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Women Leaders Share Perspectives on Selective’s Agency Leadership Series

At Selective Insurance, we know the path to leadership in this industry is unique from person to person, agency to agency. We deeply value our partnerships with independent agents and are committed to identifying and supporting new, diverse leaders through programs like the Selective Agency Leadership Series.

This Series is focused on developing and strengthening the skill sets of early career and future agency leaders. Participants are nominated by Selective’s regional management teams to attend the seven-month program, which features a carefully crafted lineup of instructor-led courses. The experience focuses on building business acumen and leadership skills and provides an opportunity to network with peers, cultivate relationships with Selective’s Executive Leadership, and engage in roundtable discussions with other next generation leaders.

In this blog, four current participants offer their perspectives on the experience, and share how they continue to dedicate themselves to thriving in the insurance industry.

Georgia Schelberger

Commercial Marketing Coordinator for Virginia, Towne Insurance

I am honored and grateful to have been chosen for the Selective Agency Leadership Series. I give a round of applause to Selective for all of their educational programs, but especially their initiatives that empower women.

Balancing career, leadership development, and motherhood can easily become overwhelming. I find taking time to pause before charging forward with my day allows me to be most productive in the long run. Routine is also a key to success for me. Being mindful of our routines is the first step to changing the bad habits that we all have and allows us to build on the good. Your energy is valuable - spend it wisely.

Season Purdy Looper

Agency Manager, Personal Lines CSR, Purdy Insurance

“Hi Season! You have been chosen to be a part of the Selective Agency Leadership Series!” Shock, surprise, pride, and excitement are a few feelings that immediately crossed my mind. “The program is seven months long, and you’ll have to be on site a few days for some of the sessions.” Hesitancy, anxiety, and surprise were the next few feelings that flooded my mind. I have four-year-old twins at home. Will my husband and children be okay with me leaving? I am new to my management position; will I be able to stay on track at work?

Staying balanced and motivated as a woman in a male dominated industry is not always easy, but when I am nominated and chosen for programs like the Selective Agency Leadership Series, it gives me the drive and motivation to push hesitancy and anxiety to the side and take the plunge. Huge THANK YOU to my village!

The Selective Agency Leadership Series has taught me not only how to be a better leader at work, but also in life. It has given me confidence, drive, and organizational skills, where I did not realize I needed them. The best part about the Selective Agency Leadership Series is the friendships that were made during the sessions. There is nothing better than looking at your cell phone and seeing 80 text messages from 14 other people checking in, making jokes, and staying connected, when we are not in a room together. I am really looking forward to what the rest of the program has to offer, as well as learning and growing from my peers and mentors.

Jill Brooks

Vice President Business Insurance, Lovitt & Touche, a Marsh McLennan Agency

I learned something new today! That’s the way I like to end my day after 37 years in Insurance. Whether it’s keeping up with changing technology or seeing new and creative solutions to ever-changing risks, it is exciting to be a part of an industry that is always evolving. I recommend challenging yourself with new skills, learning about new products, and always seeking training. Being part of the Selective Agency Leadership Series may seem unnecessary to some people who have been in leadership for as many years as I have, but I find being reminded of the basics, learning from new and innovative people, and staying open to change will make me a better leader for the future.

Always seeking to better myself and those around me keeps me motivated and challenged. I take pride in helping others develop their careers and leading the next generation in our field.

Charlotte Law

Partner, Kinghorn Beaufort and TWIA Insurance Agency

“If you can play with the boys, you can work with the men,” is a quote someone I very much admire said a few years ago, and it sums up my insurance career. I grew up on my family’s farm, then started my professional career in agriculture, where I was surrounded by men in another male dominated industry. My upbringing created a smooth transition into the insurance world because it was something I was comfortable with, until I became a working mother. Like many others, I have had to learn how to harmonize several new aspects of my career: new motherhood, leadership, time management, and overall balance - something most men don’t experience in the same capacity as women.

When I was nominated by my Agency Management Specialist for the Selective Agency Leadership Series, I had to make the choice to participate during my second pregnancy, something many would shy away from. I decided to go for it because I wanted my son and daughter to see me still committed to my career. The choice to be a working mom, who wears many hats at her agency, doesn’t come without extra help from my husband, family, partners, team, friends, and outsourcing. Hello grocery delivery! However, it is worth it each and every day. There is no secret to my success other than tenacity, perseverance, and giving 110% even on the days when my heart is being tugged in two directions. Still, I know my success is ultimately up to me, and I hope that is what my team also sees from my leadership. I am grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given and those for which I fought for, as well as the people in my life who have truly impacted and inspired me.

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