The Right People. The Right Time
The Council’s new Leadership Academy will help us build stronger, more effective leaders for our firms.
No need to adjust your eyes—I’m not taking over for The Council’s fearless leader, Ken Crerar (although that might be fun). I’m just borrowing his space this month to introduce myself and kick off 2015 with a healthy dose of energy and warmth from my sunny perch here in Pasadena.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t open with praise for the industry’s collective efforts lobbying the new Congress to enact the Terrorism Risk Reauthorization Act of 2015, just two days after a new slate of lawmakers were sworn in. It felt like a body blow to watch the Senate fail to take up the bill prior to adjourning for the holidays, so seeing such a positive flurry of activity the first full week of January was encouraging to start the New Year.
The last time I was featured in this magazine, I was asked what gives me an edge in the industry. My response was simple: “This is a people business…you have to have relationships.”
As my wife and I were opening stacks of holiday cards a few weeks back, it hit me. So many were from my broker colleagues and carrier partners—all people I have met throughout my 25 years at Bolton & Company—and all people I established friendships with thanks to my engagement at various levels with The Council.
As you all well know, The Council is an organization growing stronger by the day. It has undergone an amazing transition in recent years, under Ken’s leadership and talented staff. While the Insurance Leadership Forum remains the cornerstone of the organization’s 101-year history, the time and resources they’ve invested in membership efforts, advocacy and employee benefits intelligence, expanding international outreach and creating more robust working and study groups, have put them on a new level.
One example of that, and perhaps most exciting for me in my year ahead as chairman, is The Council’s new Leadership Academy. It’s no secret that the most successful firms have great people and great leaders, but our industry continues to struggle to properly perpetuate firms. This powerhouse leadership program (which begins in February) puts a fun and action-oriented spin on talent development using experiential learning as the backbone. It’s a great opportunity for you to identify your top people and those you plan to be your top people, and put them in a friendly, innovative setting with the best and brightest from across the country to learn and understand how to create a healthier business environment at your firm.
It’s no secret that the most successful firms have great people and great leaders, but our industry continues to struggle to properly perpetuate firms.
I have known The Council’s Elizabeth McDaid for years, and having her at the helm of this academy is a boon for our industry. These programs will help us all to build stronger, more effective leaders within our own walls, and helping to strengthen our respective perpetuation pipelines. I can’t wait to take advantage of the program with my own staff, and I hope you read up on the different offerings and make plans to get your people involved, too.
As I sign off, I’d like to thank all of you—my colleagues in the industry—for your support as I take the reins in 2015. I look forward to collaborating with all of you and making this year another great one for The Council.
