Her Story
About Kayla
Kayla Wilkins serves as a Senior Claim Specialist at MetLife, where she works from home engaging with claimants to understand their disabilities and make informed decisions based on policy while remaining personable and empathetic. With over 10 years in the claims industry, her career path has been versatile, progressing from roles as a patient advocate and in social services to an uncertified social worker, then into admissions, billing, administrative duties, care coordination, and ultimately the insurance field. She holds an insurance adjuster license along with an associate's degree in psychology from South Suburban College and a high school diploma from Oregon Park High School. Kayla attributes her success to the resilience, adaptability, empathy, and leadership modeled by her former supervisor, and she values continuous learning and openness to change in her professional development.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kayla
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my former supervisor LaTanya Smith who showed me what resilience, adaptability, empathy, and leadership look like. She put workers and clients first and made a mark on my life.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to always learn and always be open. Never be so pinned in on your road to where you just can't be open to learning, because everything is constantly changing.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My biggest advice is to know your value, and don't be afraid to let people see what you can bring to the table. Keep learning, invest in yourself. Get whatever you can from the company, whether it's certifications or experience. Gain all of those attributes and also take on the challenge.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy, problem solving, paying attention to detail, adaptability, accountability, and resilience are most important to me. I bring resilience in both my professional and personal life and believe you must take accountability for your actions.
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