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Insurance Leaders Lab Podcast

Insurance Leaders Lab Podcast

by Nina Shepard

Management Careers

Season 2

Finding Growth Inside Your Agency

In this episode of Insurance Leaders Lab, I sit down with Kelly Donahue-Piro, founder and president of Agency Performance Partners, for an honest conversation about what many agency owners and teams are facing right now: service pressure, staffing challenges, burnout, soft market, and the constant need to do more with less. Her message is simple: before chasing more growth, agency leaders need to focus on opportunities inside their agency. A major theme in this conversation is efficiency. Kelly outlines practical ways agencies can reduce chaos, including improving first-call resolution, documenting while the client is still on the phone, helping teams “read the day,” and embracing systems and technology instead of resisting change. This episode is for agency owners, leaders, and insurance professionals who want to step back from the daily rush and find smarter ways to grow the agency they already have. MAIN IDEAS: Growth may already be inside the agency — in the current book, existing clients, team, systems, and customer experience. A quote process is not the same as a sales process — agencies need a clear, repeatable way to guide prospects and clients. The soft market is exposing weak spots — leaders need to look honestly at premium, revenue, policy count, and client count. Efficiency starts with the basics — first-call resolution, better documentation, clearer procedures, and less rework. Teams need to “read the day” — not every day allows for the same pace, conversations, or workflow. Technology helps only when the foundation is strong — tools cannot fix unclear processes or poor adoption. Hire for teachability and attitude — insurance experience is valuable, but mindset and willingness to learn matter more. Stop leading only through firefighting — even a small amount of intentional thinking time each week can change the agency's direction. RESOURCES: Agency Performance Partners Website - https://www.agencyperformancepartners.com/ Kelly Donahue - Piro on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellydonahuepiro

Run Your Agency Like You're Selling It Tomorrow

What is your insurance agency really worth — and are you building it in a way that gives you more choices for the future? In this episode of Insurance Leaders Lab, I sit down with Carey Wallace, founder of Agency Focus, to talk about one of the most important — and often avoided — topics for independent insurance agency owners: financial clarity. Carey works with hundreds of independent agencies across the country, helping owners understand their agency value, improve profitability, plan for perpetuation, prepare for acquisition, and make stronger financial decisions. Her message is clear: don’t wait until you are ready to sell to understand the value of your agency. By then, it may be too late to change the factors that matter most. We discuss why agency owners should consider valuation years before an exit, why compensation structure can become a major barrier to a sale, and how growth, profitability, and transferability all affect agency value. Carey also shares practical insights on: Why every agency owner should have a budget and business plan What makes an agency more attractive to buyers How technology and AI are changing agency productivity When a fractional CFO can help an agency grow This conversation is especially valuable for insurance agency owners, principals, operations leaders, and anyone involved in agency growth, perpetuation planning, or financial decision-making. If you lead an insurance organization, this episode will help you look at your numbers differently — not as something intimidating, but as a tool for better decisions, healthier operations, and a stronger future. Subscribe to Insurance Leaders Lab for practical conversations on insurance leadership, operations, agency growth, technology, and better ways to lead in a changing industry. Resources: Agency Focus Website - https://www.agency-focus.com Kerry Wallace on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrywallace Business Refocused Podcast - https://businessrefocused.com

Build Your Future - Ready Agency Today

In this episode of the Insurance Leaders Lab, I speak with Jason Cass about what it really takes to build an insurance agency that is ready for the future. Jason is an agency owner, entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and author, and he brings both bold ideas and real-world experience to this conversation. This is not just a conversation about growth or technology. It is a conversation about leadership. Jason shares how he built from the ground up, how he learned to trust capable people, and why the way work is assigned within an agency significantly impacts performance, culture, and the client experience. We talk about one of the biggest frustrations in many agencies today: talented people spending too much time on work that pulls them away from the conversations and responsibilities where they add the most value. Jason explains why better structure, smarter delegation, and clearer roles can help agencies grow without wearing everyone down. We also talk about customer experience, staffing, change, and what leaders need to do now to prepare for what is coming next. Throughout the conversation, Jason keeps coming back to a simple but important point: the future belongs to agencies that learn to work better, not just harder. If you are an agency owner or insurance leader who wants to build a stronger team, create more capacity, and lead with more intention, this episode will give you plenty to think about. Jason also shares more about his book Future Ready, his free AI 2030 Manual for Modern Agencies, and the work he is doing through Insurance Agency Intelligence, BrainShare, Inditech, and the Insurance Podcast Network. Key topics: Why is delegation one of the most important leadership skills How to reduce overload inside the agency What customer experience really means today How to create more time for better client conversations Why leadership and change readiness matter just as much as tools and systems What agency leaders can start doing now to prepare for the future Resources & Links: Insurance Agency Intelligence ( AI 2030 Future-Ready Manual) : https://www.insuranceagencyintelligence.com/ Insurance Podcast Network: https://theinsurancepodcastnetwork.com/ Virtual Intelligence: https://virtualintell.com/

Resilience: Your Core Advantage

In the fast-evolving world of insurance, staying ahead means embracing change and innovation. In this episode, I speak with Margo Giles, a recognized thought leader in InsurTech, who shares her insights on what will matter most for insurance agencies to be successful in a new AI-enhanced environment. We discuss the importance of having a resilient mindset. To thrive in this fast-paced environment, embracing technology and developing a clear strategy are not optional—they are fundamental for future success. http://iryscloud.com/

2026: Focus And Tech Transformation

As we enter 2026, the importance of focus and technology awareness surface as the main themes. We need to rethink multitasking and learn to dedicate full attention to critical tasks to achieve better outcomes. Nina also discusses the significance of reflection on past achievements and setting clear, SMART goals for the new year.

Insurance Ops Reinvented: Scaling With Global Talent

In this episode, I discuss with Office Beacon CEO Pranav Dalal how insurance leaders can reinvent operations and scale smarter by leveraging global talent, secure outsourcing, and practical competitive advantage. Pranav shares his journey building a global workforce company over 25 years and shares how his company helps insurance leaders address the talent shortage, AI, data security, and modern efficiency. If you want to grow capacity, streamline operations, and stay competitive in 2026, this conversation offers clear, actionable insights.

The Art Of Leadership: Insights from Tim Parenti

Join us in this insightful episode of the Insurance Leaders Lab podcast as Nina welcomes Tim Parenti, Senior VP of Sales at First Insurance Funding. With over two decades of experience, Tim shares his journey from being in sales to leading global consulting and training initiatives. Discover the universal challenges across industries, the nuances of mergers and acquisitions in insurance, and the importance of culture and leadership in navigating change. Tim's stories and wisdom offer valuable lessons for leaders and professionals seeking to inspire and engage their teams. Tune in for a conversation filled with practical tips and inspiring anecdotes.

The Secret Sauce To a Great Partnership

My conversation partners, Amy Stark Snook and Noreen Payne, have worked as a team for over 10 years. They build a successful business together, support each other as friends, and are filled with energy and joy that they generously share with everyone on their path. How do they do that? You'll find it by listening to the episode packed with great tips and actionable strategies!

Season 1

Why Engaging In Meaningful Conversations Will Change Your Results

In this episode of the Insurance Leaders Lab podcast, I interview Sven Gade, an executive coach and triathlon enthusiast. We discuss the parallels between sports and leadership, the importance of meaningful conversations, and the role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership. Sven shares several tools that will help you to lead diverse teams successfully.

Transformational Power Of Emotional Validation

In this episode of Insurance Leaders Lab, I’m joined by Doug Noll—a lawyer turned peacemaker—who brings decades of wisdom in conflict resolution to the table. Doug has taught thousands how to defuse tension and resolve conflict in seconds. You will learn how to instantly calm any angry person—yes, in under 90 seconds. It’s a game-changing tool for leaders who want to create more peace, clarity, and connection in high-pressure moments. Modern leadership isn’t just about strategy—it’s about presence, empathy, and the ability to transform conflict into progress. Doug shares real-life examples and simple practices to help anyone strengthen conflict resolution skills and lead with emotional intelligence. If you’re ready to upgrade how you lead in challenging situations, this episode is packed with practical takeaways that will shift how you think, listen, and communicate forever.

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