A powerful reflection on identity and professional success. A Caribbean immigrant shares her transformative journey from suppressing her accent to embracing it as a symbol of resilience, cultural heritage, and authentic leadership in public service.
In Conversation
Jessica Angelo-Julien for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Jessica Angelo-Julien: Being an influential woman means leading with integrity, compassion, and purpose. It means using my knowledge and experience to help others make informed decisions, supporting individuals and families through important life events, and advocating for those who need guidance. Influence is not about recognition. It is about the positive impact I have on the lives of others through my actions, relationships, and commitment. To serve in my community. It means lifting others up, creating opportunities, and leaving people better than I found them.
What's one piece of advice you would give to younger women chasing their dreams?
Jessica Angelo-Julien: Surround yourself with people who encourage your growth and challenge you to do your best. Stay true to your values, lead with integrity, and remember that success is not measured only by what you achieve, but by how many people you help along the way. When you succeed, reach back and help another woman rise with you. Pay it forward.
Full transcript available
Her Story
About Jessica
Jessica Angelo-Julien is an accomplished insurance professional with nearly two decades of experience spanning insurance administration, employee benefits, human resources, and brokerage services. She began her career in human resources with the New York City Department of Health before gaining experience at Yale and Hamilton Standard, eventually transitioning into the insurance industry through employee benefits administration. Since September 2015, she has served as Insurance Administrator at Carabetta Management in Connecticut, overseeing insurance policies, certificates of insurance, general liability and property claims, workers’ compensation, and employee benefits. Her responsibilities include coordinating claims with attorneys, researching claim details, monitoring litigation, administering policy payments, and preparing reports for executive leadership. In August 2023, she founded JJ Insurance Connection LLC, where she provides insurance brokerage services specializing in health, life, property, and casualty coverage. She also serves as an Insurance Broker Consultant with Access Healthcare Services, helping clients navigate insurance options and coverage needs.
Jessica holds a Master of Business Administration in General Business Studies from Capella University and completed the Access Health Broker Academy program, further strengthening her expertise in insurance and benefits. She maintains a property and casualty insurance license and numerous industry certifications. Her broad professional background includes staffing and recruiting, payroll administration, employee training, mediation, medical credentialing, claims assessment, and leave administration, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In addition to her insurance career, Jessica has served as an area representative for ASSE International since 2005, coordinating international student placements with host families throughout New England. Her responsibilities include interviewing prospective students and families, assessing eligibility, and monitoring placements to support successful cultural exchange experiences. Through her diverse professional endeavors, she has demonstrated a commitment to helping individuals and organizations navigate complex processes while maintaining a strong focus on service, communication, and accountability.
Community leadership and public service remain central to Jessica’s personal and professional life. Since January 2006, she has served as chair of New Britain’s Board of Human Rights and Commission, contributing to initiatives that promote fairness, inclusion, and civic engagement. In November 2025, she was also elected chair of the City of New Britain’s Board of Assessment and Appeals. Her contributions have earned recognition, including the City of New Britain’s Influential Black Person honor in March 2025 and recognition from the United States House of Representatives during Women’s History Month in March 2024. Beyond her civic responsibilities, Jessica serves as a Justice of the Peace, Minister, and Notary Public, reflecting her dedication to supporting others in multiple capacities. Inspired by her Caribbean parents’ emphasis on education, perseverance, and achievement, she strives to surpass expectations while honoring the values they instilled in her. Above all, she is committed to being a strong role model for her child, upholding family values, and making a meaningful, lasting difference in her community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jessica
01What do you attribute your success to?
My parents pushed me to do better than they did, go to school and college, and be all I can be. Their encouragement and the desire to make my mom proud even after she's gone is what drives me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't let anyone dim your light so theirs can shine any brighter. Don't stop what you're doing as long as it's positive and you're making yourself and your family proud.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Do not let someone else dim your light. Go with your passion. Find your passion and turn it into a career.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family is most important. I want to be the best role model I can be for my child, live the life my mom wanted, and do right by my Caribbean roots and family values.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Jessica
Changing My Accent to Fit in
From hiding my accent to celebrating my voice: A journey of self-acceptance and authentic leadership.
There was a time when I believed success required sounding like everyone else.
Born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and raised in St. Lucia, I arrived in the United States carrying more than luggage and dreams. I carried the rhythm of a Caribbean accent, a voice shaped by my culture, family, and identity.
Early in my professional journey, I quickly learned that sounding different often meant being viewed differently. In meetings, job interviews, and professional conversations, I became increasingly aware of how people reacted when I spoke. Some asked me to repeat myself. Others focused more on my accent than on my ideas. Whether real or perceived, I began to believe that my voice was something that needed fixing.
So, like many immigrants and professionals from diverse backgrounds, I tried to adapt.
I softened certain words. I changed pronunciations. I listened carefully to how others spoke and attempted to mirror their speech patterns. Little by little, I modified my accent to fit what I thought professionalism was supposed to sound like. My goal was simple: blend in, be accepted, and create opportunities for myself and my family.
What I did not realize at the time was that every adjustment carried a cost.
For years, I walked a delicate line between who I was and who I felt I needed to become. While my professional confidence grew, there were moments when I felt disconnected from a piece of my identity. The very accent I was trying to hide represented my heritage, my upbringing, and the journey that shaped me.
Over time, however, something changed.
As I became more involved in community service, cultural advocacy, and public leadership, I met countless individuals who shared similar experiences. They were immigrants, professionals, students, and entrepreneurs who had all struggled with the idea that success required leaving part of themselves behind.
Through my work in human rights, community engagement, cultural preservation, and civic leadership, I discovered something far more valuable than acceptance: belonging. Serving as Chairwoman of the New Britain Human Rights and Opportunities Commission, participating in cultural initiatives, and helping diverse communities find their voice taught me that inclusion is not about conformity. It is about creating spaces where people can show up as their authentic selves.
Today, I no longer see my accent as something to overcome.
I see it as evidence of resilience.
It tells the story of a young girl from the Caribbean who crossed borders, adapted to new environments, overcame barriers, built a career, and found her place in public service and community leadership. It reminds me that diversity is not merely about representation. It is about recognizing the value of every voice, every experience, and every perspective.
My journey has come full circle.
The thing I once worked so hard to conceal has become a bridge connecting me to others who feel unseen, unheard, or different. It allows me to advocate for those navigating similar challenges and to encourage future generations to embrace what makes them unique.
Professional success should never require erasing your identity.
If there is one lesson I have learned, it is this: your accent is not a limitation. Your story is not a disadvantage. The qualities that make you different often become the very qualities that enable you to lead.
Today, I speak with confidence, not because my accent has disappeared, but because I no longer believe it has to.
And in finding peace with my own voice, I have found purpose in helping others find theirs.
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