Casheika C. Moses

I attribute my success to not being afraid to step out of my comfort zone and having faith that something bigger will come about. My biggest accomplishment was when I moved to Alaska and made the choice to go backwards to go forward. I left New York and took a job as an assistant after already having 12-13 years in the industry as a client manager. I was overqualified, but I accepted something I could still learn from, just out of faith. Within 6 months, opportunities presented themselves and I became a supervisor. That taught me that sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward, and you can't be afraid to do that. I also read a lot, and I think that's a factor. Plus, I'm a people person and I notice things that most people don't notice. I'm really able to put things together. Even though I haven't finished college, I've been able to reach leadership levels that typically require a master's degree, and I'm truly blessed for that.

Go for it, and always say yes. Insurance - the opportunities are endless. I've worked internationally, gone from New York to Alaska to DC, managing the London office, DC office, Alaskan office - all without a degree. If you get your foot in the door and they offer you an opportunity, take it. Take all the training, go to all the conferences, never say no, because it can take you anywhere you want. I tell this to my daughter - I'm really fortunate to have gotten into the industry, because it has taken me to places I would never imagine. The skill set of insurance - anybody can learn insurance - but what's important is that you be your best self. That's what I focus on.

The biggest challenge I'm facing right now is bridging the gap between generations when it comes to technology. I'm trying to mend the future with the past and help people understand that yes, AI is great and it is a tool, but it's not the be-all, end-all. I'm having conversations with up-and-coming Millennials and Gen Zs who aren't really grasping that concept. They think we can do everything with technology, but they're missing the knowledge that you gain by learning things manually. Right now, I sit in the middle. I have older people who know how to do it manually, and then the person who owns the agency is a millennial who is very tech-friendly - tech, tech, tech. I'm right in the middle trying to bridge that gap. The ladies are saying this is too much, and I have to tell him we can't move that fast. I see where he wants to go, but I also see where they are, and he needs to understand you can't do it that fast, that quickly. Plus, it's not the be-all, end-all. He thinks it's the be-all, end-all, but if you don't have the wisdom and the knowledge which the older generation has, the information you provide won't be accurate. That's why you need both at this moment, because this is very new. I'm Gen X - the last generation that did all the old-school stuff but also did computers - so I get both sides. But bridging that gap between those two generations is my biggest challenge. If the data's not there, the system can't do anything.

What's most important to me is helping people be their best selves and making sure they know that life is too short to be sad. Every day at work is different - I'm talking to clients, working on systems, fixing problems, but I also make time to have moments with my colleagues to make them laugh. I believe in being silly sometimes just to let them know that this is not the end-all be-all - it's a job. Yes, it's a resource that allows us to live our life, but we know who the source is. I like people to laugh and feel good about themselves. My goal is to build up women to be their best selves. Throughout my career, there are women I've brought along with me, women I coach and mentor. I want them to know they can achieve anything. My faith is also very important - God, church, that's a big part of my life. I'm also really into wellness and health, removing toxins from my diet, always looking for new recipes. I believe in taking care of yourself holistically.