GSD Factor Podcast

Be Present with Meg McKeen

We explore the GSD Factor attribute Be Present with Meg McKeen.
 
The ability to Be Present - to keep showing up, even if for a moment, it’s the art of starting to do something, anything, and trusting that process even when it seems that there are more pivots than plans and we live with the attitude of progress not perfection.
 
With roots in both underwriting and sales, through Adjunct Advisors, Meg McKeen holds space, at the crossroads of personal and professional development, for insurance professionals as they grow their confidence - and careers - through private coaching, consulting engagements, and the podcast she hosts, Bound & Determined℠.
 
Connect with Meg McKeen on LinkedIn

Courage, Resilience, and Becoming a Mom with Christine French

A story of courage, resiliency, and becoming a Mom.  Christine is a corporate finance professional learning to balance her career with navigating new motherhood.  With that comes a wide range of complex feelings, from trusting daycare, staying present in her marriage, becoming more secure in the decision to have one child, and discovering her new identity as a mother.  These feelings are made even more nuanced because her journey to this point has involved an early loss as well as delivery and postpartum complications.  She is passionate about sharing her joys and struggles openly in the hope that it can help other moms feel less alone.
Connect with Christine on LinkedIn or Instagram

Be Connecting with RGirls-GSD

Meet the RGirls who GSD!  Bobbie Shrivastav, Laurel Jordan, Jes Vargas, Meg Duty, Kelly King, and Misha Bleymaier-Farrish. 
That's right, our group was brought together because of our common love of Rothy's shoes, encouraging and empowering one another in the insurance and technology industries.  
We met at a conference, noticed that we were all wearing our Rothy's shoes and it was an instant connection now turned friendships and the rest is history as they say.  We now have a book club, connect at conferences throughout the year and the list goes on.  
When living the GSD Factor life we talk about surrounding ourselves with two groups of people, your GSD Factor Clan which is for more of your personal growth and your Insiders Board which is for more of your professional growth.  
We hope by sharing our story you remember to always be present in the moment and be open to who you may CONNECT to.  It may surprise you!  

Be Imaginative with Lori Pon

We explore the GSD Factor attribute Be Imaginative with Lori Pon.
 
The determination to Be Imaginative - To dream big, never be satisfied with the status quo, be the innovating solutionist, to continue to break down barriers and say I’m here, what can we improve, what is impossible that we can make possible.
 
Lori Pon is the Assistant Vice President of Claims Transformation at The Hanover Insurance Group, where she oversees innovation, business case development, program management, organizational change management, and post-implementation evaluation. She is an insurance industry veteran of more than 20 years, and over the course of her career, she has successfully led the building and implementation of core platforms and integrations. Before joining The Hanover Insurance Group, she served in multiple leadership positions with The Auto Club Group, where she developed a holistic vision and roadmap for seamless service delivery leveraging innovation and process redesign.
 
Connect with Lori Pon on LinkedIn.

Be Inquisitive with Melanie Husk

We explore the GSD Factor attribute Be Inquisitive with Melanie Husk.  
 
The capacity to Be Inquisitive - We are always learning, always students of life.  To walk in humility knowing that you are not the smartest person in the room but know how to mobilize the right team and people ensures that you are open to the fullness of life.
 
Melanie A. Husk, AAMS™, AWMA™ is the founder of MEL Consulting Co., a boutique fee-only financial planning and investment management practice. Her focus is on educating and empowering bada$$ GenXY women. She believes in acting in her client's best interests ahead of her own.  She's also the founder of the Women In Tech & Their $ Stories Series. When she's not working, you can find her sailing around the world.
 
Connect with Melanie Husk on LinkedIn
 
 
 

”She’s a Bit Much” with Lisa Wardlaw

Reference Lisa Wardlaw's LinkedIn Post:
Today, I overheard someone say this exact phrase “she’s a bit much” and I was disappointed. To think that this one statement can unravel of all of the decades of progress towards understanding, amplifying and embracing differences, including those women who are strong. I also reflected in that moment of how many women also heard the same statement yet few stepped up and ensure that we do not sit silently by. We all have a duty to change the narrative.
 
We invited Lisa to lean into this experience and conversation so that we may all learn what to do and in this case what not to do.  We have made great improvements, but we can do better.
 
Lisa Wardlaw is an innovative, highly-experienced insurance executive who combines her deep decades of experience serving as CXO, CFO, COO, CSO for some of the largest insurance institutions (MunichRe, Famers, ING, Voya) with her entrepreneurial drive to rapidly help your start up succeed in the insurance industry.  Lisa supports companies that she believes have a unique perspective and want to authentically usher in innovation insurance marketplace. Her thought leadership, ability to create innovative and ingenuitive insurance solutions across P&C, life and health insurance marketplace is leveraged to provide innovative guidance and solutions for all insurtechs across North America and globally.
 
Connect with Lisa Wardlaw on LinkedIn
 

GSD Factor - Best of Season 1

Monica Wisdom, Founder of Black Women Amplified

Author and speaker Monica Wisdom has been carving her own path for many years. Traveling to over 19 countries and 34 states she has created opportunities through meeting and talking to some amazing people. Monica realized her passion was to interview people and so she Created the Black Female Factor to provide a platform for Black Women to have a voice and share their opinions. More recently she has launched her blog, Black Women Amplified, which has now progressed into a thriving Podcast.
Learn about the power of storytelling from a GSD woman that has been embracing this mantra her whole life. Monica Wisdom has forged a career from elevating the voices of Black Women around the world, creating a platform from which they can be heard and providing a beacon of light to guide people from their dark places within.
 
Monica Wisdom LinkedIn
Host Misha Bleymaier-Farrish
GSD Factor Website

Women in Insurance Tech

Episode 11 is the continuation of our panel guests. Theresa, Jennifer, and Vinita join host Misha Bleymaier-Farrish to discuss ways you can advocate for under-represented voices in insurance and tech.
Vinita Jajware-Beatty is President of the Toronto Insurance Women’s Association (TIWA), a not-for-profit trade association and serves as co-chair of Dive In Canada Linkedin
Theresa Blissing is the Founder of the Asia InsurTech Podcast and the Head of TDI Connect at The Digital Insurer, with extensive knowledge of the insurance industry in Europe and Asia Pacific. LinkedIn
Jennifer Wilson has over 28 years of experience in the insurance industry, primarily in the cyber, specialty claims and risk management sector.  LinkedIn 
GSD Factor Website
Host Misha Bleymaier-Farrish 

Insurance State of Mind

Episode 10 features three special guests, all leaders in the insurance industry from around the globe. These thought leaders address the stigma of being a leader in a traditionally male-dominated space. This casual conversation will bring you solidarity in knowing – you are not alone.
Theresa is the Founder of the Asia InsurTech Podcast and the Head of TDI Connect at The Digital Insurer, with extensive knowledge of the insurance industry in Europe and Asia Pacific. 
Jennifer has over 28 years of experience in the insurance industry, primarily in the cyber, specialty claims and risk management sector. 
Vinita Jajware-Beatty is President of the Toronto Insurance Women’s Association (TIWA), a not-for-profit trade association and serves as co-chair of Dive In Canada