Kari Burdno

She attributes her success to the core team members that she works with daily, especially those that are balancing careers, families and their own personal endeavors. She notes being one of those people that hears "wow, you have a lot going on..." quite often and gets asked how she balances it all. The answer is, seeing those other women around her who have found success and balance in their lives. She says, "We can do a lot, and learning from one another and leaning on each other has been extremely impactful in my career so far." She notes that the great teams she has been on are built on trust, communication and accountability, and having that trifecta creates an environment of success.

"If you're the smartest in the room, you're in the wrong room." I heard this quote in one of my university lectures and I still operate on this phrase today. I constantly surround myself with people who are far smarter than I am, those that challenge me and push me to grow. I have gotten quite comfortable in the uncomfortable - meaning I enjoy environments with challenge, growth goals and innovation at their core. I believe that especially in these first few years of my career, that mindset and conscious effort has been a key reason as to why I am where I am now. I have found that at this point in my career, and I do believe that there are cycles in a career, that I am entering a new "sponge" phase. In my prior role, I was one of the ones guiding and leading, and now entering this new role, I am excited to take the time to learn again - learn the way Gallagher does things, what their goals are, and build the foundation I will need in order to be successful in the next growth phase.

Oh, I like this question because as young women in business, sometimes we're looking for the upfront and honest advice, and some are afraid to give that - but I am in the camp of not saying the tough things doesn't help anyone grow. And that's not to say that the delivery needs to be harsh, but I am saying that those types of conversations shouldn't be avoided.

My advice - I stepped into my career with ambition and energy, and that certainly was a strength, but I think one of the most underrated skills that you can develop is learning how read the room, and taking the time to learn and understand the business you're in before trying to influence it. There are instances where your instinct will be to jump in and share right away, however, leading with observation before contribution, knowing when to be vocal versus when to be the sponge, can be just as impactful. You can be both eager and strategic - learning to balance those two is key. Early on, I think that curiosity and deeply learning the business you're in were more important than certainty as it shows you're taking the time to listen and understand. As an add on there, know your industry, not just your business. Know the players in the space - your vendors, your competitors, your partners. Being able to hold a conversation and participate in a meaningful way about industry news and being able to engage in relevant small talk can be highly reflective of your knowledge of the space you're in.

On that same note, one of the best things that I believe makes an impact early on, is building your credibility through preparation and accountability. Always be prepared for meetings, review your notes ahead of time, try to think of questions you may be asked, and focus on what your leaders and decision-makers care about. On the accountability piece, the work that you do doesn't have to be business-changing, however, it needs to be done well. Take the simple task and do it the best, then move onto the next level and do it the best. Leaders remember and actively seek to work with people who are reliable and accountable, and building that foundation early on makes a difference.

The world of insurance has so much opportunity and room for growth, and there is only more coming - and that in itself is the challenge.

We are facing a great shortage of new and young professionals who want to learn the ropes from existing professionals and fill the roles available. If you go to any major broker, carrier, or other industry partner's website, there are a whole slew of roles available, and not just in sales. Everything from account service and management, to corporate partnerships and giving, to finance and accounting and IT, legal teams and then marketing, where I have found myself. The industry has done a much better job as of recently in developing internship and early career development programs that get young people in the door early on, and that is what allows them to truly see the volume of opportunity that exists. The exciting thing is, the volume for growth is only going up from here.

As a first time mom, the balance of personal and professional is front and center at this moment. I have been lucky in my career to have worked for firms that truly live the work-life balance motto. My time at a family owned brokerage, Hylant, where I started my career, was my first experience with this and who to this day is likely the most vocal and largest advocate for their people in terms of the importance of family values.

At AssuredPartners, my core marketing team was built off of flexibility, in that many of us on the growth marketing team were remote, so being able to have that balance and flexibility in our team was highly valued. And now, at Gallagher, I find myself back in a firm full of family tradition at the foundation, and on a team that has made me (and my family) feel so welcomed, and I am very excited to grow my career here.