What It Takes To Lead

In this episode of What It Takes to Lead, Mike Sterling dives into the core leadership value of open and honest dialogue. Reflecting on his decades of experience in business and life, Mike shares the transformative power of authentic communication in building trust, resolving conflicts, and fostering a collaborative team environment. From navigating tough decisions to balancing personal and professional challenges, this episode provides actionable insights for leaders at every stage.

This episode concludes this season of the podcast, but stay tuned. This wont be the last time you hear from the cast.

If you have a topic idea or questions, please reach out using the email below, and we will see you next time.

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Today’s episode is a lightening round for Mike Sterlacci. Listen in and Leir and Charlie ask Mike questions about Life, Love, Leadership, and what his remaining years hold. The conversations ranges from building a marriage around a shared faith, to facing death in your later years, to the highly controversial topics like pineapple on pizza.

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Ever wondered how top entrepreneurs differentiate between good and great business ideas? Join the cast for a discussion on balancing faith, family, and business in the modern world. Mike and the crew discuss knowing what opportunities to pursue, leveraging your strengths in leading the charge on a new idea, and when your passion is worth pursuing.

Shares:

Leif: Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen

Tony: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Paul Brand and Philip Yancey

Isaac: The Wheel of Time on audible

Mike: Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Our latest episode offers fascinating insights from our special guest, Tony Smith, CPO of Ansel, who unveils the innovative vision behind Ansel and Coverica. The whole crew sits down to discuss where the fast paced technology world meets the slow to adopt insurance world and how listening and understanding user needs can lead to impactful problem solving for insurance agents and providers. 

Shares:

Leif: A Practitioner's Guide to Business Analytics, The Allman Brothers Band

Tony: Blake Mills

Charlie: Life is not a hero's journey

Garrett: “Farewell, My Lovely” by Philip Marlowe

Mike: “Kings and Priests” by David High

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Get a behind the scenes look at the long talked about succession plan for Coverica. Today you’ll hear firsthand why Mike chose to transfer 30% of his company to its employees and how this move aligns with his core values, avoiding nepotism and boosting staff engagement. Mike’s thoughtful approach to succession planning and legacy building offers invaluable insights for any business owner contemplating their company's future.

Succession planning isn't just about handing over the reins; it's about nurturing future leaders and ensuring business continuity.  With insights from Rhonda Cox (Acting CEO of Coverica) and John Sutter (Senior VP of Risk Management), we explore Coverica's unique culture and the strategic implementation of a stock-based compensation model. This approach not only invigorates mature producers but also aligns with the company's long-term vision of fostering an ownership mentality among staff.

Shares:

John: IRMI’s Energy Risk and Insurance Specialist curriculum 

Leif: The Social Network, “Measure What Matters” by John Doerr

Rhonda: “The Dream Manager” by Matthew Kelly

Mike: Human Zoos, Israel’s Place in the World

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Eric Hurt returns to the podcast for a discussion about Mike’s 4 precepts and how they are used in CoVerica for conflict resolution, effective communication, and the nexus of faith and decision-making. The whole cast weighs in with personal anecdotes and professional insights that have shaped their journey after learning and adopting the CoVerica Ethos.

Erik Hurt has 15 years of industry experience and takes pride in helping people protect the things that are important to them through a no-surprises approach to insurance. He’s a trusted advisor to his clients—from first-time home buyers to high-net-worth individuals—who appreciate his dependability and dedication to doing what’s right, no matter what. 

Shares:

Leif: “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius

Charlie: Dune Part II

Garrett: System Sunday Newsletter by Ben Meer

Erik: Good to Great by Jim Collins, Learn an instrument

Mike: “Dream Town” by David Baldacci

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Mark Conley, takes us through his transformative journey, sharing the pivotal moments and hard-earned wisdom from transitioning out of General Mills to guiding a church and creating a flourishing consulting practice. It's a tale of aligning career with purpose, navigating family dynamics, and the introspective understanding of one's personality that can dictate both professional and personal success.

Unravel the complexities of team dynamics with us as we examine the revolutionary Culture Index and its profound effects on organizations such as Coverica.We discuss real-life applications, from how we've used behavioral assessments to transform communication within teams, to the surprising way such insights can enhance our personal relationships as well.

Shares:

Leif: “The Outsider”

Charlie: Sales Force Trail Head

Garrett: “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries

Mark: “The 4 Disciplines of Self Execution” by Chris McChesney and Open To Debate Podcast

Mike: Quotes from Socrates

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Ever wondered how teamwork can elevate your sales game? Alison Nielson and Eric Hurt unveil the secret sauce: a blend of empowerment and collaboration that's turning Coverica into a sales powerhouse. We talk candidly about the transformative shift from solo competition to nurturing collective triumphs. Discover how fostering a culture of creativity and proactive problem-solving can not only electrify a workplace but also drive innovation and growth. Plus, you'll get a glimpse into how our new producer stock plan is changing the game for our team members.

Alison Nielson joined the CoVerica team in 2018 where she demonstrated that she’s a knowledgeable advisor and highly capable agent. She specializes in insurance plans for small businesses, including gyms and yoga studios, salons, barber shops and artisan contractors, as well as first-time home buyers, new homes and investment properties.

Erik Hurt has 15 years of industry experience and takes pride in helping people protect the things that are important to them through a no-surprises approach to insurance. He’s a trusted advisor to his clients—from first-time home buyers to high-net-worth individuals—who appreciate his dependability and dedication to doing what’s right, no matter what.

Shares:

Leif: $100 Million Leads by Alex Hormozi

Alison: Robyn Garrett on IG (@realcourageousleadership)

Eric: Band Of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose

Garrett: 7 Principles To Making Marriage Work by John Gottman

Mike: Bad Childhood, Good Life by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Join us as we sit down with Chris Sterlacci, Air Force veteran and Managing Partner at Covarrica Agency Alliance. He is also the son of our show’s host, Mike Sterlacci.

Navigating the professional terrain with kin often means crossing a minefield of expectations. This episode doesn't shy away from the hard truths about the perils of nepotism and the importance of cultivating a culture where respect trumps popularity. Mike Sterlacy's mentorship philosophy within the family is a masterclass in balancing the fine line between offering guidance and allowing room for growth. His candid storytelling, combined with Chris's firsthand experiences, provides a raw look at what it takes to prepare the next generation for the mantle of leadership.

Shares:

Leif: Funny quotes from history of older generations talking bad about younger generations

Garrett: 7 Principles To Making Marriage Work by John Gottman

Chris: Leading With A Limp by Dan allender 

Mike: Socrates in the Studio; Heroic Fraternities by Anthony Bradley

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

In this episode you will meet John Sutter (EVP of Risk Management) and Andy Bracken (CRO) of CoVerica

Imagine navigating the tumultuous waters of agency mergers and acquisitions, where every decision can either forge a lasting legacy or signal the end of an era. Today, we dissect the complex dance between maintaining a company's culture and achieving top-line growth. This episode peels back the curtain on the personal factors that drive business decisions and the vital role of community service in our corporate identity.

The heart of our conversation beats to the rhythm of Coverica's M&A philosophy, where the well-being of people is as crucial as the numbers on a balance sheet. We scrutinize the fine line between nurturing a flourishing workforce and capitalizing on immediate revenue spikes post-acquisition. Stories of agency transitions reveal the emotional and financial intricacies only known to those at the helm. 

Shares:

Leif: Robert Oppenheimer: The Man and His Theories by Michel Rouze; Music on Vinyl

Garrett: Stonebriar Community Church “When God Gives You A Wake Up Call”

John: Staying up to date with the latest news from insurance carriers.

Andy: “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek

Mike: “Becoming the G. O. A. T.” Movie; All In Podcast ep 165

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s faith, family, friendships, and business lessons learned over 40-plus years of selling insurance and building a rapid-growth multi-million dollar insurance agency in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Mike began his insurance career in 1979 as a captive agent at a major carrier. As CEO of CoVerica, Mike directed the company’s long-term vision. His focus on constant improvement has fueled the agency’s profit and revenue growth. Mike is passionate about making a difference and helping employees find fulfillment through their careers. As a mentor, he helps up-and-coming agents discover and apply their strengths to add real value to CoVerica and society at-large.

New episodes drop every-other-Thursday. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected] or via Twitter/X at @wittlpod. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.