Let’s be honest for a second. When you tell someone you work in insurance, what’s the first reaction you get? A blank stare? A polite nod? Maybe a joke about fine print?
It’s not exactly known as the most glamorous industry, is it? We often get painted with a broad brush—a bit old-fashioned, a little slow to change, maybe even a tad… boring.
But what if that’s just a story we’ve gotten used to? What if someone is actively trying to rewrite the script?
That’s exactly why I was so excited to talk with Jenee Green. As a Senior Partner, she’s not just sitting in a corner office; she’s on a mission to inject some serious new energy into the industry. And after hearing her story, I’m convinced she’s onto something big.
From the Outside Looking In
One of the first things that struck me about Jenee is that she didn't grow up dreaming of a career in insurance. I mean, who does, right? Her path wasn't a straight line from college to a cubicle at a major carrier.
This is actually her secret weapon.
Coming into the industry with fresh eyes gave her a perspective that many of us who've been in the trenches for years might miss. She saw the incredible potential and the solid foundation of the insurance world, but she also saw the cracks—the outdated processes, the resistance to new ideas, and the massive opportunity being missed to connect with a new generation.
Think of it like this: if you’ve lived in the same house your whole life, you might not notice the peeling paint on the windowsill or the creaky floorboard in the hall. But when a guest comes over, they see it immediately. Jenee was that guest, and she wasn't afraid to point out where we could do a little renovating.
"Good Enough" is No Longer Good Enough
So, what did she see? Jenee talks a lot about a culture of "good enough" that can sometimes settle over our industry. We have systems that work (mostly), processes that are familiar, and a way of doing things that has been successful for decades. Why rock the boat?
Here’s the thing, though. The world outside our boat is changing at lightning speed.
Customer expectations are being shaped by Amazon, Netflix, and Uber. They want things to be simple, fast, and personalized. They don’t want to fill out 20 pages of paperwork or wait three weeks for an answer.
And it’s not just about customers. The talent pool is changing, too. The brightest young minds coming out of college aren’t necessarily looking for a "safe and stable" career anymore. They want to make an impact. They want to work with cutting-edge technology. They want to be part of something dynamic and forward-thinking.
If we keep telling ourselves that the old way is "good enough," we risk becoming irrelevant. Jenee’s message is clear: we have to stop patting ourselves on the back for how things have always been and start getting excited about what they could be.
How Do We Actually Attract New Energy?
Okay, so it’s easy to say we need to change. But how do we actually do it? This is where Jenee's insights get really practical. It’s not about just putting a foosball table in the breakroom and calling it a day.
She believes it comes down to a few key things:
- Telling a Better Story: We need to get better at talking about the "why" of insurance. We're not just selling policies; we're helping people rebuild their lives after a disaster. We're giving entrepreneurs the confidence to take risks. We’re providing a safety net that allows society to function. That’s a powerful story! We just need to start telling it.
- Embracing Technology (For Real This Time): This isn't just about digitizing old forms. It's about fundamentally rethinking how we work. How can AI help us process claims faster and more accurately? How can data analytics help us create better, more personalized products? When we show that we’re an industry that innovates, we’ll attract people who want to innovate.
- Creating a Culture of Curiosity: Jenee emphasizes the need for leaders to foster environments where it’s safe to ask "why?" and "what if?" We need to encourage experimentation, even if it sometimes leads to failure. The biggest risk isn't trying something new and failing; it's never trying anything new at all.
She shared a thought that really stuck with me: the future leaders of this industry might not be the ones who know the most about traditional underwriting, but the ones who are the most curious about how to solve problems in new ways.
It Starts With Us
Hearing Jenee talk is genuinely inspiring. You get the sense that she doesn't just see problems; she sees possibilities. She sees an industry that’s on the cusp of a major transformation, and she wants to be right in the middle of it.
And her message isn’t just for executives and senior partners. It’s for every single one of us—the broker meeting with a new client, the adjuster out in the field, the marketer crafting a new campaign, the developer building a new app.
We all have a role to play in bringing new energy to our work. It can be as simple as questioning a process that doesn't make sense anymore or taking the time to mentor a new person joining your team.
It's about shifting our mindset from "this is how we do it" to "how could we do this better?" That’s the kind of energy that doesn't just change a company; it can change an entire industry. And honestly, it’s about time.
