In this episode, I sit down with Lydia Ramos, Director of Student Relations for Young Risk Professionals of Denver, to explore how she turned a chance moment in an urban auto insurance office into a life of purpose, leadership, and fierce love. Her resilience, shaped by a childhood marked by instability, hunger, and survival, is awe-inspiring. In spite of her hardship, she speaks of it not with bitterness, but with profound reflection, saying, “Only in the past few years have I truly embraced how resilient I am.”

Lydia opens up about being a gang-involved teen, a young mother in an abusive relationship, and a woman who found her footing in insurance when she needed a new path most. Today, she’s not just building a career, she’s building a legacy. With six children under one roof (and one already in her own house), Lydia’s home is a multigenerational, love-filled hub of support, laughter, and safety. We talk about authenticity in leadership, the future of the industry, and how Lydia’s mission is to create the kind of family, community, and professional space she never had growing up. “Insurance,” she says, “was my segway to a real life.”