Alexandria Schultz

I attribute my success to drive and never wanting to feel like I'm not moving forward. I think always trying to be someone who wants to improve, whether that's mentally or in other ways, and always working on myself makes a big difference instead of just settling. I don't ever want to feel stagnant, so I'm constantly pushing myself to grow and develop in all areas of my life.

The best career advice I've ever received is to not compare yourself to others. I think everyone always compares themselves to other people, and just because other people move quicker or are really good at portraying different things about their career doesn't necessarily mean they're doing better than you - they're just on their own journey. I think comparing yourself is always going to make you feel disappointed or like you're not doing enough, and that's not necessarily true. Everyone has their own path and timeline.

My industry is definitely male-dominated - I'm the only female in my position in the Denver office. My biggest advice is don't compare yourself, and make your own lane. I think there's kind of a set expectation to do things like go to golf and all that kind of stuff, and if you're into golf, that's awesome, but I think carving your own path and being genuine instead of trying to force or mold yourself into something that you're not definitely will not serve you in the long run. So just be genuine - that's basically what I would say.

In insurance right now, we're in a soft market, which basically means that insurance carriers are not having as much power in the marketplace as they have in the past, especially since COVID. For a while there, there were just so many bad days going on that it was easier for carriers to be able to set expectations, and they could say yes or no. Now it's kind of the other way around, where it's hard to get business and all that kind of stuff. So the industry's a little tough right now, for sure.

I would say loyalty is really important to me, as well as integrity. I would also say just being kind is crucial. I feel like a lot of people dehumanize people, at least in my industry, and I think that being kind goes a long way. These values guide both my professional and personal interactions.