Her Story
About Kelly
Kelly Eason is a Property and Casualty Commercial Insurance Broker at USI in Des Peres, Missouri, where she serves clients out of the firm's office on Manchester Road. She began her career in the insurance industry in 2018 after earning her license, initially building her foundation in personal lines before making the shift into commercial insurance in 2023. That transition has since evolved into a broader career marked by growth, mentorship, and a focus on underserved markets within the commercial space.
A defining piece of Eason's work has been the development of a new automotive dealership program vertical in St. Louis, an area she identified as largely underserved. Building this niche required persistence, including outreach conversations with seven different dealerships, and she credits mentors from across the country for helping guide her through the process. As the only woman on her team, she has embraced that distinction as an asset, using her unique vantage point to foster different kinds of conversations with clients and to help shift culture within the industry more broadly.
Beyond her client-facing work, Eason is active in her professional community as a member of the National African American Insurance Association's St. Louis chapter and is in the process of joining the Black Chamber of Commerce for the St. Louis region. She grounds her career in values of respect, growth, community involvement, and accountability, and she extends that mindset to those following in her footsteps by encouraging young women in the industry to seek out mentorship, keep learning, and trust in their own capabilities. Outside of work, she has recently taken up golf, an interest she has found valuable both for building professional relationships and strengthening her own mental resilience.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kelly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my resilience and adaptability, as well as my willingness to lean into my unique perspective as a woman in this industry. That perspective allows me to approach conversations with clients differently, which has become one of my greatest strengths.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to listen more than I talk. This has proven especially valuable in sales and in the insurance business, where truly understanding a client's needs matters more than anything else I could say.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this industry to always be learning and to take a proactive approach to their growth. Find mentors who can guide you, believe in your own abilities, and remember to be kind to yourself along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in our field is the constant change driven by a number of outside factors. At the same time, I see real opportunity in that change, particularly in adopting a more proactive approach through advances in technology like AI and data analytics.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect, a commitment to growth, giving back to my community, and accountability are the values that matter most to me, both professionally and personally.
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