Andrea England Smith
Andrea England Smith is a seasoned sales and workforce benefits strategist with over two decades of experience in healthcare software sales. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a Bachelor of Arts in Physiology and Chemistry, Andrea has spent her career partnering with HR departments to design employee benefits programs that drive engagement, retention, and cost efficiency. Her expertise lies at the intersection of data-driven decision-making and human-centered solutions, enabling organizations to align employee wellbeing with business outcomes.
Currently, Andrea serves as Director of Sales at whiskerDocs, where she leads growth initiatives for a 24/7 veterinary telehealth platform designed to help employers provide fully paid pet benefits. Inspired by the science-backed “pet effect,” Andrea advocates for integrating pet care into employee benefits programs, recognizing that 70–80% of employees are pet parents who consider their animals family members. Her work demonstrates that supporting pets can measurably improve employee mental and physical health while reducing healthcare costs for organizations.
Outside of work, Andrea is a devoted dog mom, a yoga enthusiast, and a lover of lake life. Having navigated her own health challenges as a cancer survivor, she brings resilience, clarity, and focus to both her personal and professional life. Whether mentoring teams, connecting with employers, or championing innovative benefits solutions, Andrea combines her deep experience with genuine care, believing that the best solutions blend data, strategy, and emotion to create lasting impact.
• Southern Illinois University, Carbondale - B.A.
• 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. I often say, “jump into sales like the water’s warm”—many people approach it with hesitation, but I’ve found that sales can be approached methodically, almost like an equation. By following a proven process, you can reliably achieve results. I’ve never viewed my work purely as selling; I see it as teaching—truly listening to people’s challenges and finding meaningful solutions. There have certainly been moments when I felt apprehensive, but choosing to act despite fear has been incredibly rewarding. Looking back, the accomplishments I’m most proud of are the ones that initially intimidated me—those experiences have fueled my growth and sustained my passion for over two decades.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received aligns closely with the lessons in the book Halftime: focus on moving from survival to significance and strive to align your work with meaningful impact. I’ve also embraced the timeless advice to pursue something you love—so much so that it never feels like work. When your career reflects both purpose and passion, success becomes a natural byproduct.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to do work you love and align your mission with your company’s. Don’t shy away from challenges—jump into opportunities, even if they feel uncomfortable. I’ve always approached sales as teaching: listening to people’s problems and finding real solutions. 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 benefits as a fully paid employee perk. With pet ownership on the rise, 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, aligning my personal mission with the organizations I work with, and prioritizing family and community. A strong faith and spiritual grounding also guide my decisions and keep me centered.