In this episode, I interview Marya Propis, Executive Vice President of Retail Distribution at RT Specialty, to continue an important conversation she had recently sparked alongside Leanne Berry through RT’s WOW (Women Opportunity Winning) program and APIW, Inc. The engagement from that virtual event was buzzing, proof that ageism in our industry, especially for women, deserves more space. We unpacked the familiar “Goldilocks” assumption that women are either too young and underestimated or too experienced and overlooked, never just right. Marya offered a powerful reframe: the real shift happens when you decide you’re appropriately positioned in your life and career, regardless of outside perception.

We also talked about how men often seem to gain value with age while women are expected to fade quietly, and why Marya believes it’s time we take a page from their playbook. She shared how she’s learned to wear her decades of experience proudly, leveraging depth and perspective as strengths instead of something to minimize. Toward the end of our conversation, Marya bravely brought perimenopause and menopause into the spotlight, advocating for more thoughtful support for women navigating physiological changes. This episode is a reminder that experience is not a liability, it’s an asset, and that advancing women in insurance means honoring every chapter of their careers.

In this episode, I interview Layna Thompson, Founding Head of Customer Success and Growth at PowerBroker.ai, to talk about how insurance can modernize without losing its humanity. With nearly two decades of industry experience, Layna brings a refreshingly grounded perspective on AI and automation, emphasizing that talent has never been the issue, it’s the amount of time insurance professionals spend stuck in administrative work. We discuss how thoughtfully applied technology can clear space for better thinking, stronger advising, and more meaningful human connections.

What I loved most about this conversation is Layna’s unwavering belief that curiosity, trust, and real human connection are still the foundation of our industry, and always should be. We talked about why trust isn’t built through forms and e-signatures alone, but through moments that people remember. Layna shared how thoughtful automation can move busy work into the background so insurance professionals can spend less time typing and more time thinking, interpreting, and showing up when it matters most.

In this episode, I interview Kaiza Molina, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at StretchDollar. Kaiza discusses how we think about health insurance and why it so often feels overwhelming, emotional, and inaccessible. She shares how many people equate choice with risk, questioning whether coverage is “good” or even legitimate, and how much of her work is rooted in myth-busting and helping people move through the fear and uncertainty tied to healthcare decisions. We discussed how health insurance is rarely a rational, spreadsheet-based decision and is often a household-level choice shaped by trust, past experiences, family needs, and risk tolerance. 

We also dug into her “why” behind StretchDollar and her mission to empower small business owners to offer meaningful health benefits without carrying impossible pressure. Kaiza reframed the problem in a way that feels immediately approachable: the job isn’t picking the perfect plan for everyone, it’s setting the right budget. Kaiza emphasized that there is no longer an “average employee,” and that solutions must account for real life, from unplanned medical needs to caregiving, fertility, and mental health. Ultimately, Kaiza believes that accessible health insurance starts with simplicity, empathy, and designing systems that respect how people actually make decisions.

In this episode, I interview Angelina Vereshchagina, a sophomore student at St. John’s University. Angelina shares what initially drew her into insurance, the sheer scope of what can be insured, and the realization that this industry touches nearly every part of the world around us. We talk about that moment of curiosity when you start to see insurance not as rigid or boring, but as endlessly complex, creative, and full of opportunity. 

Angelina also discusses what it takes to attract and engage the next generation of insurance professionals, and why young voices need to be at the forefront of that effort. Through her work with Gamma Iota Sigma and as a university ambassador, she’s on the front lines of introducing students to the industry. We discuss how early exposure, honest conversations, and visible role models can significantly impact the way students perceive insurance as a career filled with purpose and growth.

One year ago today, the LA wildfires changed lives, neighborhoods, and the way many of us think about risk, resilience, and recovery.

In the first episode of season 3, I interview Shanna McIntyre, co-founder and Chief Data Officer at Delos. Shanna’s journey into the industry began far from it, with a background in physics, aerospace, and satellite data, before she and her co-founder recognized the urgent need to apply serious science to one of the most personal challenges facing homeowners today. We talk about why insurance is such a critical enabler of stability and recovery, how wildfires have exposed the limits of traditional risk models, and what the industry has learned in the year since communities were forced to rebuild.

Shanna shares how Delos’s wildfire hazard models performed during recent fires, and how better data, automation, and climate-aware science can actually expand insurability rather than restrict it. We discuss the role insurers played in recovery, the emotional weight these moments carry for homeowners, and why understanding the full insurance ecosystem is essential to creating equitable, sustainable solutions. What stayed with me most was Shanna’s belief that curiosity is a catalyst for progress: when we truly understand risk, we can price it more fairly, respond faster, and design coverage that meets people where they are, especially when they need it most.

In my final 2025 collaboration episode with ISC Group, I interviewed Alisa Grafton for a timely and intriguing conversation about Generation Z and how their digital-first upbringing is reshaping the workplace. Alisa breaks down what truly sets Gen Z apart, from being the first generation to never know an analog world, to growing up amid constant global crises and identity-driven conversations around diversity and authenticity. We talked about how this exposure has shaped a generation that is purpose-driven, entrepreneurial, and deeply values transparency, while also sometimes struggling to build offline connections in a hyper-connected world.

We also dug into the real challenges leaders are facing as Gen Z enters the workforce, especially after the pandemic disrupted traditional professional development. Alisa debunks common myths, reframing Gen Z as pragmatic, transactional, and intentional about where they invest their energy. Our conversation explores how this generation is rewriting workplace rules through flexibility, side hustles, and reverse mentorship, and what leaders can do to meet them where they are. 

In this episode, I interview Carrie Conejo, Executive Vice President of Client Services at C3. Carrie shares her journey from claims into leadership, and how building systems, processes, and efficiencies became her way of supporting the people who serve clients every day. We also talk about the impact of a supportive company culture, leadership that models positive behavior, and colleagues who work passionately towards the company's goals and have fun while doing it. 

My favorite part of my conversation with Carrie was her openness about life outside of work. As a remote professional long before it became common, she shares how that flexibility allowed her to show up fully for her youngest son, who has Down Syndrome, and how navigating therapy schedules, appointments, and milestones deepened her understanding of what real support looks like in the workplace. We talk about the power of finding “your people,” of getting into the room with others who understand your stage of life, and of leadership that lifts, not stifles, talent. Carrie is someone whose honesty, heart, and operational brilliance shine through in everything she does. 

In this episode, I interview Dana Marie Applegate, and we discuss her destiny in claims. After participating in mock interviews while looking for her lifelong career path, every single evaluator told her that claims were for her. With her legal background, her ability to think critically, and her lifelong superpower of asking a million questions (a self-proclaimed five-year-old “but why?” kid), she stepped into a field where every claim is a puzzle, sometimes missing pieces, sometimes oddly shaped, always uniquely human. And that complexity is what made her fall in love with the work. Claims, she says, will always be home.

We also dive deep into the leadership lessons Dana has learned along the way, starting with some of the toughest and most transformative feedback she ever received. Dana is the opposite of a “yes woman.” She’s a truth-teller, someone who believes bad news is manageable when paired with solutions and honesty. She also opens up about navigating the hard moments with other women and how she actively restores her faith by reaching out to the women who lift her up. Dana has a grounding belief that you must always return to who you are at your core and carry yourself with integrity, even when others don’t deserve that kindness.

At the RISE Summit in Fort Lauderdale this June, I had the privilege of sitting down with six extraordinary young women who were recognized as part of the RISE 35 Under 35 Awards, and this conversation left me completely energized about the future of our industry. These women aren’t just rising talent; they’re already shaping what insurance will look like in the years ahead. I was joined by Alyssa Sanchez (RYZE Claim Solutions), Angel Song (Sunereum Labs), Emily Cameron (Gain Life), Mykaela Ionta (The Hartford), Peyton Rudolph (GradGuard), and Siena Pizzano (Sompo), a powerhouse group representing recruitment, innovation, underwriting, product, marketing, and then some.

If these six are any indication of what's ahead, our industry’s future is in exceptional hands. I’m deeply grateful to RISE Professionals for creating a platform that uplifts, celebrates, and invests in emerging talent, and honored to showcase the voices of the next generation of insurance leaders.

In this episode, I interview Caryn Siebert, Vice President, National Director of Carrier Engagement at Gallagher Bassett, and a respected leader, mentor, and advocate. Caryn’s career has spanned law, claims leadership, and executive roles across the industry, but an unchanging value is her lifelong commitment to developing people and leading with purpose.

We talk about her journey, from navigating complex claims and litigation to building inclusive, high-performing teams. Caryn shares how her work has always been about more than results, it’s about raising the bar for professionalism and creating a culture where people feel seen, supported, and challenged to grow.

Caryn also discusses the importance of effective communication, what it means to listen, to mentor with intention, and to make space for new voices at the table.