Renaissance Reinsurance is granting a sabbatical to Lloyd Holder to attend the London School of Economics (LSE) so that he can do a Masters degree in Analysis Design and Management of Information Systems.

?It?s a big opportunity. I?m just grateful that the company saw fit to have me go overseas and do such a thing? said 27-year-old Lloyd who leaves for England mid-September.

?I found out I had been accepted into the university back in March.?

After telling Renaissance Reinsurance about his plans he said ?They saw it was something I wanted to do and were more than willing to help.?

Lloyd said that before he made his final decision he thought long and hard ? making sure it was right for him at that point in time.

?I didn?t want to do a Masters degree just because that?s what most people do?, he said. He also realised how common it is to come back from school and get caught up on living life without worrying about going back.

?I decided I?m not going to get any younger so this was the time to do it ? it?s not often this opportunity comes around?.

It?s been five years since Lloyd began working at Renaissance Reinsurance ? straight out of university.

?After working in the industry out of school, it gave me a better idea on my career path and where I should go next.?

He currently holds the position of senior network analyst where he is responsible for maintaining the network, including a bit of telephony, project management and implementation.

When asked why he chose this particular Masters degree programme he said: ?I chose it because it incorporated everything I wanted to learn.?

He spent two years at Bermuda College where he attained an associates degree in Business Administration and then went on to Oakwood College in Huntsville Alabama for three years to get his Bachelors in computer information.

?I wanted to do a Masters degree that somehow incorporated both functions and allowed me to develop my management skills at the same time?, he said.

He said he has always wanted to manage his own business.

?I enjoy analysing situations and finding good solutions for them. Being a manager allows you to do your part and convey it to the rest of the team that?s working around you? he said.

?The managerial aspect enables me to develop my career path ? I think it?s a natural next step for me. I didn?t want to restrict my job ? I wanted to have more say in the development of computer systems and processes.?

His experience at Renaissance Reinsurance has been ?very rewarding and very challenging?.

?The company has seen a lot of growth and development since I?ve been there: When I started there were just over 30 employees and now it?s about 100? he said.

?The growth and development within the organisation has allowed me to learn more, hone my skills in information technology, and keep up with new and developed technology. As the company stayed on the forefront the I.T. infrastructure had to be on the forefront also.?

Lloyd said, although it has increased since working at the company, his interest in new technology and how information is put over and communicated to people is nothing new.

?I have always been interested in computers and being able to communicate using different mediums whether it be e-mail, telephone or even videoconferencing. I was always interested in finding new, faster, and improved ways for people to communicate.?

As a child he said he enjoyed taking electronic items apart and putting them together ?even if it was my remote control car?.

An all-rounder, Lloyd keeps himself occupied in and out of the office.

?I play football for Dandy Town ? my position is striker?, he said.

?I like all sports really. I would consider myself an athlete.?

This is Lloyd?s second season at Dandy Town. Prior to that he played several years with Devonshire Colts.

?I started playing in the leagues when I was 17 with Prospect United? he said.

He is also a member of the Bermuda Flag Football League and plays for the commercial cricket league whenever the opportunity arises.

?I try my hand in pretty much any sport I can,? he said, fishing being another activity he said he has enjoyed since he was a child.

However, his talents don?t stop there. ?I sing in my church choir, the Southampton inspirational choir? he said. ?I also do some solo acts, such as at weddings, church and funerals.

?I?ve been singing pretty much all my life. God blessed me with an instrument and it?s my ministry ? a form of being able to witness to others.?

Lloyd attends the Midland Heights Seventh Day Adventist church.

A great all round role model, he said he does not allow himself to be defined by what everyone else does or their opinion of him.

?I try to pursue excellence in all that I do. If I?m going to do it I try to do it to the best of my ability. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.?

He said he has learned to ?be humble in your achievements, always show respect and thank God for your blessings and your trials?.

A word of wisdom: ?Don?t take no for an answer. Don?t settle for the status quo or the limits that people set for you. If you say you have a dream and want to do it, don?t let anyone stop you?, he said. ?Most often people will not push you to achieve anything greater than what they?ve done themselves.?

Two of his primary aspirations? ?I want to be able to own and operate my own business some day?, he said. ?That?s always a goal ? hence the reason I want to develop my managerial skills.?

?I also want to own my own home one day ? that?s always the goal of every Bermudian.?

Lloyd said he would not have come this far without ?my faith in God, strong family unit that supports me and positive mentors?.

He quoted, ?Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.?