Creating an organizational culture where employee perspectives are valued and staff feels part of something bigger fosters an environment where individuals and the organization flourish. 

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Jana Foster, owner of Nevada Insurance Agency Company and chair of the Big “I” national Young Agents Committee, sits down with Karen Bailo, commercial lines president at Progressive, to talk organizational culture, inclusion, and the importance communication and supporting the personal development of staff. 

Bailo is what Progressive calls a “lifer.” She’s been in the business for more than 32 years, starting as a service representative, moving onto analytical roles and eventually leading the independent agency channel. Now, Bailo leads the fast-growing commercial business as commercial lines president. 

“People are it for us, we know that our people are our most powerful asset as a company. Without our customer service teams and claims organization, all of our sales organizations, without our agents—we wouldn’t have a business," Bailo says. "Progressive creates an environment where people feel valued and engaged and part of something special."

On this edition of Agency Nation Radio, listen to Bailo’s insurance origin story and glean insights from Progressive’s tested practices to create an inclusive, growth-minded agency culture. 

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. 

For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Have a story to tell? Contact Susan Bonner, Big "I" assistant vice president of marketing and communications.