Mara Dorne is a powerhouse entrepreneur, Fortune 500 sales veteran, and the bold voice behind the BILF (Boss I’d Like to Follow) Podcast. After building a billion-dollar sales career and becoming a self-made millionaire before 40, Mara shifted her focus to empowering others—especially women—to break barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries. Now leading a nationwide team of more than 1,500 health insurance agents, Mara is on a mission to make health care more affordable, redefine ethical sales, and open the door for a new generation of ambitious professionals. Her story is one of resilience, authenticity, and unwavering determination.

On this episode we talk about:

Mara’s beginnings: working from age 10, early lessons in money and independence

How the 2008 recession and life’s curveballs led her unintentionally into health insurance sales

Why health insurance sales is a meritocracy and how perseverance beats pedigree

The massive earning potential in health insurance—and what sets it apart from other insurance fields

How Mara helped diversify and revolutionize a “pale, male, and stale” industry with ethical, customer-focused sales

The critical role of focus, work ethic, and people skills for today’s young agents in a world of endless distraction

Her advice on whether young people should attend college or dive into real-world work experience

Top 3 Takeaways

1.  The insurance industry can offer life-changing, long-term income and rewards true persistence, ethical sales, and the ability to build relationships—not background or pedigree.
2.  Leading with value and customer needs, rather than chasing short-term commissions, is the secret to long-term business and referral success in insurance.
3.  For young people, developing people skills and focus—through door-to-door sales, phones, or social media—is more important and profitable than ever in the digital age.

Notable Quotes

"Perseverance and authenticity shaped my life and became the foundation of my entrepreneurial journey."

"There’s no shortcut. You still have to grind it out. The real win is in helping the customer and playing the long game."

"It’s not about the struggles you face; it’s about how you overcome them."

Connect with Mara Dorne:

Instagram: @maradorne

Website: maradorne.com

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