Bound & Determined℠: Recent Episodes
Meg McKeen
Here we hold space for women in the insurance industry to tell their stories as we learn from, grow with, support, and celebrate one another.
Hosted and produced by Meg McKeen, founder of Adjunct Advisors, LLC.
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Ema Roloff for a conversation about the uncommon courage it takes to build something before you know how it's going to turn out. We talk about reimagining the ways we gather, the accessibility gap in many professional events these days, and how it feels to take the first step when the noise around you tells you to wait - or skip it altogether.
Meet Ema RoloffEma Roloff is the Co-Founder of Roloff Consulting, where she helps business leaders navigate digital change with clarity, confidence, and a people-first approach. With more than a decade of experience in B2B enterprise software and complex enterprise sales, she translates topics like AI, digital transformation, and leadership into practical strategies that organizations can immediately apply. Through keynotes, workshops, research, and content Ema equips leaders to communicate change, build trust, and thrive in a digital-first world.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Ema on LinkedIn * Learn more about Roloff Consulting * Register for the IGNiTE Digital Leadership Summit, coming up in Madison, WI, on September 3rd. Take $100 of your registration through Friday, August 7th when you use code COUNTDOWN * Join Meg for an upcoming experience: + Join Meg and Tracey Heeter Allen for Coffee & Conversation, coming up in Lake Oswego, Oregon on August 26th + Bound & Determined℠ Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 + Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, presented by Westfield, coming up in September. We'll be gathering in Omaha, Westfield Center, Chicago, Des Moines, Milwaukee and Grand Rapids. + Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined℠* Founders' Retreat * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here. Not following Meg on Instagram? You can find her here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Melissa Barr, the founder of Sisu Insurance Services, for an honest, grounded conversation about the moment Melissa decided she was tired of her day running her. We talk about the non-linear, make-it-up-as-you-go reality of early entrepreneurship, the busy badge of honor so many of us have worn for decades without question, and what it looks like to finally - purposefully - start to uncrowd your life.
Meet Melissa BarrMelissa Barr spent the last 24 years within the independent insurance agency operations space. Two years ago, she started her own company, Sisu Insurance Services, to help other independent agents and agencies build their businesses through enhancing workflows, building policies and procedures, employee and VA training and agency management system optimization. Fun facts about Melissa? She's a licensed massage therapist and has run the Detroit marathon; she also enjoys biking, hiking, running, yoga, barre and pairing great wine with great food!
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn * Learn more about Sisu Insurance Services * Join Meg for an upcoming experience: + Join Meg and Tracey Heeter Allen for Coffee & Conversation, coming up in Lake Oswego, Oregon on August 26th + Bound & Determined℠ Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 + Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, presented by Westfield, coming up in September. We'll be gathering in Omaha, Westfield Center, Chicago, Des Moines, Milwaukee and Grand Rapids! + Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined℠* Founders' Retreat * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here. Not following Meg on Instagram? You can find her here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Emily Merola, founder of the Blazer Society and leadership coach - for a conversation about what happens when we stop drifting and instead move with purpose. We talk about what happens when a woman finally gets clear on what she uniquely bring to the world, the courage it takes to bet on yourself after a lifetime of betting on everyone else, and why the women who need this support the most are often the ones who believe they deserve it the least. Emily is electric and so generous - this conversation will surely spark something in you, too.
Meet Emily MerolaEmily Merola is a former insurance industry executive – and today helps women leaders find the confidence to own the room and grow in their careers and lives. As a speaker and executive coach, she equips high-achieving women to move from overlooked to unmistakable through the power of presence.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Emily on LinkedIn * Follow The Blazer Society on Instagram * Learn more about the global not-for-profit supporting women, ISC Group * Join Meg for an upcoming experience: + Bound & Determined℠ Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 + Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, coming up in September + Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined℠* Founders' Retreat * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Julie Tomlinson for a conversation about the professional sabbatical that came when the job, the title, even the industry stopped fitting. We talk about psychological safety (it’s not a soft skill), what it means to mother a daughter as they both learn to take up space, and how confidence isn't a feeling - it's data, collected one attempt at a time. Julie is candid and wise, and reminds us that knowing who you are is a skill that will always be in demand.
Meet Julie TomlinsonJulie Tomlinson is a purpose‑driven insurance leader whose mission is to inspire advocacy and grace while empowering others with passion and respect. She serves on the Executive Board of the Girls Southeast Cincinnati Soccer Association, a nonprofit providing affordable recreational soccer to more than 1,000 girls across Greater Cincinnati. Before she joins Palomar Insurance in late July, Julie is currently enjoying a professional sabbatical, giving her the rare gift of time to fully soak in life with her wonderful family — Ryan (fellow insurance nerd and husband), Ellie (15), and Wesley (12).
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Julie on LinkedIn * Join Meg for an upcoming experience: + Bound & Determined℠ Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 + Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, coming up in September + Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined℠* Founders' Retreat * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Join host Meg McKeen for a crossover podcast experience, featuring Kristin Heideman, the host of the Outspoken & Overbooked podcast. Recorded in front of a live, virtual audience, together we chat through our insurance career origin stories - and answer listener questions about moving from one role in the industry to another, and how to prep for the C-Suite, if that's what you decide is right for you. We already know it's who you know - but isn't it also how well you know yourself?
Meet Kristin HeidemanWith over a decade of hands-on experience in the insurance industry, Kristin knows what it takes to succeed in this space - because she's been there. After years as an Account Manager, she transitioned into recruiting to help others find the right fit and help firms build stronger teams.
Now, as the WBE-certified owner of The Brinkman Group, Kristin specializes in placing top talent across commercial lines, employee benefits, and wholesale brokerage. She works closely with hiring managers and candidates to make meaningful, strategic matches - not just quick placements.
Whether you're hiring, exploring new opportunities, or just want to stay informed about the market - Kristin is a resource you can trust.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn * Learn more about The Brinkman Group and the work Kristin does to support insurance professionals * Join Meg for an upcoming experience: + Bound & Determined℠ Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 + Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, coming up in September + Nominate a woman in insurance you know to be my guest for the St. Louis stop here + Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined℠* Founders' Retreat * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Danielle Morales as guest host for this special 100th episode of Bound & Determined℠ - commemorating 65 hours of conversation recorded since launching in 2020. Danielle brings questions crowdsourced from our community and a few of her own, and together they wander through all of it - the nuts and bolts of Meg's nomadic life, the marriage and job and city - and expectations - she left behind, the earliest years in business spent wondering when it would be her turn, and the slow, imperfect trust in herself to keep going.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn * Join Meg for an upcoming experience: + Bound & Determined℠ Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 + Join Kristin Heideman and me for Bound & Determined℠ X Outspoken & Overbooked | A Crossover Podcast Experience on May 15th + Stay up-to-date as plans for Bound & Determined℠: Midwest Live come together + RSVP for Dinner in Denver on June 15th + Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined℠* Founders' Retreat * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Katie Gouldner for a conversation about the particular restlessness of being content but not fulfilled - and what happens when you stop waiting for your work to heal it. We talk about perfectionism and the unknown, the courage it takes to build something that's all yours, and what it means to express yourself without a title or a permission slip - or a guarantee that it'll even be good. Spoiler alert: it's great!
Meet Katie GouldnerKatie Gouldner is a marketing and communications leader, podcast host, and mom of two based in Central Pennsylvania who knows firsthand the art of balancing work, family, and personal passions. With over 15 years of experience in strategic marketing and storytelling, she specializes in making complex ideas approachable and meaningful. Through her podcast Chasing The Spark, Katie shares honest conversations about motherhood, career growth, and connection.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Katie on LinkedIn * Learn more about Chasing the Spark and listen on Apple and Spotify * Join Meg for an upcoming experience: + Bound & Determined℠ Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 + Join Kristin Heideman and me for Bound & Determined℠ X Outspoken & Overbooked | A Crossover Podcast Experience on May 15th + RSVP for Dinner in Denver on June 15th + Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined℠* Founders' Retreat * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes graduating seniors Raji More and Chloe Shapkauski for a conversation recorded on the campus of her alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University. Together we explore the impressions many have of our industry - and what individuals joining the industry are really looking for in their relationship to work. We talk about success - and how that definition has already changed for Raji and Chloe, We wrap by turning the mic back around on Meg - such rich and thoughtful questions.
Meet Raji MoreRaji More is a senior at Illinois Wesleyan University, majoring in economics. Originally from Bloomington, Illinois, Raji has been active in various organizations during her time on campus during her time on campus, including roles as the commissioner of the Sustainability Committee and is now the elected class president. Raji will graduate in May and has past work experience inside an insurance company headquartered in Bloomington. Connect with Raji by email at rmore@iwu.edu or on LinkedIn.
Meet Chloe ShapkauskiChloe Shapkauski is a business student at Illinois Wesleyan University, Class of 2026. Originally from Tinley Park, Illinois, she has held leadership and service roles in organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Rotaract, and Student Senate. She currently works as a Data Analysis Student Worker at the Hart Career Center, supporting strategic initiatives through data insights. In her free time, Chloe enjoys writing, running, reading, and cooking. She is passionate about continuous learning and seeks opportunities to create meaningful impact through both her professional and community work. Connect with Chloe by email at cshapkauski@gmail.com or on LinkedIn.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Join Meg for an upcoming experience: + Coffee + Conversation in Burlington, Vermont, on April 25th + Bound & Determined℠* Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 + Dinner in Denver on June 15th * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Brett McKenzie for a conversation about care - the caring we do for others and the caring we often need ourselves. We talk about boundaries and burnout - and how it feels to take off the mask we often wear and let others in – and sometimes down – when advocating for ourselves. Brett is a heartfelt storyteller and shares so much of her own beautiful story with us here.
Meet Brett McKenzieBrett McKenzie began her career as a political media operative in Washington, D.C., with early chapters of her story written in journalism and the wine industry before she transitioned into insurance in 2009 - all while navigating chronic health challenges and raising a family. Brett has worked across globally recognized insurance carriers and insurtechs, in marketing and PR, sales, underwriting, and distribution strategy. Today, Brett is an independent consultant helping bold insurance brands and leaders clarify their voice, sharpen their strategy, and show up with confidence in our rapidly changing industry.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Brett on LinkedIn * Join Meg for an upcoming experience: + Coffee + Conversation in Burlington, Vermont, on April 25th + Bound & Determined℠* Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 + Dinner in Denver on June 15th * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Emma Corcoran for a conversation about career paths - and how they change as our priorities and our plans change, too. Emma is wrapping up her first year as an independent consultant in the insurance industry and shares more about her new definition of busy, how she's measuring success today, and together we unpack the notion of "doing your time" - in a role or organization - and how we can support the next generation of women in insurance who are joining us.
Meet Emma CorcoranEmma Corcoran is the founder of EC Consulting LLC, through which she helps leadership teams navigate complex challenges and make clearer, more confident decisions together. She blends design thinking with a human‑centered facilitation approach to bring alignment, clarity, and momentum to every room she leads. She's also a proud mom of two daughters, one very loved dog, and an advocate for elevating women in insurance.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Emma on LinkedIn * Join Meg for the Bound & Determined℠* Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Amora Wood to the podcast for a candid conversation about the range of emotions that come up when we choose to share our lives - and selves - with the world through social media. We'll talk about the boundaries we set, the very common reluctance to get started, and how we navigate the joy of the relationships we've built through the socials - and the haters that are out there, too.
Meet Amora WoodAmora Wood is a VP with over 20 years of sales experience and a deep commitment to collaboration over competition. She believes integrity is the foundation of every client relationship and finds true joy in helping others succeed. Passionate about creating meaningful connections and innovative solutions, Amora focuses on building trust and fostering growth in every interaction.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Amora on LinkedIn * Join in the fun on February 25th when you share your #DayInTheLife! Learn more here * Sit at the {virtual} table with Saya and me on February 26th; register here * Join Meg for the Bound & Determined℠* Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Debbie Brcka for a candid conversation about her upcoming retirement - after more than 45 years in the insurance industry. In this conversation, we talk about Debbie’s decision to retire – the why now, the how, and the permission she didn’t know she needed. We talk about what’s ahead for Debbie in this new chapter and Debbie shares so much wisdom - spend the time – take the trip – say yes, say no - with us.
Meet Deborah BrckaDeborah began her career in real estate before pivoting to insurance in 1978, when she and her husband opened a scratch agency after he was injured in the line of duty. Following their divorce, she continued to build her career independently, serving in marketing and sales roles with regional carriers and ultimately rising to SVP at Bankers Insurance. After more than four decades in the industry, she’s now in her dream role with the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance, where she channels her passion into mentoring and developing future leaders.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Keep up with Debbie on LinkedIn * Join Meg for the Bound & Determined℠* Restorative Retreat, coming up in Michigan in November 2026 * Makes plans to be in Wichita with Kansas Association of Insurance Agents in February or in Napa with Independent Insurance Agents of California in March * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Julie Webb for a timely conversation about our values: Where do they come from? How do they change as we change? And what happens when the way we’re showing up at work no longer aligns with the way we’re showing up in our heart? Or in the world? Julie shares more about her experience ending her corporate chapter and building her own consulting firm - including the upside of the risk we don't talk about loudly enough.
Meet Julie Webb, CPCU, CICJulie Webb has two decades of diverse insurance industry experience holding various leadership positions during that time. Most recently, she was the Principal at MPB Insurance, a scratch independent agency she started in March of 2020 (yes that March!). Prior to that, she was the Regional Vice President for a large agency network with responsibility for the Mid-Atlantic territory. She began her insurance career with GEICO in a Leadership Development Program where she ultimately built and led a regional sales and service call center in Buffalo, New York. Julie holds both her CIC and CPCU designations and is a proud graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where she studied business.
A strong advocate for professional women, Julie led the Women’s Leadership Network at MPB and founded a local chapter of the Women’s Business League to provide a space for professional women to network and grow together. In addition to this, she serves as the Board Chair for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA and enjoys volunteering with Girl Scouts, Girls on the Run, and Junior Achievement. In these roles, she’s committed to helping younger generations reach their full potential (and sprinkling a little bit of insurance awareness on top, too!).
It's her advocacy work that led her to found JMW Collective, a leadership consulting practice focused first on professional women. Through group and individual coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements, Julie is on a mission to empower organizations and leaders to design thriving businesses that are profitable, inclusive, and resilient for generations to come.
Julie enjoys facilitating mastermind groups through MyNetwork and teaching the CIC Agency Management course through the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance.
When she’s not helping professionals with their leadership style, she enjoys styling women in beautiful cabi clothes.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Julie on LinkedIn * Learn more about JMW Collective and cabi * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen as Meg narrates a recent social media post, sharing her thoughts on a new year and the pressure that it can bring.
Read Meg's original post on LinkedIn here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Chelsy Bell Carpenter for a frank - and timely - conversation about burnout. Chelsy shares her own burnout story, including the moment everything shifted for her, and the range of emotions and the reality she experienced in the aftermath. Listen as we talk about how illogical it feels to be both grateful the work you’re doing and also itchy - for something that looks different. That feels different. We talk about seasons of high stress – we are IN it right now – and Chelsy shares three small, simple tweaks that can lead to big shifts. No bubble bath required.
Meet Chelsy Bell CarpenterIn Chelsy's words: My mission is to help high-performing professionals build careers rooted in clarity, purpose, and sustainability. I equip individuals and organizations with real-world strategies (that work, because I have personally tested them!) and science-backed tools to regulate the nervous system, strengthen communication, and create disciplines that support long-term success. In a society conditioned to burnout - I believe drive and well-being can and should coexist. Follow along for tips that I use to stay grounded and living with purpose!
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Chelsy on LinkedIn * Visit Chelsy's website * Learn more and join the waitlist for Chelsy's inaugural workshop, Built to Last * Stay in the know as future plans for the next Bound & Determined℠ retreats take shape here * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
In this special live experience, host Meg McKeen welcomes consultant and industry icon Deb Smallwood to the podcast, where Deb shares more about her own leadership journey, and how she's supporting women navigating their own leadership today through her SELFPOWERMENT framework. If, out of frustration or hope or despair you've ever asked yourself the question "Why Not Me?" this conversation is for you.
Meet Deb SmallwoodDeb Smallwood is a trailblazing executive and visionary leader on a mission to empower women to become SelfPowered—to embrace their authentic human-being, unlock their inner powers, and thrive in the business world.
With a distinguished career in insurance and technology, including transformative leadership roles at Liberty Mutual, KPMG, TowerGroup, ICW Group, and as Founder/CEO of Strategy Meets Action (SMA), Deb has consistently broken barriers and redefined what’s possible for women in the insurance and tech industries.
After successfully leading SMA through its growth and ultimate sale, Deb turned her focus to her true passion: empowering women to rise above all barriers and become SelfPowered. She founded SelfPowerment, creating a platform centered around her upcoming SelfPowerment book with its formal framework, complemented by mastermind workshops, research studies, and a self-assessment tool—all designed to provide actionable strategies for high-performing women in their personal and professional development, with or without corporate sponsorship.
As a teacher and advocate of SelfPowerment, Deb continues to give back to the business world as a motivational keynote speaker, mentor to rising women executives, and advisor to women-led tech startups.
Deb inspires women to embrace their freedom to thrive authentically, confidently, and intentionally in the business and tech world, while championing a future generation of SelfPowered Women!
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Deb on LinkedIn * Learn more about SELFPOWERMENT - and take the self-assessment while you're there! * Stay in the know as future plans for the next Bound & Determined℠ retreats take shape here * Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
In this special crossover experience, Bound & Determined℠ host Meg McKeen and Megan Bell of InsHER, come together for an open, honest conversation about purpose, community, and the power of sharing women's stories. With deep respect for one another’s work, we reflect on what it means to create space for women in the insurance industry, why collaboration matters more than ever, and how podcasting has transformed the way they show up as leaders, listeners, and women.
Meet Megan BellMegan Bell leads marketing, communications, and customer experience at Falvey Insurance Group, bringing over eight years of industry expertise and a dynamic background in consumer-packaged goods. She is the creator of Women at the Helm and InsHER, both award-nominated initiatives amplifying women’s voices in insurance. A 2025 RISE LEAD Award finalist and recipient of the 2024 ACORD Women’s Insurance Advancement Award, Megan is a recognized industry leader committed to equity, mentorship, and inclusion. She serves on multiple boards and committees, including IMCA, IICF, and RISE, and holds a B.A. in English Communications and Spanish from Emmanuel College.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Megan on LinkedIn * Listen to InsHER on your favorite listening platform here * InsHER was recognized by Insurance Insiders Honors 2025 with two awards: Women in Insurance and the Progress Award. Learn more about these honors here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Skylar Romines joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Irvine, California, on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Skylar reflects on the uncertainty, growth, and knowing that started with the choice she made to redefine her most essential relationships - with work and career, with those closest to her, and with herself. Thanks for being with me in Irvine, Skylar!
Meet Skylar RominesSkylar is the founder and owner of ATW Advisors, an insurance consulting firm specializing in working with commercial real estate owners and developers. Acting as an owner’s rep, ATW guides clients through the risk management and insurance procurement process to ensure optimal coverage and cost efficiency. Prior to launching ATW, Skylar spent 17 years as an insurance broker, gaining deep expertise in the industry. She is also the author of So She Did: Stories, Stats & Strategies to Help Women Win; a book that explores the experiences of and aims to give guidance to women in male dominated industries.
RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty MutualBound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 is presented by RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty Mutual, a program dedicated to bringing women in insurance together through connection, education, recognition, insights and allyship. Join us in the RISE LinkedIn Community today.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Skylar on LinkedIn * Learn more about the ways Sklyar can support your business through ATW Advisors * Grab your copy of So She Did: Stories, Stats & Strategies to Help Women Win* * This gathering was hosted at Hera Hub Irvine in Irvine, California, a flexible work and meeting space created with women in mind. * The Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour has ended. If you'd like to collaborate with Meg to plan a gathering for women in insurance in your community, message Meg here. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Jenn Walsh joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Palo Alto, California, on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Jenn reflects on her relationship with ambiguity and the earliest days in her career in employee benefits - and the ways she's showing up now, as a business owner and advocate, as well as a mentor - and a mom. Thanks for being with me in San Francisco, Jenn!
Meet Jenn WalshJenn Walsh is an insurance industry enthusiast who wants people to thrive at all phases of their Sales and Client Service careers. Over the last 35 years, she has developed her expertise within insurance carriers, a full-service brokerage firm, and by holding several leadership roles in national industry associations. She founded GenuineShift in 2018, and its Client Service Academy builds client service teams to help insurance brokers and carriers grow. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and her 39th foster puppy (#fosterfail), Lolo.
RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty MutualBound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 is presented by RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty Mutual, a program dedicated to bringing women in insurance together through connection, education, recognition, insights and allyship. Join us in the RISE LinkedIn Community today.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Jenn on LinkedIn * Learn more about the ways Jenn can support sales and client services professionals through GenuineShift * Listen to Jenn's first appearance on Bound & Determined here * This gathering was hosted in The Tea Room at the Elizabeth F. Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto, California. Can't recommend working with David and the Gamble Gardens team highly enough. * The Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour has ended. If you'd like to collaborate with Meg to plan a gathering for women in insurance in your community, message Meg here. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Tracey Heeter Allen joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Portland, Oregon, on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Tracey reflects on her decision to pivot - in her life and career - when, after processing the way she experienced the pandemic, as well as a health challenge, and a reprioritization of her core values overall, she started the consultancy that she works in today. Thanks for being with me in Portland, Tracey!
Meet Tracey Heeter AllenAfter a 30+ year career in the employee benefits field, Tracey made a career pivot to focus on supporting the employee benefits industry as an entrepreneur. When you hire Tracey, you’ll find she’s an empathetic and intuitive partner. Passionate about the customer experience and work-life integration, Tracey brings sage guidance and support to individuals, teams, and employers. In her spare time, Tracey spends time with her teen, her pup Maddy, and her two cats, Bruno and Pink.
RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty MutualBound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 is presented by RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty Mutual, a program dedicated to bringing women in insurance together through connection, education, recognition, insights and allyship. Join us in the RISE LinkedIn Community today.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Tracey on LinkedIn * Learn more about the ways Tracey can support you through The Pivot Project * This gathering was hosted in the sweet, urban plant shop, Dennis' 7 Dees, located in Portland's Bridgeport Village * The Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour has ended. If you'd like to collaborate with Meg to plan a gathering for women in insurance in your community, message Meg here. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Elisha Cavanaugh joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Seattle on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Elisha reflects on her journey into insurance agency ownership - and as an empathetic leader - a quality that is very much in demand today. We chat about the inverse relationship between our desire to take risks and our age, the reasons we hesitate to ask for help, and the glorification of overwork that is rampant in our industry. Thanks for being with me in Seattle, Elisha!
Meet Elisha CavanaughElisha Cavanaugh is the owner of Sound Pacific Insurance, an independent agency in Tacoma, Washington, specializing in personal lines. With over two decades in the industry, Elisha started as a teen answering phones and eventually launched her own agency in 2012. In 2024, Sound Pacific Insurance was honored as the Rough Notes Cover Agency of the Year—a reflection of Elisha’s commitment to doing business the right way and building lasting client relationships. She’s an active voice in the industry, serving on multiple carrier councils and mentoring other women in insurance. Elisha leads with grit, heart, and humor, balancing her professional drive with a deep commitment to her family and community.
RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty MutualBound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 is presented by RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty Mutual, a program dedicated to bringing women in insurance together through connection, education, recognition, insights and allyship. Join us in the RISE LinkedIn Community today.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Elisha on LinkedIn * This gathering was hosted in the beautiful offices of Safeco Insurance in downtown Seattle * The Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour has ended. If you'd like to collaborate with Meg to plan a gathering for women in insurance in your community, message Meg here. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Kay Martin joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Missoula, Montana on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Kay reflects on burnout - and the private struggle many claims professionals are experiencing today - as well as her experience leading an intergenerational team today. We chat about feeling pigeon-holed in our area of expertise and share more about learning to trust your gut. Thanks for being with me in Montana, Kay!
Meet Kay MartinAn expert in carrier claims processes, Kay joined HUB International as the Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager in May of 2016. Kay coordinates interactions between employers and carriers, including claim reviews, loss run reviews, reserve reviews and return to work assistance, and works with HUB‘s producers and clients to customize claims programs, tailored to their unique business needs.
Prior to joining HUB International, Kay worked as a claims adjuster handling workers’ compensation claims in MT, AZ, CO, ID, NE, NV, OR, SD, TX, UT, and WY. Kay’s career includes experience with Liberty Mutual and AmTrust North America.
Kay holds a Montana Adjuster License, a Montana Workers’ Compensation Claims Examiner Designation, an Idaho Independent Adjuster License, a Certified Idaho Workers’ Compensation Specialist Designation, and a Wyoming Adjuster License. She has also earned an Associate in Claims designation from the nationally recognized industry leader, The Institutes.
Kay has embraced the Missoula lifestyle since arriving in 1998. She loves the community and the outdoors. She enjoys volunteering, running, hiking, camping, golfing and reading.
RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty MutualBound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 is presented by RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty Mutual, a program dedicated to bringing women in insurance together through connection, education, recognition, insights and allyship. Join us in the RISE LinkedIn Community today.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Kay on LinkedIn * This gathering was hosted in the Lounge at The Roxy, a non-profit theater in Missoula, Montana * The Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour has ended. If you'd like to work with Meg to plan a gathering for women in insurance in your community, message Meg here. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Michelle Raue joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Nashville on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Michelle reflects on aging - and ageism - and the wisdom she's gleaned throughout her career - and life. Michelle is witty and she is honest - and together we share about our mutual distaste for networking - at least in the traditional sense - and unite in our support for more mental health support in the workplace. Thanks for sharing this experience with us in Nashville, Michelle!
Meet Michelle RaueMichelle Raue is a seasoned leader with over 30 years in the property and casualty insurance industry. Throughout her experience, currently as EVP, Chief Claims and Transformation Officer at Preferred Mutual Insurance Company, and previously with Lyft and State Auto, Michelle has been known for driving innovation, operational excellence, and transformative change.
Michelle holds a BS in Finance from the University of South Alabama and has completed advanced AI courses at MIT Sloan. She is actively shaping AI regulations in insurance through NAMIC and is passionate about talent development, serving as Chair of the STEM Connector’s Women in Insurance Catalyst Committee and an Advisory Board Member for RISE Professionals. In 2024, she was named RISE Professionals Mentor of the Year.
RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty MutualBound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 is presented by RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty Mutual, a program dedicated to bringing women in insurance together through connection, education, recognition, insights and allyship. Join us in the RISE LinkedIn Community today.
Market Retrievers: Fetch Your TargetsBound & Determined℠ Live in Nashville is presented by Market Retrievers. Market Retrievers helps insurance professionals through digital marketing, social media, and content strategy. Learn more at marketretrievers.com.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Michelle Raue on LinkedIn * This gathering was hosted in the beautiful and luxe coworking space, The Sapphire Suite, in Franklin, Tennessee. * The Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour has ended. If you'd like to work with Meg to plan a gathering for women in insurance in your community, message Meg here. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Tinsley English joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance during the Atlanta stop on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Tinsley reflects on the notions of resilience - and reinvention - as we align our career with our purpose – and how to identify your purpose if you’re not sure, and we chat more about journey many women are on today as they navigate menopause. As only she can do, Tinsley provides actionable wisdom with honesty and heart throughout. Thanks for joining me in Atlanta, Tinsley!
Meet Tinsley EnglishTinsley English is a best-selling author, operations leader, female development coach, keynote speaker, and podcast host with over two decades of commercial insurance expertise spanning regional agencies, national firms, and carriers. As the founder of The Three G Consulting Group LLC, she transforms women leaders through her proprietary G-Force Code System. Her signature 24-Carat Leader program empowers professionals to amplify their visibility, accelerate career advancement, and master strategic decision-making. A dynamic speaker, Tinsley champions male allyship, prepares college students for professional excellence through her Next Step Navigator Program, and inspires audiences through her podcast, where she shares insights on leadership, resilience, and career growth.
RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty MutualBound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 is presented by RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty Mutual, a program dedicated to bringing women in insurance together through connection, education, recognition, insights and allyship. Join us in the RISE LinkedIn Community today.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Tinsley English on LinkedIn * Grab your copy of GRIT, GROWTH AND GUMPTION: Three Keys to Lead Yourself and Others with Confidence here * Learn more about the ways Tinsley can support you or your organization here * This gathering was hosted in the beautiful Poe & Company Bookstore in Milton, Georgia * Join Meg for one of the remaining live podcast recording events she'll be hosting in 2025. Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Diane Wagner joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance during the Charlotte stop on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Diane reflects on her earliest days in insurance, the urgency she felt to find success - and the lengths she'd go to find it - and what that success looks like for her today. We talk about money - it's not easy, but it's necessary as women plan for their own financial futures. Thank you for joining me in Charlotte, Diane!
Meet Diane WagnerDiane Wagner is the VP of Strategic Planning and Education for FirstChoice a MarshBerry Co., Insurance Journal’s number one agency partnership for two consecutive years. Diane has 45 years of insurance experience, 20 years on the carrier side and the last 25 years starting two top insurance networks from scratch.
Diane sits on the board of Invest, a nonprofit arm of the Independent Insurance Agents Association. Invest educates students on insurance, financial services and risk management while encouraging them to pursue insurance careers. Introducing insurance as a career to young people and helping agencies build effective talent pipelines is Diane’s passion project.
Diane travels extensively, enjoys concerts, golf, and spending time with her life partner, friends, and her two grown children.
RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty MutualBound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 is presented by RISE: Empowering Women in Insurance™ by Liberty Mutual, a program dedicated to bringing women in insurance together through connection, education, recognition, insights and allyship. Join us in the RISE LinkedIn Community today.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Diane Wagner on LinkedIn * Learn more about Invest, a program through the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, supporting and encouraging students as they consider a career in the insurance industry. * Join Meg for one of the remaining eight live podcast recording events she'll be hosting in 2025. Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Heather Stoffer joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded in front of a live audience during Ohio Insurance Agent's 2025 LeadHERship Collective. Heather describes her career like a hurricane: Hurricane Heather took a few sharp turns – from her service in the Air Force into municipal government and manufacturing, before she fell – or was she pulled? - into insurance four years ago. As she’s grown in her career and her life, Heather’s core values, rooted in the same values she learned during her experience in the Air Force, have shaped her beliefs and her decision-making.
Meet Heather StofferGrowing up in Southern Louisiana, Heather's career took a variety of turns before she found insurance four years ago, where she currently works as a Business Account Executive with Hummel Group in Ohio. She's a proud veteran, a mom, and wife, whose core values, Integrity, Service, and Excellence, guide her in all she does.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Special thanks to Ohio Insurance Agents for including this experience in your 2025 LeadHERship Collective. Learn more about OIA here * Connect with Heather on LinkedIn * Catch up on past conversations with Erin Keller and Mercy Komar * Join Meg for one of the eight live podcast recording events she'll be hosting in 2025. Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen in as host Meg McKeen is joined in conversation with Adrienne Lieberthal. Together we chat through the decision Adrienne and her husband recently made – for him to leave his job and become the primary caregiving parent, and how they got there. We share more about what it looks like to thrive in values aligned relationships – both personal and professional – and the first step you can take to get there - if that’s what you need to hear today.
Meet Adrienne LieberthalAdrienne Lieberthal is the CEO of ATHENA Actuarial Consulting, an actuary, business leader, wife, and mom dedicated to driving innovation in actuarial and strategic advisory services. With a passion for taking the road less traveled, she has built a firm that prioritizes excellence, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions while balancing the demands of leadership and family. She is committed to creating a life of fulfillment and purpose, inspiring others to chart their own unique paths to success.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Adrienne on LinkedIn * Learn more about the work Adrienne does through Athena Actuarial Consulting * Join Meg for one of the eight live podcast recording events she'll be hosting in 2025. Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Did you choose insurance or did insurance choose you? Listen in as host Meg McKeen is joined in conversation with Whitnee Dillard and we go to the way, way back, sharing more about our insurance career origin stories - and the responsibility we have as professionals here to support the next generation as they find their own place in the industry.
Meet Whitnee DillardWhitnee Dillard is the executive director for Invest - a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to educating, preparing, and attracting diverse new talent to exciting insurance opportunities and career paths. Whitnee's own insurance career began in 2012 as a licensed property and casualty insurance agent. Before she joined us here, Whitnee managed multiple nonprofit programs focused on youth development and college preparation in partnership with both middle and high schools, along with the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Whitnee is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Whitnee on LinkedIn * Learn more about the ways you can support the next generation of insurance professionals through Invest * Join Meg for one of the eight live podcast recording events she'll be hosting in 2025. Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
What if we aren't climbing career ladders but playing career hopscotch instead? Listen in as host Meg McKeen is joined in conversation with Laura Rauba - a conversation sparked by this very question. Laura shares more about the sense of curiosity that led to her latest career move and how timing - and knowing yourself - really is everything when we're deciding which part of our life will be our priority - and how that priority can change.
Meet Laura RaubaLaura has been with The Hartford since 2020 and has been involved in the industry for 15 years - including majoring in Insurance at Illinois State University. Laura is Mom to three young kids (ages 6, 5 and 2) who keep she and her husband busy. Laura enjoys working out at F45, listening to all different types of podcasts and coming up with home renovation projects she doesn't have time for.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Laura on LinkedIn * Read the post that sparked this conversation here * Translate insurance jargon using Insurance Nerds' Simplest Insurance Glossary * Join Meg for one of the eight live podcast recording events she'll be hosting in 2025. Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen to a recording of Bound & Determined℠ Live in Phoenix, where podcast host Meg McKeen was joined in conversation by Elissa Kelly. Recorded in front of a live audience, Elissa shares more about her definition of success - and how it's changed over time - and the choice she made to shift her perspective from employee to business owner.
Meet Elissa KellyElissa Kelly is a solopreneur business coach who guides experienced business leaders as they transition from corporate roles into thriving, strategic, risk-savvy solopreneurs. She is also the Founder and CEO of Surya Partners, a successful professional development firm focused on elevating diverse talent, as well as a mother of two amazing kids, bookworm, avid hiker, and reformed Fortune 100 Risk Executive.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Elissa on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook * Learn more about the ways Elissa supports executives as they transition to self-employment here * Special thanks to the folks at Valley of the Sun United Way in Phoenix for use of their lovely space. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode.
Bound & Determined℠ Live is an intimate, in-person gathering curated to provide connection and support to women in the insurance industry in a highly accessible way. It is open to a woman regardless of her role or title or tenure, is low-cost, hyper-local, and does not require extensive time away from work or family. Join us as we take the conversations we're already having on the podcast and invite you to participate in them, too. Learn more about the 8 events planned in 2025 and consider supporting these events financially here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen to a recording of Bound & Determined℠ Live in Columbus, where podcast host Meg McKeen was joined in conversation by Ash Fitzsimmons. Recorded in front of a live audience, Ash shares more about her journey to motherhood and the challenge it can be to ask for help. We talk about fear and change - and the importance of honoring where we are in each moment.
Meet Ash FitzsimmonsAshley Fitzsimmons: Millennial. Beyonce of Insurance. Director of Professional Development & autoimmune disease badass (both literally & figuratively).
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Ashley here on LinkedIn * Catch up on Ash's past appearance on Bound & Determined℠ here: 5.06 | Giving Grace with Ashley Fitzsimmons * Learn more about the Ohio Insurance Agents’ 2025 LeadHERship Collective, coming up in Columbus on March 18th and 19th * Special thanks to the folks at Studio 4980 in Westerville, OH, for use of your lovely space. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
Bound & Determined℠ Live is an intimate, in-person gathering curated to provide connection and support to women in the insurance industry in a highly accessible way. It is open to a woman regardless of her role or title or tenure, is low-cost, hyper-local, and does not require extensive time away from work or family. Join us as we take the conversations we're already having on the podcast and invite you to participate in them, too. Learn more about the 8 events planned in 2025 and consider supporting these events financially here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Listen to a recording of Bound & Determined℠ Live in Cincinnati, where podcast host Meg McKeen was joined in conversation by Colleen Heister-Miles. Recorded in front of a live audience, we share about imposter syndrome, loneliness - even when in community - a scarcity mindset and the chance we have to honor the past while we create a different future.
Meet Colleen Heister-MilesA Cincinnati native, after several years on the carrier side of the insurance business, Colleen moved her focus to her family’s insurance agency in Cincinnati, where she has worked for the last 16 years. Her family’s agency is a 4th generation independent insurance agency, founded in 1901. Colleen is in the process of purchasing the agency from her father and is excited to become not only the 5thgeneration family owner, but first female owner of the agency. When not binding insurance and over-explaining the complexities of the hard market, she enjoys growing her vegetable garden, strength training, cooking, traveling and, of course, spending most of her time with her husband and 3 children.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn * Catch up on past episodes of Bound & Determined℠ with Tiffanie DeMasters and Erin Keller * Learn more about the Ohio Insurance Agents’ 2025 LeadHERship Collective, coming up in Columbus on March 18th and 19th * Special thanks to the folks at The Living Room in Norwood, Ohio, for the lovely space, to my friend Myranda Joseph and Westfield for so generously providing breakfast for attendees, and to Tiffanie DeMasters (photography) and Kellie Rubenacker (breathwork) for their impromptu support. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
Bound & Determined℠ Live is an intimate, in-person gathering curated to provide connection and support to women in the insurance industry in a highly accessible way. It is open to a woman regardless of her role or title or tenure, is low-cost, hyper-local, and does not require extensive time away from work or family. Join us as we take the conversations we're already having on the podcast and invite you to participate in them, too. Learn more about future events and consider supporting these events financially here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Adrienne Fazi to the podcast to share more about her experience as an advocate for breastfeeding - and for women as they advocate for what's right for them. A subject Meg admittedly knows little about, listen as we talk through the option that is deeply personal for women, and can come with challenges in the workplace. Free from shame or judgment, Adrienne shares her recommendations for employers supporting breastfeeding women. This isn't a conversation for those who are breastfeeding - it's for the rest of us.
Meet Adrienne FaziAdrienne Fazi is a mother of 5, a wife, and a gardener. Outside of work and raising tiny humans, you can find Adrienne, coffee in hand, enjoying the outdoors and advocating for neurodiversity awareness and breastfeeding support. Adrienne holds a CIC designation and has served the insurance industry in several capacities over the last 13 years, including sales, service, underwriting, and management.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Adrienne on LinkedIn * Learn more about The Milk Bank * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Amanda Dorsett to the podcast. Amanda shares all sorts of lessons learned following her search for her latest role in the insurance industry during this past year. Together we chat about ghosting, ageism, and the risk (and reward) of sharing vulnerably on social media. We highlight the importance of culture in our decision to join, and stay, with an organization. Amanda weaves practical advice for women on the move throughout our conversation, too.
Meet Amanda DorsettAmanda Dorsett has worn lots of hats in during her 20 year career in the insurance industry - but it's her role as mom to her two sons that's been the most rewarding. A lover of travel and the outdoors, Amanda recently relocated from Seattle to Denver for her role as the Field & Operations Director for the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Tye Threats to the podcast and together we chat about building a business alone – but not feeling lonely as you do – and the "both/and" we often feel, craving both support and control in different proportions. Tye reminds me of the power of both using your voice and also saying…nothing. We celebrate the fake entrepreneurs out there – we’re two of ‘em – and warmly welcome the next generation of leaders to the industry.
Meet Tye ThreatsTye Threats is the CEO and founder of WTV Consulting Group. Based in Dallas, WTV specializes in technology transformations, operational excellence, and business strategy, and through her leadership, Tye helps businesses scale while fostering strategic grown and inclusivity. This is year 22 for Tye in the corporate space and she will forever be dedicated to empowering women and building our next generation in the workforce.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Tye on LinkedIn and Instagram * Learn more about Tye and the work she does here * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Anna Felix to the podcast and together we chat about often complicated relationship women have with money. We explore the shift from a scarcity to abundance mindset - and the opening that can create for us in our decision-making and acknowledge the roots of beliefs around money often lie within our families. We talk about the avoidance approach to managing your money - not recommended! - and the peace that comes from knowing you have a plan.
Meet Anna FelixAnna Felix is a California native and Smart Money Strategist. When she became a widow in 2010 at age 42, she knew she needed to become more financially savvy. Anna’s search left her feeling that there had to be better information – so she decided to turn her pain into purpose, and today, in her words, she empowers her clients with financial strategies that will make them financially bulletproof.
As all of our situations are different, none of the information contained in this podcast episode is intended to be financial advice for you.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Join us for Against the Grain: In the Holiday Spirit…without the Spirits, coming up on November 21st, here * Connect with Anna on LinkedIn * Learn more about Anna and the work she does here * Mentioned by Meg: read Tara McMullin's weekly newsletter What Works, "65+ Financial Issues Women Face Today," published by Ellevest, and Bill Perkins' Die with Zero * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Audry Torrence to the podcast and together we chat about the busy-ness of life, the joy of missing out, and the knowing - and self-acceptance - that comes from an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. Audry is a serial entrepreneur in the insurance industry, a heartfelt storyteller with a deep sense of curiosity, and a genuinely fascinating woman.
Meet Audry TorrenceAudry Torrence has spent the past 29 years solving the puzzle that is insurance recruiting, fifteen years owning an insurance search firm, and nine years working for two London-based search firms. Audry describes herself as an overly intentional mother. “My sons appreciate it now but didn't then,” she says. And, fun fact, Audry has been a working musician for the past 11 years in a cover band with her husband - she plays keyboard and plays guitar – and they both sing.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Join us for Against the Grain: In the Holiday Spirit…without the Spirits, coming up on November 21st, here * Connect with Audry on LinkedIn * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Cat Ferris to the podcast - for the second time! Together we chat through the often complicated relationship we have with our body - especially as it changes with age. What also changes? How we see ourselves within the relationships we keep with others, including our physical, intimate relationships. We talk about our beliefs about sexuality, taking ownership of our pleasure, and how even in relationship, we can feel lonely.
Meet Cat Ferris After 20 years in the insurance industry, Cat Ferris made the decision to leave her career behind, driven by burnout and depression. Her journey toward healing began when she discovered the transformative power of sex-positive spaces and experiences, which inspired her to become a somatic sex and relationship coach. Today, Cat is a board-certified sexologist and the founder of Amory Wellness & Consulting. Her mission is to help individuals and couples deepen their connection with themselves, their sexuality, and their relationships. Cat’s approach focuses on three core areas: embodiment, sexuality, and relationships. By guiding clients to become fully present in their bodies, embrace their desires without shame, and explore new dimensions of intimacy, she fosters growth, healing, and empowerment. Cat provides a safe, shame-free space for self-discovery through practical exercises, mindfulness, and open conversation, empowering her clients to live more authentic, fulfilling lives.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live - in-person events for women in insurance - here * Join us for Against the Grain: In the Holiday Spirit…without the Spirits, coming up on November 21st, here * Connect with Cat on LinkedIn * Listen to Cat’s first conversation on Bound & Determined℠ here * Learn more about the work Cat does to support individuals and couples through the practice she founded, Amory Wellness, here * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Sarah Ennor to the podcast in today’s conversation. Sarah helps us understand how an ADHD diagnosis as an adult helped her to see her life, work, and self in new and informative ways. We talk about the risks of disclosing a diagnosis, and how, if a leader is actually leading, it may not even be necessary. Sarah tells the best stories - raw and compassionate - and reminds us that whether you are living with an ADHD diagnosis or just curious and want to learn more, inclusion is an individual job.
Meet Sarah EnnorSarah Ennor is a biracial speaker, lawyer, international athlete, and a woman thriving with ADHD. Her mission is to make ADHD human, and her talks and workshops show businesses how supporting ADHD is more than just a moral imperative - it’s a competitive advantage. Sarah also helps individuals affected by ADHD up their game with 1:1 support, education, and resources.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live - in-person events for women in insurance - here * Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn * Learn more about the work Sarah does to support organizations and individuals here: Growth Counsel * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Kate Scully Krebsbach to open this 9th season of the podcast. Together we chat through Kate's decision to join her family insurance agency - it wasn't an obvious or easy or quick one - and how she's been able to navigate a new career in insurance sales by narrowing her focus to a single type of business and then going deep into her understanding, and her support, of it. Kate is so generous in this conversation, sharing her ideas for growing your own insurance practice - and in doing so, reminds us that there's more than enough to go around.
Meet Kate Scully KrebsbachA corporate recruiter turned business insurance agent, Kate Scully Krebsbach is on a mission to make insurance less annoying and one less thing for a business owner to worry about. Kate is a proud member of a family business, Scully Insurance Group, and she's Mom to a high-energy 3-year-old. Based in IL, Kate supports clients across the United States.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live - in-person events for women in insurance - here * Connect with Kate on LinkedIn * Listen to Meg's conversation with cyber insurance diva Mercy Komar here * Connect with Sam McKenna on LinkedIn, and check out Gretchen Rubin's The Four Tendencies* here * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
In this special episode of the podcast, host Meg McKeen welcomes Melanie McCarthy-Dickey to share in real time the experience she's having as her oldest son heads off to college. While not all kids are college bound, this conversation reminds us that motherhood can be both a heart-filling and heart-breaking series of endings and beginnings. Listen as we reflect on our own experiences and offer support to a woman navigating a similar transition in her role as "mother" right now.
Meet Melanie McCarthy-DickeyMelanie McCarthy-Dickey is Mom to 4 kids, ranging in age from 12 to 18. She's married to Brian - her second husband after her first husband, Dan, passed from brain cancer. Her second career, Melanie has held various positions within the insurance industry and is currently a people leader for a team of adjusters at Liberty Mutual.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Live - in-person events for women in insurance - here * Learn more about Bound & Determined℠ Together - a virtual gathering for women in insurance - here * Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn * Listen to Meg's conversation on grief following the loss of a partner with Jody LaVoie here * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes side hustle cheerleader Jessica Williams to the podcast. Whether you're thinking about a side hustle or it's never crossed your mind, there is something in this conversation for you. Jess nudges us toward taking that first, tiny, clumsy step - and with kindness and grace, talks us through some of the feelings that might be getting in the way. Perfectionism, over-thinking, overwhelm - are we alone here?! We also share more about nurturing the parts of us that are overshadowed in adulthood - and the permission you might not realize you need to pursue them.
Meet Jessica WilliamsJessica L. Williams, aka Tech Biz Gurl, believes you don’t have to quit your day job to be an entrepreneur. She is the creator of #jesspicks, a weekly newsletter featuring practical resources and tips for side hustlers. She keeps her own cup full by reading, dancing, and enjoying Chicago life with her friends and family.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Jess on LinkedIn * Learn more about the coaching and speaking services offered by Jess here * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes mindset coach Rachel Hamlin to the podcast. Meg accidentally finds herself in the hotseat as she shares more about her complicated relationship with social media and several of the starts - and stops - that she's experienced in the work she does. Together we talk about the freedom that can be found in routine - and the difference between working hard and making work hard. Having both experienced it, we also chat about burnout the choices we have as we navigate life after it.
Meet Rachel HamlinRachel Hamlin is a mindset coach & somatic healer who helps founders & executives in high-pressure positions to alchemize stress and cultivate presence, both in terms of present-moment fulfillment and leadership presence. She has a startup background and a spiritual bent, having worked as a product leader in three different countries and traveled to more than 40 for meditation retreats, yoga teacher training and more. She's currently in Costa Rica, fulfilling her ultimate life goal of becoming a surfer chick.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn * Learn more about the coaching services offered by Rachel here * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes her dear mom, Julie McKeen, to the podcast, to share reflections on her own journey through motherhood - and womanhood. Together we talk through the notions of selfishness and self-preservation, the importance of friendship between women, and on the eve of a milestone wedding anniversary, a beautiful reminder that while so much of who we are has already been sorted, we're never done becoming who we are.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Listen to Meg's past conversation with Michelle Valiukenas here. * Learn more about the speaking and event consulting Meg offers here. * Have a question for Meg? Submit it here and she may answer it on a future episode!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Aree Bly joins host Meg McKeen for real talk - about expectations, and about what happens when you change the rules of the game. We share our experience in unpacking the beliefs we've had about what our personality indicates about our ability. An actuary by training and vocation, Aree is a remarkable thinker and together in this rich and vulnerable conversation, we reframe what it means to be boring, introverted, and we break down the notion of faking it till you make it. Ugh!
Meet Aree BlyAree Bly, an actuary turned speaker, author, and coach, is passionate about fostering sustainable success in actuaries and other analytical professionals. As the founder of Alignment Ally, Aree is known for her ability to connect the head to the heart and unlock potential, she guides individuals and teams in crafting careers and lives they truly love and look forward to.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Aree Bly on LinkedIn here. * Listen to Meg's past conversation with Renee Bruns on the topic of risk - and regret - here. * Learn more about the work Aree does to support actuaries here. * Order your copy of The Sustainable Brain here. * Join me in South Dakota for Big I South Dakota's Women's Conference on May 9th. * Learn more about the workshops Meg facilitates for underwriting teams here. * Would you like Meg to answer your question on a future episode of the podcast? Submit it here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Megan Bock joins host Meg McKeen to share more about her experience following a traumatic injury in early 2023. Through the sharing of her story, Megan reminds us that changing the way we're showing up in the world shouldn't have to require a significant life change. Together we talk through the fallacy of multi-tasking, the not always great influence of technology (specifically our phones) on our lives and relationships, and the power in knowing you're replaceable at work.
Meet Megan BockMegan Bock, CPCU, ARM, is the Chief Operating Officer of Federato, the leading provider of AI-driven "RiskOps" software in insurance. Megan is a dynamic executive leader with deep domain expertise, having spent 20 years in the Commercial Property & Casualty insurance space. Prior to joining Federato, Megan was founder and CEO of Boundless Consulting, and previous roles included Senior Vice President P&C Underwriting, QBE Group; Second Vice President, Travelers Middle Market and various underwriting leadership roles at Liberty Mutual Group.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Megan Bock on LinkedIn here. * Listen to Meg's past conversation with Megan here. * Listen to Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel here. * Join me in Illinois for Big I Illinois' 2024 Sales + Leadership Conference on April 24th. * Join me in South Dakota for Big I South Dakota's Women's Conference on May 9th. * Learn more about the workshops Meg facilitates for underwriting teams here. * Would you like Meg to answer your question on a future episode of the podcast? Submit it here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
In this solo episode, host Meg McKeen puts on her sales + leadership coach hat and responds to listener questions, digging deep into topics like career paths, setbacks, and the scary - and heart-filling - world of entrepreneurship. Would you like Meg to answer your question on a future episode of the podcast? Submit it here: https://www.adjunctadvisors.com/question.
Meet Meg McKeenMeg McKeen, CIC, is the principal consultant of Adjunct Advisors LLC, a consultancy she founded in 2018 with the simple belief that we can and must do more to support the individuals who choose a career in insurance. Her work for more than 25 years in the industry spans roles in underwriting, leadership, and sales, and fuels her work as a consultant today, in which Meg holds space, at the crossroads of personal and professional development, for insurance professionals as they grow their sales and leadership acumen and for organizations as they navigate cultural change.
A graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University, with roots in Chicago, Meg is currently a digital nomad, in the midst of a thoughtful travel adventure. When she’s not supporting insurance professionals, you can find Meg putting the “practice” into yoga practice, searching for the best vegan bakery, or cheering on her favorite independent musicians.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Join us for the next Bound & Determined℠ Live! Learn more here. * Listen to Meg's past conversation with Nicole Corey here. * Listen to Dr. Alexandra Solomon's podcast, Reimagining Love, on the topic of self-compassion here. * Would you like Meg to answer your question on a future episode of the podcast? Submit it here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Heather Blevins joins host Meg McKeen for a heartfelt conversation about mentorship. We talk about the hesitations we may feel to ask for mentorship - and the boundaries (you know we love 'em) we may need to set when mentoring requires bandwidth we just don't have. Together we chat about the importance of exposure to new perspectives - and roles - in the insurance industry as so many of us take steps to find alignment between our work and lives.
Meet Heather BlevinsHeather Blevins is a passionate, creative, problem-solving maverick who loves to prove that her wild ideas work. She loves sunsets, getting lost when she travels, and the power jolt she gets from capturing the stories that dance in her head. A 20-year veteran in the insurance industry, she’s hung out in most of the operational corners of the ecosystem, but her current niche (day job) is strategic underwriting project management-y stuff. She claimed the title of Insurance Rebel on a whim because she wanted to explore the platform formerly known as Twitter, and somehow that title stuck. Years later, she is still exploring, creating, speaking, and writing as an insurance thought leader. Heather also learns more every single day in her role as an adjunct professor to next generation insurance professionals attending Illinois State University.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Heather on LinkedIn * Join us for the next Bound & Determined Live! Learn more here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Crista Walker joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation about squishy leadership topics like purpose – who has time for that? – the risk of admitting you have it all but maybe don’t want it all, and bad bosses. May you neither have one nor be one! Crista provides a modern definition of what it means to be a leader today - and some practical ideas for helping us to see ourselves as others might.
Meet Crista WalkerCrista Walker, Vice President, Agent Engagement & Programs, took the path less traveled to arrive in the insurance industry and at her work home at Liberty Mutual/Safeco. This path included military service, founding a start-up, and working for two Bill Gates companies. Crista’s passion in leadership is to help build presence, authenticity, and a highly connected team. In her words, “I quite happily live on an island in the Puget Sound.”
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Crista on LinkedIn * Join us for the next Bound & Determined Live! here
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Mary Clare McGraw joins host Meg McKeen for an honest conversation about mental health. MC shares about an early career pivot that allowed her to open her eyes and take an intentional look around - leading to her career in insurance and now, as an aligned entrepreneur. In her work as an operations coach for insurance agencies today, MC knows firsthand how confronting it can be to look at the way you've always done things - and how scary change can be. Our winding path includes conversation about fathers and their entrepreneurial daughters - and how being emotional and highly sensitive can be a gift.
Meet Mary Clare McGrawMary Clare McGraw is an operations coach who focuses on helping independent insurance agencies take a mindful approach to streamlining their operations and improving how they utilize technology. As a burnt-out insurance professional-turned- entrepreneur, MC is very open about her own struggles with mental health because while everyone's journey is different, she believes awareness can begin to break down stigma.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Mary Clare on LinkedIn * Learn more about the work Mary Clare is doing through MCJ Partners here * Curious about Insure Equality? Head here to learn more * Listen to Meg's conversation with Saya Hillman on the podcast here * Check out Atomic Habits by James Clear here
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Nicole Corey joins host Meg McKeen in this rich conversation about failure, freedom, and the power of choice. As curious travelers, we explore the notion of "home" - and what happens when we find ourselves ready - but maybe not quite - to change direction on our path. We talk about what happens in your work when you make the choice to change in your life - and fumble through our answers to the question "what is enough?"
Meet Nicole CoreyNicole Corey is the owner of CA Work Comp Advocacy, through which she uses her values of communication, compassion, transparency, and collaboration to advocate for employers navigating the workers' compensation insurance system. Nicole lives in Santa Cruz, California, but is always asked "Where are you today?" because she travels often. Soccer, the beach, food and flowy skirts are a few of her favorite things, and she believes yoga is a way of life, not a form of exercise.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Nicole Corey on LinkedIn * Learn more about the work Nicole does through CA Work Comp Advocacy here * And here's that recipe I mentioned: Flourless Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Amanda Boleyn joins host Meg McKeen to reflect on the power of the pause - and pivot - as you build your career and life, and, as a time management expert, Amanda shares her tips and tricks and hacks to help us make the most of the same 24 hours each day that we each have. We love to talk about boundary setting on the podcast and this episode delivers; if you're a people-pleaser or perfectionist, this one's for you!
Meet Amanda BoleynAmanda Boleyn is a wife, mother, speaker, facilitator, business owner, and real estate investor. She founded and ran a digital platform from 2015-2021 called She Did It Her Way. The She Did It Her Way podcast grossed over 3 million downloads from across the globe. Today she teaches business owners how to invest their time and energy into right activities that will create massive results in their business.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Amanda Boleyn on LinkedIn * Learn more about the workshops Amanda facilitates here * Catch up on Amanda's current podcast Attention Audit * Learn more about Amanda's pivot as you listen to the last episode of Amanda's first podcast, She Did It Her Way
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Liz Brock joins host Meg McKeen to share more about her decision to embrace her silver hair earlier this year. Together they reflect on some of the bogus advice Liz received earlier in her career the led her to start dying her hair - and the learning that has come from making a different choice today. Also on our minds? The (double) standard of beauty in our society - and how changing the color of our hair can create opportunity - not limit it.
Meet Liz BrockLiz Brock is a 20 year veteran in the insurance industry, having spent the first 10 of those on the agency side of the business – before she switched teams and went over to the carrier side about 10 years ago. Home is in Kingwood, Texas, and Liz a is mom to 3 kids - and loves to play golf.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Liz Brock on LinkedIn * Listen to Meg's solo Bound & Determined℠ episode, Silver Linings with Meg McKeen, where she shares more about her silver hair journey here * Join us for the next Bound & Determined℠ Live! when you register here * Learn more about Women in America, the mentorship program Liz mentioned at the close of this episode, here
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Jenn Urso joins host Meg McKeen for a heartfelt conversation about the professional pauses we both took before starting our own businesses, and the lessons learned since then that inform the work Jenn does to support rising leaders in the insurance industry today. Throughout this conversation, we explore the complex relationships we have with money, with self, and with our own relationship with work.
Meet Jenn UrsoJenn Urso is a passionate leadership ambassador that develops the next generation of insurance and business leaders. Jenn believes leadership is an inside job- one that is personal and evolving beyond traditional best practices and methodologies. Through her work, Jenn helps rising leaders find their unique leadership identity and style bridging a leadership mindset and skillsets for empowered professional development in a changing work environment. She works with individuals and teams. Jenn has been in business for over 20 years and in insurance since 2007.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Jenn Urso on LinkedIn * Learn more about the work Jenn does here * Join us for the next Bound & Determined℠ Live! when you register here
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Mercy Komar - the Cyber Diva - joins host Meg McKeen to share the wisdom she's gleaned from her more than 40 years working in the insurance industry as a CSR, agency principal, and producer. As this one will show you, Mercy doesn’t shrink in hard conversations and her passion for supporting women, as well as seniors, in the insurance industry, is strong and evident in the way she’s showing up in the industry today.
Meet Mercy KomarAs a seasoned insurance advisor and risk manager with over 40 years of experience, Mercy Komar has helped countless businesses protect themselves against cybercrime. Cyber risk coverage is Mercy's specialty, and she takes pride in educating others on this growing threat to business. Mercy is also a contributor to local business journals and is widely recognized as a leading authority on insurance and risk management. As the founder of Komar Insurance Educators, Mercy is dedicated to providing education and training to insurance agents.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Mercy Komar on LinkedIn * Learn more about Meg's coaching support here * Learn more about Work at Home Vintage Experts (WAHVE) here*
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Alyssa Gambone joins host Meg McKeen for a candid conversation about her experience navigating her actuarial career in the insurance industry as a trans woman.
Meet Alyssa GamboneAlyssa Gambone has spent her entire 25-year career in the insurance industry with the last 19 years spent at Electric Insurance responsible for the reserving of the company. She currently lives in Salem, MA with her wife and 2 children.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* Connect with Alyssa Gambone on LinkedIn * Catch up on Meg's conversation with Amy C. Waninger on Bound & Determined here * Learn more about and support the important work being done through Insure Equality
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Katie Tomaszewski joins host Meg McKeen for a candid conversation about sobriety. How does changing our relationship with alcohol influence our relationships with others - and ourselves?
Meet Katie TomaszewskiKatie is the founder of Deep Line Health Company and is a dedicated holistic health advocate who empowers individuals worldwide to achieve their well-being goals. With 15 years of experience, she fosters wellness journeys and community through virtual coaching, workshops, and DryNamics – a 90-day sobriety challenge that Katie founded in 2018.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode* If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please call 1-800-662-HELP to reach the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s national Helpline, a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. * Learn more about A DryNamic January here
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Tracy Cotton joins host Meg McKeen to answer her own question: “How do you navigate a season of waiting?” When your default mode has been striving for the next thing or adventure or experience, striving for deeper relationships with those we love - and ourselves - can be its own adventure. In this heart-filling conversation between friends, Tracy shares more about a new relationship in her life and her decision to explore an alcohol-free lifestyle.
Meet Tracy CottonTracy Cotton is a long-time insurance industry enthusiast who has spent her career reinventing herself. Her current role at Starr-Mathews as self-named Executive Client Manager utilizes her broad base of business insurance experience to provide a concierge type role for the agency. Beyond the daily grind, her adventurous spirit led her to complete a personal #50for50 bucket list challenge in 2019, more subsequent bucket list items, and she recently developed a coaching program on building a better bucket list to encourage others.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Tracy Cotton on LinkedIn * Follow Tracy’s alcohol-free journey on Instagram * Learn more about Tracy’s Build A Better Bucket List* program here * Make your plans to join Meg in Chicago for Insure Equality’s inaugural Summit - coming up on September 15th
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
As the owner of multiple high-impact businesses and an insurance professional with over 15 years of experience, Reghan Brandt has seen many changes and shifts in the industry. In this episode, Reghan joins host Meg McKeen to discuss the future of insurance and what it means for young professionals growing their careers in the industry. Reghan also shares her belief in the importance of interpersonal relationships and the advice she would give to her younger self.
Meet Reghan BrandtReghan Brandt is founder and CEO of LRP, The Loss Run Pros; co-founder and president of Columbia Pacific Finance (CPF); and host of The Insurance Chatter podcast, a show that discusses market trends, insurtech tools and recruiting in the industry.
Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode* Connect with Reghan Brandt on LinkedIn * Listen to Reghan’s podcast The Insurance Chatter * Learn more about BrokerTech Ventures * Learn more about Columbia Pacific Finance Co * Learn more about The Loss Run Pros * Learn more about K2 Insurance Services * Listen to Meg’s conversation with Nikki Brandt on Bound & Determined
This season, your questions will be shaping the conversations Meg will have with the smart and inspiring guests she invites on the show. Have a question you’d like to ask? Head on over here to submit it.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Melanie Parsons, the owner of Parsons’ Insurance Agency, joins host Meg McKeen to share more about her journey in the insurance industry. Melanie and Meg discuss navigating negativity - and the impact creating a positive corporate culture can have - and they also delve into the topic of financial awareness for women. Through Melanie’s stories, tune in to be inspired by this story of determination and perseverance.
Meet Melanie ParsonsMelanie’s insurance career began in 1984 as a part-time CSR. In 1996, she started Parsons’ Insurance, an independent, multi-line agency in Viborg, South Dakota. Today, Melanie’s job description includes owner, advisor, and rainmaker.
Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode* Learn more about the Parsons’ Insurance Agency * Join us for the next Bound & Determined℠ Live! with career coach Andrea Yacub Macek by registering here * To work with Meg to create an impactful experience for the women in your organization, get started here.
This season, your questions will be shaping the conversations Meg will have with the smart and inspiring guests she invites on the show. Have a question you’d like to ask? Head on over here to submit it.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Misha Bleymaier-Farrish opens up to host Meg McKeen about her unique career path - and pivots - and finding fulfillment in the ebbs and flows of life. We honor the importance of celebrating achievements, the concept of "shiny objects" in entrepreneurship, and the outdated notion that work must make you miserable. Misha is an inspiring entrepreneur and author and you'll be glad you slowed to listen to this conversation!
Meet Misha Bleymaier-FarrishMisha’s life motto is GSD – “Get sh*t done,” and she shows up living that philosophy every day to every situation. Author, entrepreneur, speaker, technology strategist, wife and mother, Misha wears many hats. As founder of GSD Factor she shares her passion and life motto with her podcast listeners, coaching/mentoring clients, and now her readers of The GSD Factor.
Connect with Misha on LinkedIn here.
Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode Grab your copy of The GSD Factor: The Power of Being Confident and Igniting Your Professional and Personal Empowerment* here * Listen to Meg’s conversation with Misha on the GSD Factor Podcast here * Join Meg in San Francisco for DigIn, coming up on June 5th - 7th, and in Chicago on September 15th for the inaugural Insure Equality Summit
This season, your questions will be shaping the conversations Meg will have with the smart and inspiring guests she invites on the show. Have a question you’d like to ask? Head on over here to submit it.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
This Mental Health Awareness Month, listen in for a heartfelt conversation between host Meg McKeen and guest Marissa Rutkowski as they talk about creating space for mental health discussions in the workplace, how it feels - literally - to consciously blur the line between “work” and “life,” and boundaries. Can we even have a conversation on this podcast without talking about ‘em?
If you or someone you know are struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org to reach the resources available by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Marissa Rutkowski, CIC, CRM, is an accomplished relationship manager, blending skills acquired across 25 years in the Chicago insurance market and 10+ years insurance technology product management. A connector who works in the spaces between disparate teams, Marissa is a Certified Mental Health First Aider with deep interest in reducing stigma of mental and physical disabilities, through open dialogue and community safe spaces.
Connect with Marissa on LinkedIn here.
This season, your questions will be shaping the conversations Meg will have with the smart and inspiring guests she invites on the show. Have a question you’d like to ask? Head on over here to submit it.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Lemons and lemonade. Messes and missions. Blah, blah, blah. Alas, when will there be enough lessons for this life? In this episode, Saya Hillman joins host Meg McKeen to discuss the power of curiosity - and list making - in times of uncertainty, how to make doing different, seemingly disparate things make sense in your life and career, and so many of those a-ha moments that happen when we're living our Life of Yes℠.
Called “Accessible Oprah,” Saya Hillman has been blissfully self-employed since 2004 via her lifestyle business Mac & Cheese Productions℠ which brings joy to "adulting" and creates life ease and fulfillment through building connection: to others, to opportunities, and to self. Saya was one of Brazen Careerist’s Top Twenty Young Professionals to Watch, has been featured in Forbes and The New York Times, and is a TEDx speaker. She’s married to someone she met at one of her own events and has had a hand in countless others’ life leaps and lifestyle design.
Connect with Saya here:
- http://instagram.com/sayahillman
- https://www.facebook.com/macncheeseproductions
- https://www.tiktok.com/@sayahillman
Go down the rabbit hole with Saya Hillman’s Mac & Cheese Productions
Two of Saya’s (many) offerings mentioned:
Life of Yes℠ Sleepaway Camp - it’s the final one!
The infamous Adulting Kit
You can read Saya’s memorial tribute to her mother here
This season, your questions will be shaping the conversations Meg will have with the smart and inspiring guests she invites on the show. Have a question you’d like to ask? Head on over here to submit it.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Lemons and lemonade. Messes and missions. Blah, blah, blah. Alas, when will there be enough lessons for this life? In this episode, Saya Hillman joins host Meg McKeen to discuss the power of curiosity - and list making - in times of uncertainty, how to make doing different, seemingly disparate things make sense in your life and career, and so many of those a-ha moments that happen when we're living our Life of Yes℠.
Called “Accessible Oprah,” Saya Hillman has been blissfully self-employed since 2004 via her lifestyle business Mac & Cheese Productions℠ which brings joy to "adulting" and creates life ease and fulfillment through building connection: to others, to opportunities, and to self. Saya was one of Brazen Careerist’s Top Twenty Young Professionals to Watch, has been featured in Forbes and The New York Times, and is a TEDx speaker. She’s married to someone she met at one of her own events and has had a hand in countless others’ life leaps and lifestyle design.
Links & resources mentioned in this episode:
- Saya Hillman’s Mac & Cheese Productions
- Two of Saya’s offerings mentioned:
- Life of Yes℠ Sleepaway Camp - it’s the final one!
- The infamous Adulting Kit
- You can read Saya’s memorial tribute to her mother here
- Connect with Saya here:
- http://instagram.com/sayahillman
- https://www.facebook.com/macncheeseproductions
- https://www.tiktok.com/@sayahillman
This season, your questions will be shaping the conversations Meg will have with the smart and inspiring guests she invites on the show. Have a question you’d like to ask? Head on over here to submit it.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
Does a trailblazer even know she's a trailblazer? In this episode, Dr. Michelle Morkert joins host Meg McKeen for a candid chat about what makes a trailblazer, the realities we face as we navigate the systems we are part of, and what taking courageous action feels like. We also dig deep and share more about our inner critics - and what it feels like to hang out for longer than we might like in the messy middle of life.
Dr. Michelle Morkert is a women's leadership coach and strategist for trailblazing women leaders. She is on a mission to help them develop the confidence to show up, stand up, and speak up in any room. Learn more about the ways Dr. Michelle can support you here.
Connect with Dr. Michelle on LinkedIn here.
Additional resources for you that we mentioned in this episode:
- Join me on May 11th in South Dakota for the Independent Insurance Agents of South Dakota's Women's Conference
- Join me on June 5 - 7 in San Francisco for DIGIN, presented by Digital Insurance
- Read Playing Big by Tara Mohr
- Get to know Reverend Parris from The Crucible
This season, your questions will be shaping the conversations Meg will have with the smart and inspiring guests she invites on the show. Have a question you’d like to ask? Head on over here to submit it.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
On the brink of burnout, Renee Bruns made the thoughtful decision to leave her corporate role and embark on a year-long travel adventure. In this episode, Renee joins host Meg McKeen to share the "why" that fueled her decision and the way she's navigated her own relationship with risk in her travels - and life. Renee also shares two key lessons shes learned this past year and what's up next for her.
In May 2022, Renee Bruns left her executive role at a Fortune 500 on a mission to see the world and reshape her views of humanity. After a life of living with an undiagnosed physical disability that has caused her to use a wheelchair full-time, she set out to find her place in this world. Through her travels to 117 countries and all 7 continents, she has become a Guinness World Record Holder and has been featured on numerous media sites.
Renee has spent months reflecting and learning to live authentically, something she is passionate about and hopes to help others achieve as well. She will be on sabbatical until May 2023, when she hopes to announce her future plans to help others live to their fullest.
Connect with Renee on LinkedIn here.
This season, your questions will be shaping the conversations Meg will have with the smart and inspiring guests she invites on the show. Have a question you’d like to ask? Head on over here to submit it.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visitAdjunct Advisors. To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here.
Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here, sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here. Thank you for listening!
If you've ever felt like the only woman who has ever doubted herself, her capabilities, or her authority, let this conversation between commercial lines underwriting leader Danielle Morales and host Meg McKeen be the reminder that indeed, you are not. In this episode, hear more about Danielle's experience with imposter syndrome, finding and leveraging her own leadership voice, and the changes, like the seasons, that we experience in our relationships, too.
Danielle Morales is a commercial lines underwriting leader, having underwritten or sold customized insurance products to meet the needs of businesses and the people who own them for almost 15 years. Passionate about people, Danielle is an accomplished leader who is driven each day to support engaged & diverse teams in achieving their goals.
Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. For fun stories and anecdotes, captured in her Dear #digitalnomad Diary series, head on over to Instagram and check Meg's stories there.
To show your support for this podcast, consider making a donation to Insure Equality, a non-profit whose mission is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to work in an environment that supports them for who they are.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Whether it's advocating for more pay or making a complete pivot, career coach Andrea Yacub Macek joins host Meg McKeen for the most candid conversation yet about the transition so many women in insurance are in as we evaluate our relationship with work and what might be next. We talk about why it's so hard to talk about money and where we place flexibility on our priority list - not surprising, it's at the top! We acknowledge that the insurance industry, like many systems women navigate, wasn't built with women in mind and the challenge to navigate it with clarity and confidence is real.
Andrea Yacub Macek'snon-linear and unique background allows her to deeply connect with and expertly guide career changers to a fulfilling career. She is an experienced change management professional that's coached and managed teams through organizational and culture change with minimal disruption to performance and business results. She honed these skills and created massive change in her own career, and she was able to do that without the “right” education or credentials.
Andrea is passionate and experienced in working with mid-career professional women that are managers and rising leaders. She shows her clients how to create professional change without compromising who they are or what they want. Andrea shows her clients how to simplify a career change and make it uncomplicated. She works closely with her clients to help them figure out what’s next in their career and identify the skills and experience they already have to get them there. Andrea helps you create and practice powerful communication that gets you in front of the right opportunities. She will walk you through how to use that communication across networking, applications, resumes, interviews and LinkedIn profiles. Andrea holds a Master’s in I/O Psychology, a Bachelor's in Psychology. Stay up-to-date when you subscribe to Andrea's weekly newsletter here.
You can read the latest McKinsey Women in the Workplace 2022 report here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. For fun stories and anecdotes, captured in her Dear #digitalnomad Diary series, head on over to Instagram and check Meg's stories there.
To show your support for this podcast, consider making a donation to Insure Equality, a non-profit whose mission is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to work in an environment that supports them for who they are.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Ashley Fitzsimmons: Millennial. Beyonce of Insurance. Director of Professional Development & autoimmune disease badass (both literally & figuatively). Connect with Ashley here on LinkedIn.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. For fun stories and anecdotes, captured in her Dear #digitalnomad Diary series, head on over to Instagram and check Meg's stories there.
To show your support for this podcast, consider making a donation to Insure Equality, a non-profit whose mission is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to work in an environment that supports them for who they are.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Jody LaVoie, the founder of Widows in the Workplace, joins host Meg McKeen on this episode of Bound & Determined. Through the learning and healing experienced following the tragic loss of her spouse and partner, Jody now supports women navigating their own relationship with work, family, grief - and themselves. As many continue to evaluate the place "work" fits in our "life," Jody highlights the need to think creatively about the meaningful ways we can support - and show up for - the employees who choose to work in our organizations.
Jody LaVoie is a CEO, certified coach, speaker, and a widow. She has lead a multimillion-dollar supply chain technology business and was the CEO of the nonprofit Female Strong. Today, through Widows in the Workplace, Jody uses her 20+ years of professional experience to help widows reground to find productivity and purpose again in the workplace and at home so they can move forward confidently, find joy again, and build everyday resilience.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, including growth and leadership consulting, visit Adjunct Advisors. For fun stories and anecdotes about her travels as a #digitalnomad, captured in her Dear #digitalnomad Diary series, head on over to Instagram and check out Meg's stories there.
To show your support for this podcast, consider making a donation to Insure Equality, a non-profit whose mission is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to work in an environment that supports them for who they are.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Precious Norman Walton is a champion for education - and change - in the insurance industry. In this episode, Precious shares her wisdom about the skills we accumulate in our lives and careers - they're transferable, even if you can't see how - and what a less conventional career path might look like when we align those skills with our talents and beliefs. An expert storyteller, Precious and Meg chat through our relationship with failure and perfectionism - it's complicated!
Precious Norman Walton, CPCU, TRIP, SHRM-CP, AIC, AINS, AIS, has served as an insurance and risk management professional for 17 years. Her career has spanned personal lines claims, commercial account management, leadership, and underwriting. She was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal where she shared more about her decision to embrace her silver hair in the workplace, and is the recipient of the 2022 Elite Women recognition by Insurance Business America. Precious currently serves as a leadership council member for the The Institutes CPCU Society, where she acts as the liaison between the CPCU Society Interest Groups and Leadership Council.
You can connect with Precious Norman Walton on LinkedIn here, and learn more about her newest endeavor, Lovejoy Risk Management, here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, including growth and leadership consulting, visit Adjunct Advisors. For fun stories and anecdotes about her travels as a #digitalnomad, captured in her Dear #digitalnomad Diary series, head on over to Instagram and check out Meg's stories there.
To show your support for this podcast, consider making a donation to Insure Equality, a non-profit whose mission is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to work in an environment that supports them for who they are.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Together with host Meg McKeen, Jenn Walsh shares strategies for finding and using your voice in the workplace - a coach can help! - and what it looks like to take the lead with your clients, too. We chat through the agent/producer and service personnel dynamic and wrap up with a reflection on the unique opportunity service professionals have to succeed in a sales role. One of the smartest conversations to date!
Jenn Walsh is the founder and CEO of GenuineShift, a business consulting company that delivers learning & development programs to fuel growth, optimize profitability and minimize friction for insurance brokerage firms of all sizes. She created the Client Service Academy in 2019 to address our industry's talent crisis when she realized her clients weren't going to have enough people to support their ambitious sales goals.
Jenn has 30+ years of hands-on experience driving organizational growth as a salesperson and business development leader. She developed her expertise in employee benefits within insurance carriers, a full-service brokerage firm, and by holding several national industry association leadership roles.
A sought-after speaker and industry expert, Jenn advocates a Client Service First Framework™ where Sales and Client Service teams align investment, mindset, and work style with a Clients hire you to be led™ focus. The goal of the programs Jenn has created include onboarding new talent, upskilling junior colleagues and resetting and recharging veterans - a particular passion for Jenn.
Jenn lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, adult children, and a chihuahua, Lolo, the 39th rescue she accidentally adopted in 2020. #fosterfail #fullnest
You can connect with Jenn Walsh on LinkedIn here, and learn more about the work she does to support industry professionals here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, including growth and leadership consulting, visit Adjunct Advisors. For fun stories and anecdotes, captured in her Dear #digitalnomad Diary series, head on over to Instagram and check out Meg's stories there.
To show your support for this podcast, consider making a donation to Insure Equality, a non-profit whose mission is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to work in an environment that supports them for who they are.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Licensed therapist Lauren Martin joins host Meg McKeen for a candid conversation about burnout. If you’re feeling it, know you’re not alone. Since burnout can be sneaky - that you’re headed for it might not be so obvious to you or those you love. Lauren reminds us that navigating life with and after burnout can be tricky, and requires us to inventory our energy - and in some cases, redraw our boundaries - but it’s possible.
Lauren Ruth Martin is a therapist, speaker, and the host of the podcast 9toKind. Lauren discusses burnout and perfectionism to colleges and companies of all sizes, and her workshops have been known to give new language to the burnout experience and offer practical strategies to shift work culture. Her dream is for people to have more margin without having to sacrifice. Learn more at https://www.laurenruthmartin.com/.
References in this episode:
The Power of Vulnerability, TED Talk by Brené Brown
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors. For fun stories and anecdotes, captured in her Dear #digitalnomad Diary series, head on over to Instagram and check Meg's stories there.
To show your support for this podcast, consider making a donation to Insure Equality, a non-profit whose mission is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to work in an environment that supports them for who they are.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Host Meg McKeen shares more about her digital nomad lifestyle, answering the questions she's asked most frequently. Have a listen to learn more about the logistics and the lessons she's learned in her nomad life.
For fun stories and anecdotes, captured in her Dear #digitalnomad Diary series, head on over to Instagram and check Meg's stories there!
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
To show your support for this podcast, consider making a donation to Insure Equality, a non-profit whose mission is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to work in an environment that supports them for who they are.
Before we get started, a special shout-out to listener Wendy for her lovely feedback about the podcast and her financial support. Learn more here.
00:00 - 02:24 | Welcome to Bound & Determined℠, Dustyne Bryant and Cat Ferris! Dustyne and Cat are each one-half of the duo that hosts the podcast Awkward Insurance, sponsored by The National Alliance.
02:25 - 05:54 | Meg is checking from Denver this time - the sun is shining for her today. Dustyne is in central Arkansas and has a different feeling about winter weather after a recent trip to Florida. Cat is in north-central Florida - where you can wear both a parka and flip-flops in the very same day. Meg shares more about the wardrobe challenges she faces as a #digitalnomad. Limited options mean she's wearing things out which helps her to appreciate what she has in a different way.
05:55 - 06:44 | When three podcast hosts come together on a podcast, it's natural to talk about...a podcast! Meg was previously a guest on Awkward Insurance and is viewing this conversation as a continuation of the great dialogue they started there. One of the challenges of hosting a podcast is the willingness to go deeper into topics - holding space for our guests to do the same.
06:45 - 09:30 | Cat shares more about her start in podcasting; Dustyne hosted for a full year before Cat joined the show, which helped her to see her own path to success. Embracing social media has been the true challenge for her in this season of her life - letting others have a glimpse into our personal lives can be a real shift - and a rush.
09:31 - 11:32 | The 5 Love Languages are a real thing - Meg shares that hers is "words of affirmation" and social media can provide that dopamine hit that she craves. But strangers on the internet are just that - and unless those consuming content with those who create it choose to engage, there can be a loneliness to showing up on social media. Social media helped provide a bridge during the pandemic, too, in many cases.
11:33 - 12:44 | Do you have a best friend at work? Both Cat and Dustyne started in their current roles working remotely. Building and maintaining connection in the virtual world is a challenge.
12:45 - 16:59 | Dustyne shares more about the origin of Awkward Insurance - she didn't start hosting willingly, but has been able to embrace the role of host beautifully. Having a mentor who sees our abilities and pushes us in a healthy way to see our potential is an invaluable gift.
17:00 - 18:53 | We are 100% our own worst critics. Dustyne felt a vulnerability - keeping her in her head and up at night. It gets better with time, but can feel so heavy.
18:54 - 20:09 | Dustyne talks through the idea of having split social media personalities - work and personal - and how she's challenged to do this. She's created a work-around that allows her to share the open parts of her life, but it's not a perfect solution.
20:10 - 22:59 | Boundaries are so important - even as podcast hosts, there are things we still won't talk about, and that's the decision each of us has to make. Some push those boundaries and others don't - either way, this is real life and is different for each of us. Cat reminds us that we don't owe anyone more of ourselves than what we're willing to share.
23:00 - 24:59 | Parenting opens up a whole new set of challenges when it comes to sharing on social media. Young adults today have had so many of their life's milestones shared on social media, and are now living with the consequences of having that information so accessible.
25:00 - 26:59 | Meg recently changed her Instagram handle from her business name to her personal name. When we show up in different ways, it can be hard to bundle them up in one cohesive way and opens up a whole new sense of vulnerability. Meg reflects on her experience with the podcast and all that she's learned as a result.
27:00 - 30:43 | Cat shares more about her disdain for small talk. Deep, meaningful conversations fill her up - her love language is an extra one - sharing secrets. We talk about passion - do we need to have passion for the work we do? Meg shares more about her passion - holding space for stories. Relationships are fuel - the good, real, raw stuff - and Meg relates so closely to Cat in this way.
30:44 - 34:09 | Let's chat about building relationships in the virtual world. Those of us who have been at this for a while have the benefit of past experience and credibility. Starting from the beginning is a totally different story. Dustyne shares more about her decision to join an organization remotely just before the pandemic shut-down.
34:10 - 37:04 | We circle back to the concept of having a "workplace bestie" - but making and growing connections with colleagues is a real thing. How do you approach someone? How do we navigate different work styles? Dustyne and Cat have had to navigate this as they go, creating a safe and bold dynamic despite the distance.
37:05 - 40: 19 | How many times have you over-shared on a Zoom or Teams meeting? It's Meg's nature to second-guess what she shares from time to time. It's an experience so many of us share. Communication isn't a perfect journey; how can we give one another the grace to share, even when it's uncomfortable for us?
40:20 - 42:19 | Cat's love language isn't words of affirmation; honoring the space that others take to share their stories is so important. Self-awareness is required in order to see others' love languages - but the rewards from doing so can be so fulfilling.
42:40 - 44:56 | Dustyne leaves us with an important final thought on communication. Thanks for being here, Dustyne and Cat, and for having this conversation with us.
To learn more about the work they're doing to support insurance professionals, connect with Dustyne on LinkedIn and follow her on Instagram, and connect with Cat on LinkedIn and follow her on Instagram. Learn more about Awkward Insurance and join the community when you head on over here.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
00:00 - 03:29 | Welcome to Bound & Determined℠, Carrie and Patty! Carrie and Patty are girlfriends - and the co-founders of Hello Again Products. In this episode, we're talking about menopause. Whether you're thinking ahead, in menopause, or on the other side of it, there's something for you here. We take a minute to celebrate that we are living in a time when open conversations like this can take place as we honor the individual journeys we are on.
03:30 - 08:11 | Let's dig into the signs and symptoms of menopause - it will be different for each of us. It manifested differently for both Carrie and Patty. Sleep, hot flashes, and brain fog are just a few things on the list.
08:12 - 11:00 | Carrie and Patty learned by accident that they were navigating their individual experience with menopause - and that the support they needed didn't exist. Their unique, yet shared experience led them to a dispensary where they started the journey that would become Hello Again.
11:01 - 13:59 | Cannabis has turned the insurance industry on its head - which is exactly how Carrie and Patty felt as they began to develop the knowledge they'd need in order to build their business. We talk about what other people think, naysayers, and the nagging doubts that creep in when we're trying something new. What happens when we just say out loud what we want? For Carrie and Patty, so many doors opened.
14:00 - 17:59 | With age comes wisdom, right? Carrie and Patty share some of their own experiences - starting with the awkward conversation about menopause itself - and it doesn't have to signal the end of life, but rather a new and vibrant chapter. We talk about perfection - that's boring, right?
18:00 - 22:09 | Carrie and Patty have developed a CBD-infused vaginal suppository to alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause. Carrie and Patty are customers and advocates - and Meg shares a couple of fun asides about makers of products who are also users of them! Meg is so much more aware today of the products she consumes as well as the businesses she supports.
22:10 - 25:19 | What do you wish you would've known as you were navigating your own menopause journey? Patty shares more about the knowledge she wishes she'd had - and Carrie talks about the very real fluctuations our hormones have leading up to and during menopause. Our hormones are fluctuating so much - and it can't be said enough. Aging is a physical process - fine lines, wrinkles, age spots - all provide evidence that our bodies are moving into the next phase of life.
25:20 - 30:44 | How can we support a woman who is in menopause? Understanding is key - and we acknowledge that both men and women are aging, our bodies manifest this change very differently. Meg shares more about her decision to stop coloring her hair - and the learning that experience provided. Leading with a sense of curiosity is key in the process.
29:00 - 30:44 | Thanks for being here, Carrie and Patty, and for having this important conversation with us.
In Carrie + Patty's words: Curiosity drove long-time friends Carrie Mapes and Patty Pappas to a dispensary for the first time. There they asked questions about all the products, brands, and delivery systems. What they learned led to them creatively solving their own menopause experiences. They formulated the product they wanted to use but didn't exist on the dispensary shelves. Hello Again is a menopause solution that uses cannabis to help women feel healthy, not high.
To learn more about Carrie + Patty, visit www.helloagainproducts.com, or follow Hello Again on Instagram (@helloagainproducts).
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Before we get started, know that we'll be talking about infertility in this episode. If this is a topic that's a little too close to your heart today, please skip past this episode - and we'll see you next time.
00:00 - 03:24 | Welcome to Bound & Determined℠, Jaimie Selwa! Jamie is no longer a woman working in the insurance industry, but that doesn't lessen the impact of her story.
03:25 - 06:29 | Meg is recording this episode from an Airbnb in Denver, Colorado, and Jaimie is in Columbus, Ohio, where she lives with her husband and two rescue dogs. Jaimie accepted a new position in August of 2021 and shares more about the decision she made to pursue a role in customer marketing.
06:30 - 12:44 | Jaimie's new role her to both use the skills she naturally possesses and actually enjoys, and to learn new skills, too. We talk about the value of transferable skills and how to use that awareness of our skills as we make future career plans. Though Meg is an advocate for careers in the insurance industry, there is beauty in recognizing that perhaps you can find alignment in something new, too.
12:45 - 17:14 | Meg shares more about her infertility journey with a big disclaimer - she's not a medical professional, and neither is Jaimie! Infertility, like insurance, is a language of its own and one you hope you don't have to learn unless/until you need to.
17:15 - 21:09 | Mental health is a huge component of infertility that is often overlooked. The feelings of disappointment and loss can be so heavy and can impact so many relationships. Jaimie reminds us that infertility is a medical diagnosis and while there's been so much research, there's still so much to do.
21:10 - 24:29 | Jaimie honors that not all fertility journeys conclude with a baby. It is healing to have conversations like these and Meg is grateful.
24:30 - 31:29 | We've talked in the past on the podcast about the ways we diminish how we experience loss. Jaimie continues to be a support to those on their fertility journeys, even though she's now herself expecting a child, and shares a smart perspective to help us support those who need us, but also find joy in our own experiences.
31:30 - 34:26 | This experience changes you - and connects you with others on a similar journey, too. It changes our relationships, too, which Jaimie describes as she shares a glimpse into the conversations she and her husband have needed to have along the way.
34:27 - 38:44 | One of the missions of this podcast is to help us understand how we can be supportive, even when we aren't experiencing the same thing as someone else. Jaimie describes what it feels like to feel supported - and what it doesn't.
38:45 - 42:45 | Jaimie authored a book, First There Was Me, The Journey to You, and shares more about that creative process and her decision to take it from an idea to a finished product. The book is a lovely representation of the various ways families are made.
42:46 - 46:23 | We just can't know where the paths we are on will go. Jaimie continues to share her story, inspiring others along the way. Thank you for being a light, Jaimie!
In Jaimie's words: I am a digital marketer by day and an infertility advocate, celebrating, championing, and raising awareness of the various ways families are made. I am the author of the children’s book, First There Was Me, The Journey to You.
To learn more about Jaimie Selwa and follow along on her journey, visit www.jaimieselwa.com, follow her on Instagram (@infertilechronicles), or connect with her on LinkedIn.
To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
00:00 - 02:09 | Welcome to Bound & Determined℠, Abi Potter Clough! Abi has been so generous with her support of Meg and is again supporting her in this conversation on the podcast. Change is a constant and conversations like this are an important part of the process.
02:10 - 07:35 | Abi recently relocated from New York to Tampa, Florida. She shares more about the winding path she took to get there, in both her personal and professional life, where she began her insurance career in claims. Fear and loss are a real part of making change and she shares more about how she experienced both.
07:36 - 11:23 | So many of us have change in common, but change can look different for each of us. Abi's work centers on managing change - and she shares more about the relationship between her own story and the work she does today. Meg shares more about the evolution of her business and how it looks today versus when she started four years ago. A mix of excitement and fear, change isn't without emotion. Abi reminds us that we are allowed to change course and the results can be better than we could've planned for.
11:24 - 15:30 | Leaving what is familiar is hard. There can be so much pressure we feel to get it right and to have it all figured out. Abi and Meg talk about expectations and Meg shares more about how she's navigating the expectations she feels from others. Abi reminds Meg that the people who care about us aren't always able to express that concern in the most healthy and productive ways.
15:31 - 18:30 | There is safety in what we know. It's easy to understand why people don't make changes in their lives and careers because it can feel so overwhelming. But, we really, truly do only get one chance at this life. Change is hard, important work, but Abi reminds us that not making change is painful, too.
18:31 - 20:31 | Abi long-identified as her location and her work and unraveling that identity has been a journey. She's learned that work doesn't have to define her and instead the things and activities - and people - she loves can shape who she is today.
20:32 - 24:49 | Meg has been grappling with the definition of success and unraveling what it looks like for her today. Abi has so much wisdom on this topic and has had her own journey to redefining it, too.
24:50 - 26:00 | Meg and Abi do not have their morning routine in common! Entrepreneurship is a risk, but also provides unexpected benefits like skipping setting an alarm in the early morning. A reminder that if you're not working, you're not getting paid - and planning and preparation are key.
26:01 - 28:29 | We talk about what it feels like to have the freedom to share your own message and to build your own brand. Alignment between work, values, and how we support ourselves is key.
28:30 - 35:19 | Abi shares more about the work she does as a freelance writer in the insurance industry. Through this work, she's able to highlight some interesting changes in the industry. She's writing her next book, Crazy Confident, sharing unique ways to build confidence, rooted in her public speaking journey. We share some of the "bad day" stories we've experienced as professional speakers - it's not glamorous!
35:20 - 37:52 | Abi, you are a gift! Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me on this episode.
In Abi's words: I am an author, keynote speaker, and freelance insurance writer, writing and speaking about insurance, risk, leadership, and change. I've authored the books Life After Leaping In and Top 10 Lists For Relocation.
To learn more about Abi Potter Clough and follow along on her journey, visit Life After Leaping In, follow her on Twitter @AbiLeads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals visit Adjunct Advisors.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
00:00 - 02:10 | Welcome to Bound & Determined℠, Nikki Brandt! Nikki brings a fresh perspective into recruiting in the insurance industry.
02:11 - 04:49 | Meg shares more about how she lines up the guests on the podcast; they are usually people she knows, but today is the first time she and Nikki have connected. Meg knew as soon as she saw a post that Nikki recently shared that she just had to be on the show.
04:50 - 06:29 | Nikki shares more about the lessons she's learned since starting NB Talent 10 months ago; when we stop worrying about doing things the "right" way, new opportunities can present.
06:30 - 09:34 | An insurance career path doesn't have to be what it used to be - Nikki and Meg had some overlap but have landed in very different places. Nikki shares more about why she started the business she's building - we've all received one of those spammy messages on social media from a recruiter, right?
09:35 - 17:10 | How many times have you had a hunch - but never acted on it? We talk through the emotions we feel when we are ready for change and Nikki shares more about her career path - from a degree in fashion merchandising to underwriting to sales.
17:11 - 20:19 | Many people are evaluating the alignment between career and life - and challenging the current status quo. Nikki shares openly about the feelings she experienced when making the decision to choose a different path in her career, including the importance of the support of her network.
24:39 - 25:29 | A quick note about co-working; Meg is a big fan of this concept (shared office space for professionals) and it's something Nikki is exploring, too.
25:30 - 26:29 | Mentorship takes different shapes and we often struggle to recognize when we are ready to be a mentor, or when we need a mentor.
26:30 - 30:29 | Business is booming for Nikki - a sign that she's on a good path. She's helping organizations connect with underwriters, account managers, and producers/salespeople. Happy employees aren't typically looking for a new opportunity, which is a compliment to the organizations they work for who have made a commitment to employee satisfaction a priority.
30:30 - 35:59 | People want to work with individuals who value their work and are engaged in the work they do - Nikki is both. Nikki shares more about the non-negotiables for candidates today. Spoiler alert: employees want flexibility.
36:00 - 37:17 | A fun reminder that even when our business cards don't say "sales," we still need to focus on building our networks and developing new business. Thanks for joining Meg on the podcast, Nikki - you're welcome back anytime!
In Nikki's words: I'm a wife, mom of 2, dog lover, and I love to network and connect people! I've had much success in insurance, but saw an opportunity in the recruiting space to do it differently so here I am! I have a second business in the anti-aging beauty space, and I love all things that help women look and feel their best - both personally and professionally!
To learn more about Nikki Brandt and follow along on her journey, visit NB Talent, follow her on Instagram @blondestgirlintheroom, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals visit Adjunct Advisors.
To stay up-to-date on offerings, ideas, and Meg's latest travel plans, subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Before we get started, know that this episode will include discussion around addiction. If you or someone you know is navigating addiction, please call 800-662-HELP (4357) or visit SAMSA. You are not alone.
00:00 - 01:19 | Welcome to Bound & Determined Erin Bahadur℠! Erin is a talented writer and photographer - and the creator of Erin's Inside Job, a blog that she curates filled with approachable ideas to support her unique viewpoint on wellness.
01:20 - 04:19 | Meg shares more about how she came to know of Erin, during a time in her career when so much of what influenced her came through the lens of insurance. How refreshing a fresh perspective can be! Keep listening for an update on Meg's travels, too.
04:20 - 06:11 | Erin and her family relocated during the pandemic - from Chicago to North Carolina. We chat about the idea of home - is it a feeling or a place?
06:12 - 8:59 | Erin is a writer and photographer, and in her blog, she tackles the idea of wellness, but understands that it means something different to each of us. Erin shares more about the beginning of the blog in 2013, when she was in recovery. Erin knew she needed to share about the things she was feeling - and decided that writing was the best avenue.
09:00 - 10:49 | We talk about the "punishment culture" that we often experience - in fitness and in business. There's an energy around success that if it isn't painful, or you're not at your breaking point, then you haven't truly earned it. What would it feel like if we celebrated rest, too?
10:50 - 13:07 | Erin's addiction shifted - to a focus on her body and nutrition - revealing that her recovery wasn't finished - and won't ever be.
13:08 - 18:04 | We talk about our changing bodies - Meg's with age, and Erin's with motherhood. The view we have of our bodies changes with time, just like our bodies change, too. Erin shares honestly about "sucking it in" - we do that literally, but also figuratively when we don't exposure our whole, true selves.
18:05 - 21:59 | Erin's experience has evolved - and as such, her personal experience with motherhood fuels a new passion for changing the post-partum experience for new mothers. While Meg isn't a mother, this awareness helps us all to be more supportive to those who need it.
22:00 - 24:59 | Capturing the changes to her own body and her daughter's over this past year, take a peek at this amazing photo sequence. It's just so honest and beautiful. This sharing isn't about entertainment - but real life.
25:00 - 27:19 | A reminder that social media doesn't always tell the whole story. Sometimes we need a break or to be silent. We celebrate consistency, but can we celebrate taking a break, too?
27:20 - 28:24 | Thanks for joining the podcast, Erin, and for being out there doing this good work!
To learn more about Erin Bahadur and follow along on her journey, visit Erin's Inside Job and follow her on Instagram @erinsinsidejob.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals visit Adjunct Advisors.
To stay up-to-date on offerings, ideas, and Meg's latest travel plans, subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Before we get started, know that this episode will address topics including harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
00:00 - 02:35 | Elisa Stampf joins host Meg McKeen in this episode. Elisa was a guest on the podcast in a previous season, but a lot has changed since our last conversation.
02:36 - 04:29 | Elisa has observed the experience of many women in the workplace and she found herself at a breaking point. Elisa shares her story of harassment and discrimination in the workplace. It's a tough - but necessary - listen.
04:30 - 10:08 | Elisa made a career pivot at the start of the pandemic. She decided to take a stand for someone she didn't even know and realized she could no longer be silent. She was alienated in the workplace, first in small ways, and then in others, much larger. She shares more about the physical and emotional effects of such a workplace culture - some of which we can't even see.
10:09 - 11:45 | Non-disclosure agreements are common - and can be damaging. They control a perception that behavior like this doesn't happen, or happens on a very limited basis. Elisa and Meg have a shared experience in hearing the stories of many women in the insurance industry, which highlights that we are not alone.
11:46 - 16:37 | Meg has challenged Elisa for the feasibility and practicality of the work she is doing - to change the system that has perpetuated these experiences. Meg has struggled to reconcile that many of the perpetrators of this behavior are well-respected in the industry - and some are even friends. How can seemingly good people not know - or are they being protected?
16:38 - 19:17 | Elisa unpacks the idea of "good" or "bad" people and how we respond in situations like we've described. The goal in addressing these instances isn't about punishment but rather understanding and atonement - and moving forward.
19:18 - 21:59 | So often we diminish the experience we've had - ranking it as it compares to others. This equates to devaluing - and often accepting - the experience we've had as somehow acceptable. Elisa challenges us to focus on the little things - the decisions we make every day that perpetuate the outcomes we're trying to change. Can we stop prioritizing profits over people?
22:00 - 25:59 | Elisa is channeling this desire for change into the work she is doing today through Insure Equality, focusing on the small changes that can make a great impact. She acknowledges that this work has been underway for years, and we are all qualified to be on the journey to make change together.
26:00 - 28:59 | Elisa encourages a culture where 1) there is safety in coming forward, 2) leadership takes these allegations seriously, 3) confidentiality will not be required, unless asked for by the victim, and 4) client and vendor partnerships won't be valued more highly than the well-being of their employees.
29:00 - 32:29 | Individuals can tell their stories - confidentially - to support this work, providing necessary research and data. A toolkit is also available to help champion this movement within organizations that may be reluctant to see the need for change. This collaborative effort is intended to shine a light on organizations - helping potential employees to see their ability to see their success there, too.
32:30 - 37:52 | Culture, equity, and inclusion are business priorities and this tool simply makes good business sense. A reminder that just because you can't see something doesn't mean it doesn't happen - we can choose to look away or we can choose to lean in.
37:53 - 40:50 | So many people are surviving - not thriving - working in the insurance industry today. Changing this is overwhelming - but necessary - and won't be perfect. And there is beauty in knowing we are still moving forward.
Visit Insure Equality to learn more and to share your story.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals visit Adjunct Advisors.
To stay up-to-date on offerings, ideas, and Meg's latest travel plans, subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Before we get started, know that this episode will address topics including miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss.
00:00 - 01:26 | Now in its 4th season, Bound & Determined℠ returns with a new episode. In this season, we'll go even deeper, beyond our roles in insurance and the title on our business card, exploring the richest relationships we have in our lives, including our relationship with ourselves.
01:27 - 03:44 | Michelle Valiukenas joins host Meg McKeen in this episode. Michelle is on a mission to change the experience of loss parents and so bravely shares her experience with us here. We acknowledge that it's hard to get hard conversations like this right, and while it's not Michelle's responsibility to give us that space, she has done so for Meg so graciously.
03:45 - 05:54 | Michelle recently shared a poignant post on LinkedIn, expressing her experience when a flippant comment was made, changing the trajectory of her experience that day, which is not a
05:55 - 08:21 | Meet Colette Louise; while she lived a very short life, it is so meaningful. Michelle shares more about her journey to pregnancy through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and how she just knew her baby was a girl.
08:22 - 13:20 | With severe pre-eclampsia, at 21 weeks, Michelle was admitted to the hospital; at 24 weeks 5 days, Colette was delivered by emergency cesarean section. Colette defied the odds in her short 9 days of life.
13:21 - 14:43 | Terminology matters and Michelle helps us understand what it means to be a "loss parent." Michelle likes this term because it encapsulates infertility struggles, and the loss of experiences of pregnancy and childbirth, too.
14:44 - 15:51 | Meg introduces the idea of "ranking" of loss and how often diminish our experience because it's not "that bad." Meg shares more about her experience with infertility in a time when the desire to become a mother was so strong.
15:52 - 21:29 | What did grief look like for Michelle in 2018? What does it look like today? Michelle shares a memory about wanting to go back to "normal," realizing "normal" will forever be different. Michelle is raising her rainbow baby (a baby born after loss) and reflects on the nuances of his life experience without Colette.
21:30 - 25:34 | So many women grieve in silence because our grief can feel inconvenient to others. Michelle shares how she honors Colette's memory in her day-to-day and how many others shared their own personal experience with loss, helping her to know she was not grieving alone.
25:35 - 32:19 | It didn't take Michelle long to know she needed to be part of changing the experience of other loss parents, and she created the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation to offer a hand in support to others experiencing loss. Through financial assistance, education, and advocacy, Michelle is changing outcomes for families in a time they need it most.
32:00 - 33:59 | Learn more about the important work Michelle is doing at https://www.colettelouise.com, or on social media @colettelouisetisdahl.
34:00 - 36:29 | Entrepreneur to entrepreneur, Meg asks Michelle what she does on the days that it all feels so hard. Hint: grace and why!
36:30 - 36:59 | Thanks for the important work you do, Michelle, and for sharing your story with us.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals visit Adjunct Advisors.
To stay up-to-date on offerings, ideas, and Meg's latest travel plans, subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
This is Meg's first solo episode - where she's the host and the guest. Thanks for tuning in!
00:00 – 04:00 | It’s the final episode of season 3 of the podcast and the recording is taking place on the shore of Lake Michigan, where Meg is spending the next month. For context, earlier this year, Meg sold her home and most of her things and has been traveling while growing Adjunct Advisors LLC. So much learning and so many lessons learned!
04:01 - 5:59 | Meg’s decision to stop coloring her hair has nothing to do with insurance - but rather being a woman. There’s been a lot of curiosity surrounding her decision, and she talks about the emphasis - and value - we place on our physical appearance in the insurance industry. She knew there could be consequences and likely wouldn’t have had the courage to make this change if not for the path she’s currently on.
06:00 - 7:09 | Changing our appearance is a personal choice and Meg found her first gray hair when she was 21 - and they don’t stop once they start.
7:10 - 8:39 | In Meg’s early 30s, after her divorce, Meg started to color her hair - every 6 weeks, and then eventually as often as every 3 weeks.
8:40 - 10:49 | In the fall of 2019, life changed again - three things happened - a trip, a death, and a break-up - and Meg knew it was time to “ditch the dye.”
10:50 - 12:23 | Once you decide to embrace your silver, how do you do it? Meg shares the three options as she saw them and the one that she chose. P.S. from Meg: Brené Brown and I aren’t actually friends - but thanks for thinking I could ever be that cool! If you’ve been listening for awhile, you’ll hear me talk about her work a lot as it has very much influenced my own.
12:24 - 13:38 | There’s no way to avoid "the awkward phase" as Meg described it. It seemed like time had stopped! Having the support of other women experiencing this at the same time was key.
13:39 - 14:59 | Meg chose to embrace the journey and chronicle her experience in photos and by sharing her experience through social media. There was a lot of curiosity - and questions - about the decision and the process. Our attitude makes so much difference as people are looking to us for a reaction - and we set the tone.
15:00 - 17:29 | It took about a year and a half for the transition to be complete, but there was frustration in thinking it would never get there! And Meg learned that investing in high-quality hair products enhances her silver - and they’re worth it!
17:30 - 18:31 | Maybe this isn’t about gray hair for you - but something else. What tiny next step can you take?
18:28 - 22:16 | Meg reflects back on a few of her favorite podcast episodes, including episode 1.01 Style is Personal with Alison Hamilton-Rohe, episode 2.02 Matters of the Heart and Home with Elizabeth Abramson, a dating coach, and episode 2.07 Strength in Her Story with my friend Nichole Johnson. We could use your prayers.
19:00 - 20:24 | Season 4 is underway and we’re going to go there - planned topics include infertility, menopause, and body image. What else is on your mind?
20:25 - 21:27 | Before we go, if you’d like to show your commitment to supporting women in insurance financially, consider becoming a sponsor of the podcast. And keep an eye out for information about the series of events Meg will be hosting around the country when Bound & Determined hits the road this fall.
21:28 - 22:16 | We made it! Thank you for supporting the podcast and every single way you show up to support Meg and the work she does.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance salespeople, through private coaching and workshop facilitation, visit Adjunct Advisors.
To stay up-to-date on offerings, ideas, and Meg's latest travel plans, subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Welcome to Bound & Determined℠ Ania Caruso!
00:00 – 05:09 | Ania shares more about a recent trip she took – we need to remember to fill our cups before we can give to others. Slowing down and refocusing gave Ania the energy she needs to tackle the rest of 2021.
05:10 – 07:29 | Ania reminds us that we don’t have to make a choice between parenting and having a career. Ania’s heritage informed her career choices and she’s observed the choice that many women feel they have to make between being a parent and a professional.
07:30 – 10:29 | Let’s talk about allyship. In insurance sales, such an opportunity exists for women to be successful, and having strong allies that see that potential can be an asset.
10:30 – 12:49 | Ania returned to the office after having her second child – and was presented with a significant career opportunity. She talks through the decision she made to pursue the role and how an ally helped her to see the possibility, too.
12:50 – 14:54 | Insurance sales has historically had a masculine energy about it. Meg shares more about her belief that we don’t have to be what we’re not in order to succeed in sales. Ego is a common thread in success in insurance sales and isn’t a requirement for success.
14:55 – 16:42 | Ania shares more about the feelings she experienced as she got started in her new role. Fear and doubt – and excitement and confidence – they’re all there! Having a strong support system, including her husband, has been key to Ania’s success.
16:43 – 18:29 | Ania introduces the concept of developing your personal board of directors and shares ideas for creating your own.
18:30 – 20:59 | Meg’s board of directors includes a mentor and friend with a different viewpoint on sales – which can be such a valuable counterpoint. Mentors, after all, aren’t always right.
21:00 – 23:59 | Here’s how to create your own board of directors if you’re not sure where to start. And don’t forget that your board of directors will change as you do.
24:00 – 27:35 | Meg shares a clever way that someone looking for mentorship was able to give back for the time and ideas shared. Remember that mentorship works both ways, and we have much to learn from everyone.
27:36 – 34:29 | We unpack Queen Bee Syndrome, common among women in male-dominated fields. Success is such a personal thing
34:30 - 37:41 | Growth is important - but it’s hard work. Ania shares a story about the assumptions we make – and how often they’re not right! Practice, by continuing to put ourselves out there, is so key.
37:42 – 40:41 | Let’s talk about sales. Sales comes with rejection – yes, it’s a numbers game, but, it’s also about problem-solving and mastering the soft skills. Curiosity and listening are so important, too.
40:42 – 41:34 | Creativity is welcome – and necessary - in insurance sales. Ania shares more about the skills she believes are important, too.
41:35 – 44:39 | Meg shares more about her start in the insurance industry. She hasn’t always loved the insurance industry and it definitely chose her – rather than the way around! We have an awesome responsibility to listen to our clients
44:40 – 47:59 | “Don’t take it personally.” Have you heard this advice? What if we did take our work personally? What would the relationships we create look like then? Even those we assume know what they’re doing when they make a decision to buy insurance from us really don’t.
48:00 - | There are so many ways – tactics and methods – to find success in insurance sales, but as salespeople, we won’t be for everyone. Knowing when to walk away, and feeling supported by the organization you work for, is key.
In Ania’s words: I am passionate about building authentic relationships in the risk & insurance industry while being a problem solver for all stakeholders around. I am a strategic risk leader as well as casualty nerd that seeks innovative & client-centric solutions in the ever-changing world of risk management. I get excited when I can give back to the industry community via mentorship and championing DE&I. In my spare time, I love to hike and bike with my two kids and husband as well as cooking for anyone that enters my home. Learn more about Ania when you connect with her on LinkedIn.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance salespeople, through private coaching and workshop facilitation, visit Adjunct Advisors.
To stay up-to-date on offerings, ideas, and Meg's latest travel plans, subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Welcome to Bound & Determined℠, Kim Beach!
In this episode, Kim shares more about her decision to start an insurance agency after an established career in the television industry - and the unique perspective that provided on a business that many of us are too close to have. Kim used this perspective to launch InsureWomen in early 2021, and shares more about the process and emotion of naming - and then launching - a new business. We talk about the unique opportunity women have to be successful in sales and how to work through the feelings that can often get in our way.
Kim Beach is the founder of Village Insurance and InsureWomen. InsureWomen's mission is to empower women in the insurance buying process to feel confident, educated, and respected - with the attention they deserve. The company also provides a marketing platform for other female-identifying agents who are passionate about helping women in this process.
To learn more about the work Kim is doing, connect with her here.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance salespeople, through private coaching and workshop facilitation, visit Adjunct Advisors.
To stay up-to-date on offerings, ideas, and Meg's latest travel plans, subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
00:00 - 03:29 | Welcome to Bound & Determined℠, Maria Goy! Maria is dialing in from Austin, TX, and Meg is currently in New Orleans! Maria shares more about her decision to move to Austin; sometimes home finds us, after all.
03:30 - 05:29 | Maria is a newlywed; she shares more about marrying her husband in what ended up to be the perfect way.
05:30 - 09:09 | How do you balance building a new business - and a new relationship? Maria talks about her priorities - and the relationship she keeps with herself.
09:10 - 17:29 | We share the lessons we learned from our mothers. Maria shares more about her Korean-American heritage and how that has influenced the career choices she's made. Maria shares more about the strong influence she felt from the former president of New York Life, John Kim.
17:30 - 24:20 | Maria shares more about her decision to leave her last corporate role - which was rooted in a better understanding of herself and how she wanted to show up in the world. Even when outwardly "successful," something was still missing.
24:21 - 26:59 | So much clarity can come from grief; Maria shares more about a period of sadness that helped her to see more clearly her next steps.
27:00 - 29:44 | What does it look like to choose yourself? What are you willing to risk? What are you willing to let go of?
29:45 - 36:29 | Meet Spot, a new alternative to traditional accident insurance, changing the view consumers have on insurance and the way they access it. When was the last time a buyer of insurance heard from the co-founder of a company asking for feedback? Maria gets it.
36:30 - 38:34 | Making insurance approachable helps everyone; it's true that a rising tide lifts all boats.
38:35 - 43:13 | Maria leaves us with two pieces of wisdom - one: no judgment, and two: we have earned the right to ask for help. There is such beauty in community.
Resources Mentioned:
How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton M. Christensen {Book}
The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown (TED Talk)
The Call to Courage by Brené Brown (Netflix Special)
Maria Goy is the Co-founder and COO of Spot. Learn more about the work she does when you connect with her on LinkedIn, or send her a message here.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance salespeople, through private coaching and workshop facilitation, visit Adjunct Advisors.
To stay up-to-date on offerings, ideas, and Meg's latest travel plans, subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
00:00 - 03:20 | Meg welcomes Kristy Sanford to Bound & Determined℠. Kristy is an insurance agent, helping small business owners to build business insurance programs.
03:21 - 06:00 | Kristy shares more about her decision to join an insurance agency after spending time as a small commercial sales rep for an insurance carrier.
06:01 - 08:59 | The past year helped Kristy to realize she missed being close to the small businesses she was helping. After some deliberation, Kristy knew she was content but not happy.
09:00 - 10:53 | Change can be hard; it means saying goodbye to friends and colleagues, but it also means welcoming new colleagues and clients into your world.
10:54 - 12:09 | When relationships can transcend a conversation about insurance, you know you've made an impact on your client. It's the best feeling, isn't it?
12:10 - 14:59 | Kristy shares more on the difference between being content and being happy. Why don't we take more chances in our lives and careers?
15:00 - 16:49 | It's okay to question our job satisfaction - to wonder if there might be something else out there. So much of our past experience informs our future decisions.
16:50 - 18:59 | The leap? It doesn't have to be huge! Meg waxes on divorcing our careers - will this be normalized in our lifetime?
19:00 - 22:21 | What makes Kristy Sanford great? What makes you great? Kristy is an expert listener and will never "always be closing."
22:22 - 24:23 | Kristy talks us through an example of her sales style. What works in role-playing won't work in reality.
24:24 - 26:39 | Empathy goes a long way in building long-term relationships. Fear-based sales may have worked in the past, but our clients are craving something different.
26:40 - 27:44 | When you are 100% who you are, the people who value you for that will find you.
27:45 - 29:29 | Kristy's roots are in small business. Though she's not up for entrepreneurship, she respects it and is glad to be part of solving the insurance puzzle - and others - for her clients.
29:30 - 31:59 | It can be hard to make a living selling small business insurance. The numbers don't always make sense. Kristy shares her perspective and why she's here for the long term.
32:00 - 34:49 | You don't know when small business might become big business! And even insurance agents don't get it right every time.
34:50 - 37:43 | Holding space for these conversations is important, and we're not alone. And a final thought on competition. There's more than enough to go around, isn't there?
Kristy Sanford is a commercial lines account manager for Robertson Ryan & Associates. Learn more about the work she does when you connect with her on LinkedIn, or send her a message here.
To learn more about the ways Meg McKeen supports insurance salespeople, visit www.adjunctadvisors.com.
Like what we're up to on Bound & Determined℠? Please leave your review on iTunes.
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Megan Bock Zarnoch to Bound & Determined.
00:00 – 02:00 | Welcome to Bound & Determined, Megan Bock Zarnoch! Here we hold space to tell the stories of women in the insurance industry.
02:01 – 05:12 | Meg and Megan first met when, years ago, Megan would've been Meg's boss - and then again during an event supporting women in insurance, and then again, as we are carving our paths, consulting within the insurance industry.
05:13 - 05:59 | Despite the challenges, Megan and Meg have stayed connected this past year - brainstorming business ideas during chilly walks and in a virtual yoga session that Megan teaches.
06:00 – 09:00 | Megan shares more about the experiences that led to the consulting work she's doing now through her company, Boundless Consulting Group LLC.
09:01 – 9:50 | Megan and Meg both experienced a misalignment of their personal and professional values while working in a traditional corporate insurance setting. Can you relate?
09:51 – 13:30 | Megan shares relatable stories about those moments when we blend to fit in while working in a corporate environment - think golf! and whiskey! and cigars! It's no surprise to learn that business is taking place in these spaces where we don't always feel like we belong.
13:31 – 15:00 | Should we apologize for not liking golf? There is so much to forgive - and forget - as we change the face of what a career in insurance looks like.
15:01 – 17:20 | Megan is focused on helping companies see their culture as it is - and helping them to shape a culture that attracts the clients and employees they want to serve.
17:21 – 19:14 | Megan's extensive experience in commercial underwriting leadership uniquely qualifies her to do this work. Diversity in corporate cultures drives business outcomes and both Meg and Megan are uniquely positioned to be part of the change we want - and need - to see.
19:15 - 21:29 | Every organization has a culture - the culture informs how people show up in their work and engage with their customers. And, simply, how they feel at work. Does the culture of an organization support and enable its employees?
21:30 - 25:34 | What does an empowered underwriter look like? Meg and Megan talk about punitive underwriting cultures and what that looks like in practice. We aren't going to get it right 100% of the time.
25:35 - 27:09 | There is such an advantage to having an outside perspective. The unspoken rules can often shape culture - and their legacy can be long.
27:10 - 28:37 | As we see more technology utilized in business practices, it brings a lot of change. Change can bring confusion and uncertainty and understanding the cultural implications is key.
28:38 - 31:25 | Meg and Megan are collaborating on a new project, creating space for open and honest dialogue between agents and underwriters to drive relationships - and business outcomes.
31:26 - 35:19 | The pandemic created space for Megan to explore her passion for yoga. She earned her teaching certification and is integrating many of those teachings in the work she does today.
35:20 - 37:59 | Are we ready for yoga in the workplace? Let's hope so!
38:00 - 40:39 | Work-life integration feels a lot more attainable than work-life balance. Can we undo some of the behaviors that have historically supported the hustle culture?
40:40 - 42:42 | Thanks for joining the conversation, Megan!
To learn more about Megan Bock Zarnoch and to connect with her on LinkedIn, head here. Continue the conversation when you send her an email at megan@boundlessconsult.com or join her Sunday yoga series at yogapractice@boundlessconsult.com.
To learn more about the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance salespeople, through private coaching and workshop facilitation, visit Adjunct Advisors.
To stay up-to-date on offerings, ideas, and Meg's latest travel plans, subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Host Meg McKeen is joined by Sharon Carter in this episode of Bound & Determined.
Have a listen to learn more about Sharon's life before insurance - including her experiences navigating the corporate world as a woman of color, the value of being - and receiving - mentorship, and the humanity she brings to the often intimidating process of buying life and health insurance.
00:00 – 01:20 | Welcome to Bound & Determined, where we hold space to share the stories of women in the insurance industry.
01:21 – 02:29 | Meet Sharon Carter. Sharon is currently living and working in New York - and feeling this cold weather a little too close to home!
02:30 – 04:49 | Sharon shares more about her career path and her journey to the insurance industry – it wasn’t a straight line. Sharon reinvented herself 6 years ago after furthering her education and working in accounting and finance at the start of her career.
04:50 – 07:29 | Job changes, including mergers and lay-offs, spurred the career change Sharon was looking for. Welcome to insurance! Sharon’s prior skills translated in many ways, and she committed to learning more about insurance – and what she wanted out of her work.
07:30 – 09:29 | Approaching her 40th birthday, Sharon asked herself “If I don’t do this now, when will I?” Sharon shares more about her life at that time and the strength of her faith as she made the decision to pivot in her career.
09:30 – 11:34 | We chat more about mentorship; Sharon has been a mentor, helping to create exposure for inner-city youth.
11:35 – 15:39 | Sharon shares about her experience in corporate America as a woman of color, including the micro-aggressions she and her colleagues experienced.
15:40 – 16:39 | Sharon created an outlet for the dissatisfaction she was feeling in her work and a way to give back through the camps and coaching she provided to girls and their parents.
16:40 – 18:19 | Sharon is fueled by a genuine desire to help people – in the mentorship work she does, and in the insurance work she does, too. Such an opportunity for change we have in the insurance industry to change the experience for others joining the industry.
18:20 – 21:59 | Alignment in our work and our beliefs can be a challenge. Life circumstances often dictate the choices we make – and the changes we make. Sharon and Meg relate as they are both not married and have no children, but recognize that’s not the case for all women contemplating change.
22:00 – 24:29 | We talk about the power of a niche and identifying who your clients are – the ones that can pay you, but also value you for the important work you do. Technology has made this big world so much smaller!
24:30 - | Meg gets a crash course in life insurance! Working with someone like Sharon, who can make the complex simple, is such a blessing. Listen as she shares more about her customer’s journey.
28:50 – 29:39 | Meg issues a poignant reminder that insurance agents are paid when they sell a policy – that’s how the industry works - but that doesn’t mean they don’t honor their clients’ needs front and center.
29:40 – 31:59 | Sharon provides food for thought for a young woman embarking on a sales career. What will satisfy you? Excite you? Can you see yourself doing this work in 20 years? To make progress, we have to be honest with ourselves.
32:00 – 33:32 | There’s a pressure to get it all right, right? A reminder that there are others looking to us for support, and there truly is enough to go around.
33:33 – 35:23 | Sharon is creating her own path, with flexibility and upward income potential – all while honoring who she is and working with those who value her.
Sharon Carter is an insurance agent, helping individuals and their families to secure their futures. Learn more about Sharon and connect with her here.
Meg McKeen is the founder of Adjunct Advisors, LLC, offering a fresh perspective on insurance sales through private coaching, workshop facilitation, and corporate speaking. Learn more and stay up to date when you subscribe to the twice-monthly newsletter Meg curates, To Taking the Risk.
1:37 – 6:04 | By definition, Kelly Augspurger is an insurance agent, helping her clients to design insurance programs for their longer-term care needs. But in practice, Kelly uses her own experience and expertise to help her clients feel safe and confident that the decisions they are making today are the right ones for the future.
6:05 – 8:14 | Kelly and her husband own an insurance agency. Her experience as a caregiver has prepared her for the work she is doing now.
8:15 – 10:33 | Kelly helps us to understand “What is long-term care insurance?” and keeps it kindergarten smart (thank you, Kelly)!
10:34 – 11:29 | Let’s talk about creating a niche. What if it’s not about a product or business type and instead about an emotional connection?
11:30 – 21:47 | Kelly helps us to understand what motivates her as we learn more about her relationships with her aging grandparents, and Meg shares a bit more about hers.
21:48 – 25:47 | Kelly and her husband, Adam, decided to start an insurance agency, but Kelly already had another job! Learn more about her transition to becoming an insurance agent.
25:48 – 27:49 | Boundaries? What are those? Kelly shares more about the balance in the work, the growth of their business and the needs of their family for her.
27:50 – 32:28 | Kelly shares more about the challenges she’s faced – and continues to face – as she grows in her sales career. You just can’t speed up time!
32:29 – 34:49 | When your partner in life is also your partner in business, finding a balance isn’t without its challenges!
34:50 – 36:34 | Kelly shares a bit of the wisdom she’s accumulated along the way – and it involves passion.
Learn more about Kelly Augspurger and the work she does when you connect with Kelly on LinkedIn, or visit Steadfast Agency online.
Don’t miss monthly Office Hours with Meg, the third Wednesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. Central.
Like the show? Leave your review on iTunes – please and thank you!
Meg McKeen, Founder, Adjunct Advisors, welcomes Erin Brown, Founder & CEO, Lead Connext, to Bound & Determined. In this episode, we'll talk about Erin's decision to pursue an immersive work experience abroad, and how that shaped her future career plans. Erin shares the ins and outs - and ups and downs - of starting her business and more about the lessons she's learned about imposter syndrome and making it work.
00:00 - 3:44 | Meg welcomes Erin to the show; Meg and Erin have a lot in common as they both have flexibility in their work in the current environment.
3:45 - 5:14 | Let's get to know Lead Connext; Erin is building a community for first-time and middle managers, offering knowledge and support to support individuals on their leadership journey.
5:15 - 6:00 | Erin's work focuses on supporting the community members as a whole person, a journey she's been on as well.
6:01 - 8:24 | Erin spent her corporate insurance years working on the agency side of the business and grew into a variety of leadership roles. She's passionate about travel and knew that she was ready for a change - and the chance to marry the two through her experience with Unsettled.
8:25 - 10:34 | How do you tell - not ask - your boss that you'll be working abroad for a month? Lots of interesting conversation, to say the least!
10:35 - 12:14 | 30 days living abroad with 30 people you've never met will change you, no matter how you look at it. Erin felt all the emotions as she embarked on this adventure.
12:15 - 18:14 | If you've ever felt you've not been able to be your whole self in the workplace, or your values aren't in alignment, you'll relate as Erin shares her experience.
18:15 - 19:44 | Change doesn't happen overnight; Erin returned to work following her travel and
19:45 - 20:44 | Quitting your job without a job isn't something that everyone can do, but we can all ponder what else is available to us.
20:45 - 25:09 | Entrepreneurship is hard! Erin shares the biggest challenges - and surprises - she's learned along the way. Planning for change is key - both emotionally and financially - and there's so much learning to do.
25:10 - 26:59 | Your support system changes when you change course - it has to.
27:00 - 30:44 | There's no right way to start a business - and you can't eliminate all the challenges. Erin and Meg chat the ways they've created sustainability during uncertain economic times, so they can stay committed to their individual missions.
30:45 - 38:33 | Imposter syndrome is a topic that comes up often on the podcast and in the work both Meg and Erin do. They share more about their collaboration on the subject, as well as Erin's experience with imposter syndrome and how she has learned to work with it as she grows her business. Having an accountability partner can be key!
38:34 - 40:46 | How to learn more about Erin and the Lead Connext community - Meg is a member! Thank you for your friendship and your support, Erin!
To learn more about Erin Brown and Lead Connext:
- Connect with Erin Brown on LinkedIn
- Visit the Lead Connext website
- Follow Lead Connext on Instagram
To learn more about Meg McKeen and Adjunct Advisors:
- Connect with Meg McKeen on LinkedIn
- Subscribe to To Taking the Risk
Join host Meg McKeen, founder of Adjunct Advisors, LLC, as she welcomes Nichole Johnson, Field Manager for Frankenmuth Insurance to Bound & Determined.
00:00 – 01:09 | Introduction to Bound & Determined; in this episode, we’ll talk about Nichole Johnson’s unexpected cervical cancer diagnosis. It’s a tough, but necessary, conversation for all women to hear.
01:10 – 03:01 | Meg shares more about the first time she and Nichole met – during Meg’s first and only time as a manager of people – and she’s been a big fan ever since.
03:02 – 22:29 | Nichole shares more about the changes she noticed in her body in mid-2020 and the discovery that turned out to be cervical cancer. We talk about how often we dismiss what appears to be not-normal in our bodies, sometimes because we don’t want to be “difficult,” because we don’t know what to expect from our changing – and aging - bodies, and because we are afraid. Nichole shares more about her treatment plan and her health today.
22:30 – 26:23 | The things to say – and not to say – to someone who has cancer. Spoiler alert: “I’m hoping for the best” is one to keep for yourself.
26:24 – 32:50 | Nichole shares more about her support system – including her sweet son, James - and her faith.
32:51 – 37:01 | What Nichole would like women to know, including the importance of an annual pap smear, leaving medical diagnoses to the professionals, and sharing your feelings. Thank you, Nichole, for sharing your story with us.
Learn more about - and connect with - Nichole Johnson here.
Stay up-to-date on events, workshops and learning opportunities through Adjunct Advisors when you subscribe to To Taking the Risk.
Enjoy the podcast? Please leave your review on iTunes.
Join host Meg McKeen, founder of Adjunct Advisors, LLC, as she welcomes Erin Keller, Business Relationship Manager at Donegal Insurance Group to Bound & Determined!
0:00 - 03:04 | Let's meet Erin Keller! We talk about the plans that changed earlier this year and Erin's reality in this moment.
03:05 - 03:59 | Erin is a mother to four, ages ranging 15 to 5; her life changed in a big way when COVID hit.
04:00 - 04:49 | Erin's kids have become her co-workers. Can you relate?
04:50 - 05:19 | Research indicates women working outside the home will be most significantly impacted as a result of the pandemic. The pressure to do it all has never been greater.
05:20 - 08:09 | A day in Erin's life - physically and emotionally. Even with a background in education, Erin wasn't ready to be a teacher as well as a mom and employee. There's a certain mourning that we do when plans change unexpectedly.
08:10 - 08:59 | Summer provided a welcome break. Erin shares more about the importance of validating your own feelings.
09:00 - 10:19 | School resumed this past fall with a hybrid schedule; part-time school presents its own unique challenges. Clear communication has been so necessary.
10:20 - 12:18 | As a non-parent, Meg appreciates that the challenges parents face are real. Life hasn't stopped because of the pandemic.
12:19 - 14:34 | Erin shares her experience in her work during the pandemic and her shift from working in a headquarters environment to being in the field. She shares more about working in a larger company and her current role, being able to have a more direct impact on the bottom line, and the challenge of getting to know your teammates when you're not working side-by-side.
14:35 - 15:24 | Erin's days now are spent in her home office; she recognizes the silver lining in her current reality.
15:25 - 18:44 | Meg recognizes Erin's use of social media to stay engaged with the insurance agents she works with. Her use of social media to express her personality and connect despite the opportunity to do so in person is so smart.
18:45 - 23:59 | Let's talk about golf. Meg expresses her lack of love, to put it mildly, for the sport, and Erin shares the opposite - how she's learning to love the sport. We talk about its presence in the insurance industry and ponder what an alternative might be, if any.
24:00 - 25:49 | What does "self-care" even mean in today's reality? "Unplugging" doesn't always have the desired effect - and we're learning as we go.
25:50 - 27:46 | Driving as an act of self-care; our time today is so different now that we don't have a commute - and the blank space we do have often leads to more questions than answers.
27:47 - 29:21 | One silver lining for Erin - more sleep! and more time with family - while there's still so much to worry about, those she loves are home and safe.
29:22 - 30:24 | A silver lining for Erin at work? Better systems and more efficiency - and time for more meaningful conversations with her customers. A reminder that we are humans having a human experience.
30:25 - 33:21 | Connect with Erin on LinkedIn or by email (erinkeller@donegalgroup.com). And Erin started a "mom blog!" Check it out here.
Join Meg for Plan Your 2021: A Workshop for Insurance Agents on November 8 or 9. Learn more here.
Stay up-to-date on events, workshops and learning opportunities through Adjunct Advisors when you subscribe to To Taking the Risk.
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Elisa Stampf on this episode of Bound & Determined. Listen as we explore Elisa's recent decision to pursue an opportunity as an independent insurance agent following success working for various insurance carriers.
00:00 – 01:41 | Introduction to Bound & Determined. Thanks for listening!
01:42 – 03:23 | Let’s meet Elisa Stampf and hear more about her current reality in this COVID environment
03:24 – 06:41 | Elisa shares more about her recent career transition, from an insurance carrier sales representative to an insurance agent and agency owner
06:42 – 07:33 | Meg’s observations of Elisa as she’s shifted in her roles – and reflections on her own shift
07:34 – 09:15 | People with an insurance carrier background have an advantage when it comes to selling insurance
09:16 – 10:15 | The challenges when leaving what you know and trying something new
10:16 – 12:35 | Elisa’s experience demonstrating authentic leadership in a large corporate, and now small, more intimate environment
12:36 – 16:10 | Let’s talk about instinct and intuition – and the important distinction between the two
16:11 – 19:53 | How imposter syndrome manifests for Elisa – and a reminder that it’s not the same for everyone
19:54 – 22:14 | The importance of self-coaching and our belief in ourselves
22:15 – 24:21 | We’re talking about loving ourselves on an insurance-related podcast. Pinch me!
24:22 – 25:21 | What insurance is actually about, in Elisa’s words. What buyer of insurance wouldn’t want to feel this way?
25:22 – 26:10 | How Elisa resisted her career in insurance – and how she’s achieved the alignment she’s been seeking
26:11 – 28:34 | Saying out loud that your job isn’t working for you – and the shame that can accompany the admission
28:35 – 29:59 | Did you grow up knowing an insurance agent that looked like you?
30:00 – 32:44 | What the “average” insurance agent looks like today
32:45 - 37:58 | The opportunity that’s arisen from the pandemic and what Elisa is optimistic about, in the industry, her business, and for her personally
Learn more about Elisa when you connect with her on LinkedIn.
Learn more about the work Meg does to support insurance agents here.
Listen as host Meg McKeen and Lawanda "Elle Michell" Hall talk about their less traditional insurance career paths. With a foundation in the industry, you're qualified to do a lot more than you might think!
0:00 - 1:49 | Get to know Lawanda "Elle Michell" Hall and her reality in this COVID environment
1:50 - 3:17 | Co-working as a strategy for staying connected and building new connections in this virtual world
3:18 - 4:24 | Elle's great interview on Profiles In Risk where she shares more about her less traditional career paths
4:25 - 5:09 | Elle's intentional decision to pursue a career in corporate risk management that started with an interest in actuarial science
5:10 - 9:59 | The choice to honor her whole self in the work she does led Elle to a job in claims as her entry to risk management - and ultimately entrepreneurship
10:00 - 11:19 | Elle's curiosity with entrepreneurship and the opportunity we have in the insurance industry to leverage our individual talents
11:20 - 12:59 | There is no "right" way to navigate your career and the importance of honoring who you are
13:00 - 13:59 | Careers are like dating - eventually people will find out who you really are!
14:00 - 15:29 | Elle's transition to entrepreneurship was a pretty obvious shift - but less conventional career paths aren't the norm in the insurance industry
15:30 - 16:59 | The risk of staying put and living an unfulfilled life - and living at the intersection of who you are and what you do
17:00 - 18:59 | Elle is in her sweet spot in risk management and career consulting with individuals who are thoughtful and ready for change - from "now to next."
19:00 - 23:08 | Commonalities between Elle's clients - in their careers and their job satisfaction. #LiveLove, #SpeakLife, and #Free People are the pillars of Elle's practice
23:09 - 24:59 | Connecting the dots for early career professionals as they envision a career in insurance. We are living our lives while we are building our careers, right?
25:00 - 25:42 | A few thoughts on imposter syndrome - the inner critic, not going for it and watching opportunities pass you by
25:43 - 26:53 | What makes Elle Michell amazing?
26:54 - 27:59 | A client story about the assumptions we make and Elle's clever "lifework" that made a difference
28:00 - 29:44 | Confidence comes and goes and building it requires effort
29:45 - 31:24 | In addition to career coaching, Elle is also a consultant for small businesses and continuing education provider for insurance agents
31:25 - 31:59 | There's so much opportunity in the insurance industry with a foundation of discipline in risk management
32:00 - 33:19 | The freedom that comes from a consulting career in insurance
33:20 - 35:07 | Thanks for joining the podcast, Elle!
Learn more about Intelligent Intentions and schedule your complimentary discovery call with Elle Michell here.
Learn more about host Meg McKeen and the approachable and accessible resources available to insurance salespeople here. Stay up-to-date when you subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Listen as host Meg McKeen and Tammy Feller talk about Tammy's journey with sobriety, embracing a health-centered lifestyle, and the importance of the support system we create. We chat about goal setting and challenging ourselves - but most significantly, loving ourselves.
00:00 - 03:52 | Introduction to Tammy Feller - and how she and Meg met in the big, small world of insurance
03:53 - 05:33 | Tammy's role in the insurance industry and how life looks for her during COVID
05:34 - 09:44 | Tammy shares about her decision to stop consuming alcohol*
09:45 - 10:25 | A reminder that memories are still being made when we're not feeling our best
10:26 - 12:04 | What did the next day look like? What does support look like?
12:05 - 12:59 | Meg's experience with virtual happy hours during COVID
13:00 - 14:59 | How alcohol permeates the culture in the insurance industry and advocating for what you need within it
15:00 - 17:33 | The lessons we learn simply by living - the confidence and strength we accumulate over time
17:34 - 20:47 | A medical concern leads to Tammy's decision to change her eating choices and adopt a vegan lifestyle, which Meg has embraced, too
20:48 - 21:45 | Gratitude for the choice to make a change
21:46 - 22:48 | Where does Tammy's "all or nothing" mindset come from?
22:49 - 24:10 | The unexpected impact of setting short term goals
24:11 - 26:21 | The magic of the "messy middle" and Tammy's guidance for taking the next step
26:22 - 27:12 | The hardest part is showing up; thank you, Tammy, for sharing your story
Don't miss it! Join Meg for the next Ask Me Anything coming up on September 15th, and the next Navigating Imposter Syndrome Mastermind - kicking off on September 16th.
If you or someone you know needs help navigating substance abuse, you are not alone. Learn more about the resources available here.*
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Elizabeth Abramson in this episode to talk about Elizabeth's very personal experience with insurance in her own life. Meg lands in the hot seat as Elizabeth, a dating coach, shares her ideas and insights into the personal relationships that professional women keep.
0:00 - 9:53 | Elizabeth shares her experience with insurance at the time of a loss
9:54 - 11:00 | Why not have a dating coach on the podcast?
11:01 - 15:45 | How Elizabeth transformed her love of research into a business
15:46 - 19:08 | How COVID-19 has impacted the way we connect & our "whirly" thoughts
19:09 - 20:27 | The difference between dating and a relationship
20:28 - 21:22 | A reminder that relationships can take so many shapes
21:23 - 22:41 | How dating changes as we change
22:42 - 24:56 | What putting yourself out there really looks like
24:57 - 25:35 | Why is prospecting for clients so much easier than for romantic partners?
25:36 - 29:09 | When relationships end and being SAFE*
29:10 - 30:53 | Ghosting - partners and clients!
30:54 - 33:21 | Working with Elizabeth Abramson
*If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of a relationship, please call 800-799-7233 for help.
To join Meg for the next Ask Me Anything, coming up on August 25th, register here.
Subscribe to To Taking the Risk for twice-monthly updates from Adjunct Advisors.
Join host Meg McKeen and Deidre Wright in a candid conversation about risk-taking in business - and life - and the importance of investing in yourself.
0:00 - 9:50 | Meet Deidre Wright and learn more about her insurance career journey
9:51 - 11:45 | Moving on in order to advance in your career
11:46 - 14:40 | The creation of Deidre's business, Strategic Stories
14:41 - 19:40 | Using the principles of risk management to take little leaps
19:41 -22:10 | Leaning on your network for support
22:11 - 25:30 | Discipline and staying committed to self-care
25:31 - 30:00 | Setting boundaries - and the guilt that often follows
30:01 - 32:17 | Doing the deep work: the ugly side of self-care that isn't so glamorous
32:18 - 33:39 | Learn more about the ways you can work with Deidre at DeidreWright.com
Let's keep in touch! Subscribe to To Taking the Risk here.
Host Meg McKeen is joined by Catherine Johns for a frank discussion about all the ways we play small as women in business - and life - and inspires us as we consider the ways we can take up more space.
Learn practical steps for gaining expertise in speaking publicly and navigating imposter syndrome - if you didn't know this already, we all feel it!
Learn more about working with Catherine here, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter. Catherine's wisdom is a gift - delivered right to your inbox!
Don't forget to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter curated by Meg to receive her unique insights into the insurance industry, too.
Join host Meg McKeen as she chats with Barb Provost, founder of Purse Strings, about women as powerful decision makers in financial transactions - and our potential as salespeople, too.
We talk candidly about what makes a perfect happy hour and how simple it can be to curate a perfect customer experience.
Learn more about becoming a Purse Strings approved provider here.
Interested in joining women in insurance sales in The Collective? Head here to learn more.
Join Meg McKeen and Olivia Schmitt as they wear all the hats in this week's episode. Meg and Olivia take turns being the host - and the guest - in this Q&A and the insights are gold.
Have a listen as we talk about the importance of doing the work - and sometimes the time - sitting with discomfort and the seasons of life. We talk about career changes - are we ever too old for one? - and the importance of taking care of #1.
Learn more about Momentum: 21 Insurance Sales Strategies and Bound & Determined: The Collective.
Don't miss an episode of You Don't Know Schmitt by subscribing here.
In this episode, host Meg McKeen talks with Tiffanie Demasters about her decision to transition from an insurance service role to sales - and the lessons she could only learn once she got started.
We talk about about the good days - and the bad - and the importance of knowing yourself, and surrounding yourself with others who know themselves, too.
We'll also share opinions on insurance agent licensing requirements, compensation and why so many insurance agents have such bad reputations.
Learn more about the in-person events for women in the insurance industry taking place in cities around the country throughout 2020 by subscribing to the newsletter here.
Join host Meg McKeen and Maggie Germano as we dig deep into our relationship with money; we talk about the feelings - all the feelings - and she offers up some practical solutions for working through common money missteps. We talk salary negotiation and mindset, shame and confidence. You don't want to miss this one!
You can learn more about Maggie's work here, and don't forget to check out the Money Circle Podcast and to join the Money Circle Facebook Group.
Bound & Determined is hitting the road! To learn more about the salon-style events coming soon to a city near you, subscribe to the newsletter here.
Join Meg and Amy Waninger, founder of Lead At Any Level, as they talk about networking - you don't have to hate it - and putting people first. We chat about blind spots in many insurance industry leaders today and how to overcome them. We dive deeper into the use of our pronouns as we create inclusive cultures; so much goodness in this conversation.
You can learn more, and download Amy's eBook, 21 Insights for Inclusive Networking, here.
Listen in as host Meg McKeen and Natalie Gingrich, the founder of The Ops Authority, chat about career path - it's rarely a straight line.
Learn about the skills that translate - even when the language we speak in insurance doesn't - and the value of, well, values...and of boundaries, too.
Natalie sheds light on her own approach to taking risks, on loving both her work and her family, and the legacy she's creating.
Learn How to Define (or Refine) Your Mission, Vision, & Values here.
Listen in as host Meg McKeen and Allison Hamilton-Rohe, the founder of Daily Outfit, chat about style - it's so much more than the clothes we wear.
Learn about fluctuating body sizes, why a work uniform may not be right for you, loving the body you're in, dressing for the job - and the client - you want, and why Meg was inspired to upgrade her pajama game!
Want to learn more about the about the upcoming summit, Daily Outfit Presents: Vision 2020? Head here for details.