Sept. 9, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by Marsh McLennan Agency.

Alicia Carlson remembers the day she started at Howalt+McDowell Insurance more than 20 years ago. Little did she know the growth and changes that lay ahead for her and the company that would become Marsh McLennan Agency.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who knows more about insurance than Carlson. She has spent most of her career working with property and casualty coverages at Marsh McLennan Agency. But her passion for investing in colleagues recently led her to set aside that technical expertise and take on a new role as director of training and development.

“Our workforce, like many other businesses, is shifting in age. We wanted to create a role that educates our new colleagues, so we don’t lose that industry knowledge when people that have been here for 20-plus years retire,” Carlson said. “When I stepped into this role, my specific goals included tools and resources to keep improving day-to-day work, educating on technical knowledge gaps, helping teach soft skills employees need to perform and working with leaders to identify where the needs for employee growth are.”

Carlson also has been working on making sure colleagues have an outlet to refine leadership skills, industry education and team building.

“Individuals come to MMA and truly want to be confident in the work they’re doing,” Carlson said. “We haven’t always had a concrete training program, but now that we do, we see it building up team member skills and knowledge and, in turn, empowering them to do a better job. Our colleagues want to know why they’re doing what they’re doing, and their desire to be the best makes everyone, from our clients to our team, happy.”

Passion for investing in colleagues is where Carlson’s role at MMA stemmed from. She also believes that if colleagues feel invested in, they will want to invest in something, or someone else, and create a ripple effect.

“We also created an MMA In The Community program, which has the purpose of identifying colleagues who want to go out and represent our values in the community and have a giving presence throughout the region,” Carlson said. “Our community is so important to us, so we want to give employees the ability to volunteer on boards, participate in leadership programs, go out and work on projects they’re passionate about and commit to investing in something outside our office walls.”

Beyond making leadership a full-time role for some, various employees at MMA have seen local programs as an opportunity to start something new. For one colleague, experience in creating his nonprofit and gumption to volunteer more have helped his leadership qualities thrive. Brad Hearst, an employee health and benefits consultant, represented MMA in the 2020-21 Leadership South Dakota class.

“Leadership programs, including Leadership South Dakota, have allowed me to walk a mile in shoes I never thought I’d walk in,” Hearst said. “It gives me so much perspective on what is important to people and how to step back and learn how to listen, which in turn makes me a better businessman, employee and consultant.”

Throughout his career, Hearst has sought skills that make him a better consultant and well-rounded person.

“Being in sales, it’s easy to get aggressive and bold, and I want to meet that boldness with also being relatable and empathetic,” Hearst said. “Working for MMA and their push to be involved in these leadership programs have taught me just that. Outside of my day-to-day work, I have the opportunity to develop relationships, understand perspective and get the chance to talk openly and honestly about my goals for my professional role.”

Terra Bylander, a claims advocate at MMA, also has been active in internal and outside community leadership programs. Bylander is a graduate of the EmBe Women’s Leadership Program and continues to volunteer in MMA-provided growth opportunities, such as a public speaking course.

“These programs have set the foundation for me for things I couldn’t learn in the office alone,” Bylander said. “They’ve helped me become more self-aware, focus on my strengths and weaknesses, and polish my leadership skills. Each program inspires me to be bold and identify and embrace my core values and also encourages me to be a leader in my home, community and workspace.”

MMA has started to see colleague leadership development in a new light. The approach to investing in colleagues comes in new work roles, community partnerships and equipping them for success. MMA has learned to grow and care for leadership skills throughout the years. As workplaces face immense challenges, these resilient, collaborative and supported colleagues will grow stronger throughout their careers.

“I’ve just felt so much support and freedom throughout my time at MMA,” Hearst said. “We all know business is done through relationships, including internally, and having the encouragement to go out and represent MMA in the community has left me feeling good about my time here.”

If you’re interested in learning more about how Marsh McLennan Agency invests in leadership, reach out to [email protected].