Occupation: Senior Sales Manager, Progressive Insurance
What’s the best advice you ever received: Whether or not it is clear to you, the universe is unfolding as it should.
What do you know now that you wish you had known earlier in your career: You can know your product inside and out, but if you don’t continue to work on being the best listener to your customers and potential customers, you won’t be making as many sales.
How do you ensure a balance between work and your personal life: With work I try to “front load” and get everything out of the day, which comes down to organization. This frees up the time to focus on my family and all of our extra-curriculars.
What’s something people should know about your generation in the workplace: We are a very driven and hardworking generation, like our parents’ and grandparents’ generations. We work well together to collaborate, and are passionate about helping others.
If you had $1 million to give, what causes would you support: The Heart Friends Network through the University of Iowa, as well as the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the Dravet Syndrome Foundation. I would also support St. Matthew’s Catholic School and Church, and my alma mater, Xavier (Regis) High School.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt: I would love to flip a house or two, so real estate would be exciting. I would also like to be a franchise owner.
Who are your local mentors: Susan Lagos-Lavenz was my first boss after graduation. She hired me to teach fourth and fifth graders right out of college. She helped form my passion for helping others. While it has been some time since I taught for her, the opportunity she provided to me, as well as the example of how to be a professional, still resonates with me today.