Bound & Determined℠ with Meg McKeen

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!