I'd be remiss if I didn't take the time to give a big shoutout to BenefitsPRO and Paul Wilson, our editor-in-chief. I started writing regularly for the magazine about 10 years ago and oftentimes, I would do a temperature check with Paul and ask him about topics he wanted to hear about. One day six years ago, he said to me, "Susan, I just want to hear something good. There is so much negativity out there, that I want to hear positive stories." The lightbulb went on for me, because I knew of good….so much good. Good that I encounter on a daily basis, but that we often don't hear about. Good that women are doing in our industry.
That's how the series, "What's the Good News, Ladies?" or as we like to call it internally "WTGNL" was born. Since that day in 2016, we have featured over 200 women, started a Wonder Woman Mastermind, spoken on panels, delivered keynotes and made connections with each other virtually as well as in person at industry events. And we aren't done yet! Here's to the next six years of inspiration from our female industry leaders. May we know them, and may we raise them up.
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So without further ado, let me introduce you to our next three powerhouse women! Irma, Kerri and Mindi strive for greatness on a daily basis, but they always remain open to new opportunities when they present themselves and have a strong desire to couple their futures with their past experiences and influencers in their lives. Check out what they have been up to!
"I look back to move forward and feel the constant vibration of change. I've learned through challenges to maintain a forward focus. Warrior on. Life is different now.
Reflecting on my success this past year is not quantified by numbers or achieving a specific goal. My success is about my ability to overcome the mental challenges that blocked or slowed me down.
My success this past year is allowing myself to be seen. I lead from my heart, trusting that it all turns out the way it's meant to be. I follow my passion to teach and share my knowledge with my community. My style of teaching and coaching with the curiosity to ask lots of questions and have fun allows me to listen more and talk less.
I am visible and no longer hiding in my shadow. I am back in the classroom, online on Zoom, expanding my business (taking calculated risks), and exercising courage to reinvent my business and self.
I'm embracing and celebrating change!"
"One of my business accomplishments was pivoting my insurance agency to focus on Medicare
health insurance in honor of my parents after helping them navigate the Medicare health insurance space's confusion and misinformation. I named my company after them.
In 2021, I made my own fabulous leap into level 50! I created a community for women ages 50+, to provide a space to encourage selfcare, share ideas on what that looks like, and encourage one another while providing resources for their new season of life.
Many of us are not our mother's or grandmother's 50! In my family, aging looked much different than what we see today. We are living longer, continuing to stay active mentally and physically and we may find ourselves reinventing ourselves later in life. My goal is to create a safe place for women to do this so they can live their best life!"
"I am grateful for the one year anniversary of my rebrand to Amethyst Wealth Planning, a psycho-soulful financial planning firm. To clarify, I am still with MassMutual. Amethyst Wealth Planning was named in honor of my mother who led me into this career to learn about finance. She left me a beautiful amethyst ring that I made into a pendant; it is the inspiration for my business evolution. Over a year ago, I realized I wanted to bring elements from my psychology background and spiritual practices into my financial services business. I wanted to focus on holistic planning and guiding courageous female entrepreneurs to build out financial plans in alignment with their emotional and spiritual selves. My mission is to hold space for alpha females to explore their relationship with money, how their family handled money, and how it informs their financial choices today."
We all know fantastic women in the industry, but maybe you know of an "unsung hero" who is working hard in our industry but doesn't usually get the spotlight. That's who I want you to advocate for! Connect them with me! Amazing things happen when we lift others up, so please help with this effort and shoot an email to [email protected]. I'd love to connect and bring them into my circle, too!
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