Culture

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Jennifer Becker, Big “I” executive director of research and education, is joined by Claudia St. John, founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors.  During the episode, they explore how small independent insurance agencies can compete with large corporations for talent; whether artificial intelligence (AI) is helping agencies address staffing shortages or simply adding another layer of complexity; and what agency owners…

To address the talent shortage, here are five successful, replicable strategies already in motion to recruit the next wave of insurance talent in 2026 and beyond.

Angela Ripley, president of VW Brown Insurance in Columbia, Maryland, brings two decades of agency leadership, eight acquisitions and a passion for mentorship and inclusion to the role of Big “I” chair.

“It takes a lot of work to do this job,” says young agent Yuliya Karpov. “This profession provides an opportunity to find harmony, to learn about yourself and what you need, then reflect and adjust accordingly.”

“The core value of lending a helping hand and never being too busy to help a producer … is everything I want in a mentor, especially as a guy that didn’t go to school for insurance,” says young agent Jackson Doyle.

Workplace mental health and wellness impacts all aspects of a business: performance, culture, retention and the bottom line.

In this bonus episode of Agency Nation Radio, Avery Moore, Brock Elliott, and Lisa Lemanski discuss how to maintain a positive culture during the hard market.