Andrea Smith
Andrea Smith is a sales and business development leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations adopt innovative solutions that improve wellbeing and business performance. Throughout her career, she has partnered with HR and executive leadership teams to implement forward-thinking benefits strategies that drive organizational impact.
A graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Andrea holds a degree in Physiology with a minor in Chemistry. Her background in science, combined with deep experience in healthcare, SaaS, and workforce solutions, shapes her practical, data-informed approach to modern benefits strategy.
Andrea currently serves as Director of Sales at whiskerDocs, a veterinary telehealth platform that helps employers support the millions of working pet parents across the country. She is helping lead the shift toward pet-inclusive workplaces, where supporting the bond between people and their pets is recognized as a meaningful driver of employee wellbeing and organizational culture. Simply put, pet benefits are the next evolution of employee wellness, and she works with organizations to bring that vision to life. By introducing pet benefits as part of a broader caregiving and wellness strategy, Andrea helps employers reduce stress for working pet parents while strengthening attraction, retention, and long-term healthcare outcomes. She is passionate about helping organizations build benefits programs that impact their business and care for the whole employee. When companies support what matters most to people, everyone thrives.
Outside of work, Andrea enjoys yoga, music, and spending time on the water with her family and their dog. A cancer survivor, she brings resilience, perspective, and purpose to both her life and leadership, believing the most impactful solutions are those that combine data, empathy, and real-world understanding.
• Southern Illinois University, Carbondale - B.A.
• President’s Club Award Winner – multiple years across organizations (including 2022 & 2023 at Stryker)
• Regional Sales Manager of the Year at CareerBuilder
• #1 Representative in National Sales Team at RBS Americas / Citizens / Charter One
• Society for Human Resource Management
• Stryker Women’s Network'
• Training therapy dog for Elmhurst Hospital cancer center
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to consistently pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and approaching challenges with curiosity rather than hesitation. Sales often intimidates people, but I’ve always believed it can be approached methodically, almost like an equation. When you focus on understanding the problem, listening carefully, and following a proven process, the results tend to follow.
I’ve never viewed my work as simply selling something. At its best, sales is about teaching and learning, and asking the right questions, understanding what people are truly trying to solve, and connecting them with solutions that genuinely make a difference. That mindset has shaped how I lead teams and build relationships with clients.
Of course, there have been moments in my career when I felt uncertain or intimidated. But I’ve learned that the opportunities that stretch you the most are often the ones that create the greatest growth. Many of the accomplishments I’m most proud of today are the ones that initially felt the most uncomfortable and choosing to step into those moments has kept me energized and passionate about my work for more than two decades.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the most meaningful pieces of career advice I’ve received came from the idea in the book Halftime. That over time we should strive to move from survival mode to success to significance. Early in our careers, much of the focus is on proving ourselves, building skills, and achieving success. But the real fulfillment comes when your work begins to have a broader impact on the people and organizations you serve.
That perspective has shaped how I think about my career. I’ve always believed the most rewarding work happens when purpose and passion intersect. When you care deeply about what you’re doing and the difference it makes. When you find that alignment, the work becomes energizing rather than draining, and success tends to follow naturally.
It’s a reminder that careers aren’t just about titles or milestones, they’re about building something meaningful over time and using your talents in ways that create lasting value for others.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to determine your mission and work with a company who's mission aligns. Don’t shy away from challenges, jump into opportunities, say yes to new work tasks, even if they feel uncomfortable. Growth comes when you push past fear and focus on making an impact.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field right now is helping employers of all sizes across the U.S. offer pet telehealth as a fully paid employee benefit. Science backed research is there, but the overall understanding of how pets impact workplaces is lacking amongst organizations and brokers. Demonstrating the ROI, health, and engagement benefits of these programs is key to driving adoption and creating meaningful impact for both employees and companies.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are making a meaningful impact, being a thoughtful listener, and coming alongside to meet people where they are, and prioritizing family and community. A strong faith and spiritual grounding also guide my decisions and keep me centered.