In this episode, I interview Cortney Helfrich, Chief Personnel Officer at Wilber Group, one of the top subrogation agencies in the country. Cortney’s story is anything but linear. In her words, it’s a series of “left turns that got her to the right place.” From being ranked sixth in the nation in pole vaulting to walking away from the sport to pursue a career in insurance, her journey is full of unexpected pivots, each one leading her closer to her purpose. We talk about the powerful article that first sparked her passion for risk management, and how she’s spent 14 years growing with Wilber. She has tried nearly every role in the organization and now leads their People Resources department with authenticity and heart.

Cortney opens up about what it means to be the only woman on the executive team, and how she uses that platform to champion mentorship, create psychological safety, and model what it looks like to lead while staying true to yourself. She shares her belief that it's okay to do what's best for you and your family, and that it's also okay to chase your dreams. We also talk about how to make insurance more visible and inspiring for future generations (yes, she’s dreaming of a subrogation specialist Halloween costume), and why she believes this industry offers the kind of stability and purpose young professionals are searching for.

In this episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Corrie LoGiudice, keynote speaker, coach, and founder of Corrie Lo & Co LLC. Corrie shared her powerful journey from being the only woman, and the youngest person, in a senior executive role within a male-dominated industry to launching her own business after experiencing an unimaginable series of traumatic events. From miscarriage, abuse, divorce, and the devastating loss of a partner to suicide, Corrie opened up about what it means to keep showing up as a leader and a mother in the face of adversity. Her ability to transform personal tragedy into fuel for transformation and leadership is deeply inspiring, especially for women navigating both professional ambition and personal struggle.

Corrie also speaks about taking the leap to build her business, not just for herself, but for her daughter and the future of women in leadership. We talked about what it means to invest in yourself, to shift your mindset from “what if it goes wrong?” to “what if it goes right?” and how she helps clients tackle burnout and overwhelm through her five-part framework: Clarity, Confidence, Community, Conditioning, and Consistency. Corrie’s message is clear—systemic change starts with courageous women stepping into leadership, and she’s here to help more of us do just that.

Amora Wood’s journey in insurance is a testament to the power of self-advocacy, asking for what you want, and not letting a “no” deter your ambition. She landed her first insurance job simply by striking up a conversation with a restaurant regular. That same curiosity led her to explore policies beyond her first role as a receptionist, sparking a passion that carried her into production. Throughout her career, Amora has embraced rejection as part of the process, encouraging others to do the same: “The word no, and rejection, get less powerful the more you hear it. Keep putting yourself out there.” Amora also challenged competitive workplace dynamics by fostering collaboration, choosing to uplift other women rather than compete.

As a wife and mother, Amora confronted self-imposed guilt about balancing career and family, ultimately redefining success on her own terms. By seeking counsel of a working mothers she admired, she embraced the idea that pursuing her career was not just beneficial for her, it was an inspiring lesson for her children. “It's not about being there for every single thing, but about being the best version of yourself when you are.” Looking ahead, Amora hopes to create a supportive community for women in insurance, a space where they can share experiences and seek guidance.