Her Story
About Heidi
I spent about 20 and a half years in the insurance industry working in the claims department. As an empath, I found the emotional weight of the work - talking to people who had lost loved ones, were disabled, or unemployed - was affecting not just my own sanity but also my personal relationships. I noticed I was emotionally detaching when I shouldn't be, so I made the difficult decision to step out of that role for the good of myself and my family. I've been a manager and just a worker, but what I'm truly proud of isn't any title or position - it's the human connection. If I can help somebody and they appreciate it, I've done my job. I'm currently searching for work that allows me to make a difference without the emotional toll. I believe businesses need to understand that family should always come first and that there needs to be balance - everybody's different with different needs, and it shouldn't be cookie cutter. If you do things from the heart and with good intentions, it should work out.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heidi
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be true to yourself. Don't let the job run you - whether that be insurance or not. You need to be in control somewhat of your own reality. Notice if something's off, and if you do, do something to change it. Take care of yourself and be true to yourself.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are human connection, love, and compassion. I believe the purpose of life isn't about greed, power, or money - it's about helping people and making the world a peaceful place. You have to take care of yourself so you can properly love everyone else around you - you can't pour from an empty cup, so you gotta fill your own cup first. Energy is very reciprocal for me - if I'm not getting the energy or effort back, I don't want to deal with it. Family should always come first, and there needs to be balance. If you do things from the heart and with good intentions, it should work out. My goal is to create a ripple effect to help anyone and everyone get through this thing we call life and make it a peaceful place of love and compassion.
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