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business, the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Science has built a reputation for preparing students to step confidently from the classroom into industry. For brothers Chris Berlus and Joey Pitaud, both undergraduate risk management and insurance majors, the B.B.A. program has become more than an academic path. It also has been a launchpad fueled by mentorship, career development resources, student leadership, and industry partnerships that form a powerful ecosystem for career readiness.
Berlus, who graduates in May, describes his early days at Georgia State as quiet and uncertain.
“Coming into college, I was timid and shy,” he said. “I didn’t know a lot of people, and I wasn’t comfortable speaking up. I would go to class and go home.”
That changed when he became involved with Robinson’s Undergraduate Career Advancement Center (CAC). What began as a visit for résumé advice quickly turned into something transformative.
“I started going every day,” he said. “That pushed me to see the bigger picture.”
The CAC became a social and professional hub for Berlus. Surrounded by ambitious peers preparing for internships and careers, he found motivation in the culture of support and friendly competition.
“All the students I met were doing great things,” he said. “They had internships; they were involved in clubs; they were pushing themselves. Being in that environment made me want to raise my level, too.”
Today, Berlus serves as a CAC Champion, helping other students navigate the same resources that helped him grow. He has volunteered at Robinson’s Career EXPOs, assisting companies with setup before switching into his suit to network with recruiters.
“If I’m having a bad day or need advice about life, the CAC team is there,” Berlus said. “I feel like I’m part of a real community.”
from left to right: Jason Aldrich, associate dean for strategic partnerships and career advancement; Joey Pitaud; Chris Berlus; and La'Kesha Hughes, associate director of undergraduate career advancement
Berlus credits much of his professional confidence with the Robinson Immersive Sophomore Experience (RISE), through which he met Jason Aldrich, associate dean for strategic partnerships and career advancement, and many friends who have encouraged him to achieve higher levels of success. During his sophomore year, RISE pushed him outside his comfort zone.
In every class, RISE students are required to give an update on the industry they want to break into.
“I hated it at first,” Berlus recalled. “But it made me study the market and understand what I wanted to focus on.”
The experience paid off. Through presentations, networking events, and an elevator pitch exercise at a professional dinner, Berlus developed skills that helped him stand out in internships and interviews.
“It boosted my confidence and helped me find my voice,” he said.
Like many Robinson students, Berlus expanded his network through student organizations. He became active in Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) [link opens a new window], the international insurance fraternity, while also exploring other business groups on campus.
“Georgia State has so many great clubs,” he said. “Students don’t stay in just one—we bounce between insurance, consulting, finance, and real estate groups. It helps you learn about different industries and understand how they connect.”
Those relationships proved valuable when Berlus secured his first internship with the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association, where he gained insight into both retail and wholesale insurance markets.
Berlus continued building his network through career fairs, office visits, and networking events hosted by Robinson and its industry partners.
“I made sure to talk to someone from Chubb every time a company representative came to campus,” he said. “The first time I visited Chubb’s office, everyone was welcoming. I thought, this is the kind of place I want to work.”
During those excursions, he met many Chubb leaders, including Mason Green, assistant vice president and agency relationship manager; Kevin Kraselsky, underwriting branch manager; and Kim McFerrien, talent acquisition manager.
Berlus secured a position with the company as a business development specialist in January 2026, supporting Chubb’s Westchester wholesale business. As he transitioned into the industry, he worked with La’Kesha Hughes, associate director of undergraduate career advancement, to navigate the job offer negotiation process.
“I met Chris at a business roundtable fair in our Alpharetta office,” Green said. “I was immediately impressed with his personality and passion for the industry. He really wanted to be here.”
The two stayed in touch, eventually meeting for lunch and establishing a mentorship relationship.
“He asked me to be his mentor, which I was honored to do,” Green said. “What stands out about Chris, and about many Robinson students, is that they understand the power of networking early. They’re not afraid to connect with people, ask for opportunities, and show up ready to work.”
Today, Berlus works closely with brokers and underwriters, learning how deals are structured while building relationships.
“It’s a people-based industry,” he said. “And the people in insurance are great everywhere you go.”
“Insurance is a relationship business,” Green said. “No matter what’s happening in the market, brokers need strong relationships with their carrier partners. Chris really understands that.”
As Berlus was finding his footing at Robinson, his younger brother Joey Pitaud was earning stellar grades in high school and considering career options ranging from computer science to law. However, neither path felt like the right fit. Through conversations with his brother, Pitaud was introduced to the field of insurance, which he hadn’t considered before. He did some research and realized how broad the industry is. Pitaud wanted to settled on his academic major before he got to campus, so he could "hit the ground running."
“There are so many different career paths within insurance,” he said. “You have roles like underwriting, brokerage, claims, and risk management, and then you also have different lines such as property, casualty, cyber, and inland marine. The more I learned about it, the more I felt like it was something I could see myself building a future in.”
Berlus shared that the insurance industry could provide stability and a relationship-driven culture. He also encouraged Pitaud to get involved with the CAC early, so he could put his best foot forward from the start.
Now a risk management and insurance major expected to graduate ahead of schedule in May 2027, Pitaud has estaablished a strong foundation through academics, leadership, and industry involvement. With support from Ryan Grelecki, Greenberg’s director of external relations, Pitaud earned the Guy Milner Scholarship.
He also serves as secretary of Gamma Iota Sigma's Zeta chapter. Through GIS, Pitaud has continued to expand his professional development by attending conferences, networking with industry professionals, and building relationships with recruiters and employers.
Like his brother, Pitaud serves as a CAC Champion, helping organize Robinson’s career fairs and assist visiting employers.
“The CAC has been a huge part of my development,” he said. “They help you with internships, networking, and even balancing school and life.”
Pitaud’s efforts have led to two internships. He worked in underwriting at Accident Fund Insurance Company of America in Lansing, Mich., and now is a property and casualty binding authority intern at brokerage firm JenCap.
Pitaud and Berlus both attribute their drive to succeed to their parents, who immigrated from Haiti, first settling in Florida before moving to south Atlanta.
“They came here to give us opportunities they didn’t have,” Pitaud said. “Their sacrifices motivate me to make the most of the opportunities I’ve been given.”
Pitaud hopes to build a career that enables him to help businesses and individuals protect what matters most.
“With insurance, you’re helping people protect the things that are important to them,” he said. “That’s meaningful work.”
Berlus’s and Pitaud’s journeys demonstrate the quality of the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Science and the power of Robinson’s career-readiness ecosystem.
“Helping Chris and Joey navigate the career readiness ecosystem we’ve built within Robinson has been a joy. Their story is amazing, but it’s not unique,” Aldrich said. “Robinson students regularly engage in a variety of immersive programs and hands-on learning in and out of the classroom. They also build leadership skills through student organizations, leverage resources through the CAC, and connect with world-class companies like Chubb through our industry partnerships. Today, Robinson students have regular access to the resources, events, coaching, and contacts they need to accelerate their career development and launch their careers.”
Perhaps most importantly, Robinson is a community where students support and challenge one another.
“Joey and I hold each other accountable,” Berlus said. “If I say I’m going to do something, he’s going to call and ask me if I did it.”
At Robinson, students’ hunger to succeed and grow as people and professionals help them turn ambition into tangible career progress. And for Berlus and Pitaud, their drive has become a shared path toward success.