Marissa Buckley’s Post

This is by far the best interview I've ever had. And it's not because I get to say a few choice words to Curtis, but because the interviewers were so incredibly thoughtful to have asked some really compelling questions that not only reflect that they prepared, but also that they care about delivering the most value to the audience while also giving us a chance to shine. Thank you so much Whitney Carpenter Doig and Zaira Salcido for making this interview enjoyable and top notch! I love getting to know you and having the opportunity to see how incredibly talented you both are! I'm blown away! Brett M., you are a communications master. The best I've seen in this industry and I am so very grateful that you have the heart that you do. The value you bring to #insurance and my life is incomparable. Ema Roloff, thank you for making a career in insurance look so delightful (and accurate), for your friendship, and for introducing me to such incredibly gifted talent. The very best in our industry. Curtis Goldsborough, last and definitely least, I'm glad I got to shine a light on the brutal "support" you give me BTS. Watch it! 12:55s "No I don't" is on repeat in my head now!

Don’t you do it! Don’t you slide into my DMs and lie to me! That hurts, dang it. No instead, be like the wonderful Estelle Winsett, JD. She knows the value of strategically building relationships which is why I’m elevating her today! I appreciate you, Estelle!

I could not be more joyful for Heather and her post below that went straight to the center of my heart when I read it and saw the photo. Heather was thoughtful, supportive, and fun throughout our process of being selected to speak, prepping for the panel, getting to the destination, and going live. I'm so glad we had her by our side. I know Catherine Myers, Laurna Castillo, and Bethany Jansen (Burns),MPA feel the same. It also doesn't surprise me that Heather picked this specific photo. Here's why... You know how when you connect with someone for the first time it just feels like you've known each other a lifetime? That is exactly this group for me. Peilin, Jamie, and Gina know the love I have for them that was created right from the moment we met, and even before we met. I think I awkwardly told Peilin I loved her in LinkedIn before I met her. And it was true!!!! I just met Megan Sharpe, MBA and Mireia Rojo Arribas at the event this year and it was just something about them that made me an advocate for them from the moment we met. It's that light in them. I instantly developed the same love and admiration for them that I have for the others pictured. I mean look at them! How can you not love them instantly?!?! Isn't that so powerful when that happens in your life? It doesn't surprise me that we all miraculously came together for this photo and Heather chose it because the world gives back in such beautiful ways all of the time and not one moment is ever lost on me. I hope you see all the moments given to you, and that you've got a mentor and role model in your life like Deb Smallwood who reminds you to live in it for a longer period of time. What a gift that lesson has brought to me. Thank you for this wonderful moment, Digital Insurance, and thank you Heather for making my career brighter.

Bethany Jansen (Burns),MPA talked about how her personal board helped her tremendously in her career at #WIL2024. I was inspired by her wanting that level of accountability for herself. I’ve been thinking a lot about that ever since. A question that popped into my mind was… Do you really want a personal board? I mean, it’s certainly not easy. And by having one, when it's structured the right way and the objectives are clear, you really, really have to get the job done. There are more people, that you'll need to answer to. And it can feel like you’re shining a light on anything you don’t accomplish. But… It's also an incredible way to catapult your career forward. Yes, there are more people to answer to but also more people to share in the celebrations of big wins. And they aren't just board members—they can become your advocates. You're also giving them a great deal of value. They are learning and to a degree, living a little through you. You're bringing something special back to their life. That is the immeasurable value of knowing they were an important part of your growth and success. Go find your new board members.

I screwed up, big time! For a good portion of my career, I severely underestimated the power of strategic networking. I was heads down working, working, working, when I should have prioritized building my network, strategically. The opportunities you’ll gain are invaluable. I cannot emphasize enough how critically important it is for you to fully leverage LinkedIn throughout your career. Although, I mentioned “LinkedIn” about 10 times in this session on strategic networking, I don’t work for the company nor am I getting paid. I just want you to start creating exponential value for yourself. #ownyourvalue #amplifyyourvoice #executivebranding

Attending the Women in Insurance Leadership conference today was a powerful reminder of the strength and potential of all the women in the room and across our industry. The keynote given by Jeanne Sparrow was exactly what we all needed to hear. She covered authentic leadership and shared these inspiring points: “The stories we tell about our experiences can have a profound impact on those around us.” How we tell our stories and how often is so incredibly important as part of your current leadership and the many opportunities that will come to life giving you greater success and happiness. Get on LinkedIn and bring value to the industry with your unique insight and perspectives and do it often! The rest of the day included valuable sessions on AI, strategic networking, mentorships and executive sponsorships. Mary Boyd, recently appointed as CEO of Hiscox USA, (Go Mary!!!) led a phenomenal workshop on Leading Successfully Through Difficult and Great Times. She shared her personal #leadership assessment plan, which included a few different ways you lead across business strategy, culture, stakeholders and ourselves. It is so important to assess your leadership goals, results as part of continuous leadership development. Here are a few more takeaways from the day: ✅ Authentic Leadership: Embrace your unique experiences and use them to impact others positively. How will you do those? How will you project your experiences as part of leading others? ✅ Resilience and Adaptability: Overcoming challenges often requires personal insight and flexibility. Let’s flex while also caring for others and ourselves. ✅ Emotional Intelligence: Leverage EQ to navigate workplace challenges with empathy and insight. The leadership assessment plan Mary Boyd shared is invaluable to raising your EQ! ✅ Personal Impact: Your individual journey significantly influences your professional success. ✅ Intentional Connection: Be intentional about how you connect with others through your authenticity. I can’t stress enough how vital this is! It’s critical to your future success even if you’re uncertain about where your headed! Margaret Resce Milkint ended the day with the best line: “Take your shot!” Thank you Digital Insurance, all the wonderful women leading in the industry, and the 7 men who showed up for us today! Bring your friends next time! We need the support on you can provide! Please tag anyone I couldn’t add! Bethany Jansen (Burns),MPA, Catherine Myers, Laurna Castillo, Peilin Corbanese, Jackie Morales, Gina Hardy, Jamie Warner, Amy S. Cooper, Katerina Garavito, Stacey Brown, MBA, Tony Cañas, CPCU, MBA, AU, ARM, ARe, AIC, AIS, Joy Rohde, Audry Torrence (I loved meeting you today!), Patti Harman, Rachael Hudson #Leadership #WomenInInsurance #ProfessionalDevelopment #AuthenticLeadership #EQ

Pushing, pushing, pushing forward every day isn’t easy, but there is great reward when you start to figure out how to make the most of the experiences, big and small. Digital Insurance’s decision to hold #WIL2024 at such a beautiful destination is a gift that I saw as an opportunity to recover and blend my family and friends into my work. I want my daughter to see the greatness that’s given because she mostly sees a lot of hard work. It’s no surprise that my one of my #insurance soulmates, Peilin Corbanese met me at check-in and moments later in walks the wonderful leader and CEO, Gina Hardy minutes later with her team AND her son. I’m not the only one who thinks this way, thank goodness! How great would it be to intentionally provide opportunities to integrate family and create the future of insurance?!?! We captured the moment here and Peilin was of course exemplifying wonderful leadership bringing women from the back to the front making sure we were all represented. What an extraordinary time it’s already been. Thank you for this gift, Digital Insurance and the opportunity to make work not feel like work.

Strengthening your online presence as an executive leader or founder is not just about building a brand, it's about securing your future and maximizing your income and the organization’s revenue. 🤔Remember how important it became to have a LinkedIn profile versus just a resume? It’s the same for how leaders show up in social media to establish authority, grow influence, attract new customers, attract new strategic partners, and attract and retain top talent within your organization. Imagine your team watching a leader at another company who’s more active and authentic on LinkedIn, and ultimately more inspiring?😨 It leaves your organization vulnerable. It’s a whole new playing field. It's so easy to put off defining your own brand positioning and content strategy, but that lack of prioritization is costing you BIG TIME. Recently, I had an inspiring conversation with Tinsley English, CRM, CIC, CDP , a powerhouse #insurance executive who has navigated the corporate world while building her personal brand and authoring a book. Her journey is a testament to the power of stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing risks. 🗣️ "I believe in the importance of showing up authentically. I've always embraced being different and true to myself. It's about leading with confidence and letting your unique voice be heard. It's important for women to hear these stories and see that it’s possible to grow and be authentically you, even in a corporate setting." - Tinsley English Tinsley's story is the perfect reminder that our experiences, insights, and unique voices are invaluable. And more importantly, not sharing them is largely due to the limitations you’re placing on yourself. By sharing, you not only increase your own authority, but also inspire others to do the same, including your own teams! The journey to deepening your digital footprint is ongoing and requires confidence, consistency, and effort. ❓Where do you start? Reach out to me. I’m happy to give you guidance. #Leadership #OnlinePresence #AuthenticLeadership

Do you have a clear plan to strategically build your network or are you simply being active in #LinkedIn or waiting until you have more time? You can't afford to hold off on taking these steps today to create a more vibrant future for yourself tomorrow: 👉 Define clear objectives and goals. Where do you want to be? 👉 Get crystal clear on the people who will help you get there (get granular on this) 👉 Identify the specific value you can deliver that's meaningful to your target audience (WIIFM is what they will need to see to continuously invest in the relationship with you, too) 👉 Create a plan for how you'll engage and how often (skip this, and all the effort above will deliver little to no value) 👉 Make a schedule for the in-person events you'll attend and publish it 👉 Think about how the relationship will evolve from initial contact to driving continuous shared value so you can be effective in how you'll engage and when When we all met to prepare for our session at Digital Insurance's Women in #Insurance Leadership #WIL2024, Catherine Myers shared her story of how she became COO at reThought Flood, the industry's leader in using data analytics and technology to create greater flood resilience and tailored premiums based on greater risk insight. And guess what??? Landing that role had everything to do with her expertise, unique value, leadership style, AND...building and cultivating professional relationships. We all get busy and might put this effort on the backburner, especially when you're in a position that you love, but that is a very costly mistake NO ONE can afford to make. Women in Insurance Leadership held June 26th in beautiful Boca Raton is the perfect investment in yourself to create new opportunities and strong relationships! (see 👇 and see you soon!)