Jessica Jardine

I attribute my success first to my family and the values they instilled in me early in life. Their support, encouragement, and belief in my potential have always given me the confidence to pursue my goals. I also credit the many mentors and leaders who have guided me along the way. Whether it was a teacher, professor, manager, or senior leader. They challenged me, pushed me outside my comfort zone, and saw strengths in me before I saw them in myself. They took chances on me through stretch assignments, recommended me for high‑visibility projects, and continually provided opportunities for learning and growth. Their trust allowed me to prove what I was capable of, and it has shaped the professional I am today.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to expect failure and not fear it. I was taught that mistakes are part of growth, and what truly matters is how you recover and move forward. That mindset has pushed me to take risks, step outside my comfort zone, and embrace challenges with confidence.

Believe in your potential and do not be afraid to take a chance on yourself. You are your strongest champion. Trust your abilities, believe in yourself, and surround yourself with people who encourage and support you. Stepping outside your comfort zone is where the greatest growth happens, and one day you’ll look back and realize just how much those moments shaped you. Lastly, don’t wait to feel “ready” before raising your hand for opportunities. You will never be 100% ready, and your willingness to step into new opportunities will open doors you never expected.

One of the biggest challenges in the benefits field today is providing high‑quality, competitive programs for employees at a time when healthcare is experiencing some of the highest cost inflation across the country. Our goal is to make sure we are offering benefits that invest in employees and their families' health and financial future, but the rising cost of healthcare and related programs make that increasingly difficult. At the same time, this challenge creates an opportunity. It pushes us to think differently about our plan designs, vendor partnerships, communication strategies, and the overall employee experience. It forces us to innovate, find new ways to deliver value, and ensure employees feel supported without compromising quality or affordability. Our goal remains the same: to provide meaningful, competitive benefits packages that help attract and retain the best talent, but doing so in today’s healthcare environment requires creativity, strategic thinking, and a constant focus on balancing cost with our employees' needs.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are family, service, and integrity.

Family is the foundation of who I am. I was raised with the belief that you show up for the people who depend on you, and that value shapes how I support employees and their families through my work. When someone reaches out with a benefits question, I always keep in mind that there is a family relying on them, and they are relying on us to provide accurate and compassionate guidance.

Service is at the heart of why I do what I do. I truly enjoy helping others, solving problems, and supporting employees during the moments that matter. Whether I am guiding someone through a complex situation or creating resources that make the benefits experience easier, serving others is what gives my work meaning.

Integrity ties everything together. Employees, HR partners, and leaders rely on me to provide accurate information, communicate honestly, and follow through. Doing what is right, even when it is challenging, is a value I carry into every interaction.

These values shape how I support employees, build relationships, and continuously grow as a benefits professional and as a person.