Lots of Joy, People and Pie

As Lorrie Baldevia says, “It’s not who you know. It’s who remembers you.” Baldevia, a native of Guam, was recently promoted to platform president at insurance brokerage AssuredPartners, where she oversees Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. The company is closing in on $100 million in annual revenue, and the region includes about 350 employees.

Baldevia, the oldest of five kids, was raised by a single mother after her father died in a tragic accident when she was 12. She landed her first job at age 15 and “have always worked since.” She moved to Seattle at age 17 after earning a scholarship at Seattle University.

Leadership

It all starts with people. I learned early on that when you are in your 20s, find someone to follow. In your 30s, figure out what you are good at. In your 40s, do what you are good at and only what you are good at. In your 50s, train others, and in your 60s, go to the beach. There is a difference between a leader and a manager. It’s how you execute and get to the finish line. You don’t need to tell a leader what to do. Leaders lead, always.

Overrated Traits

Not all leaders, especially in insurance, are out there hanging with the elite and doing deals at the golf course. I consider myself the complete opposite. I prefer community work and spending time mentoring young people. I am a total introvert and learned to survive in an extroverted world. I take a more strategic approach to leadership by surrounding myself with a lot of people that are extroverts. It goes back to finding the right people that may not be like you. Be around people that bring you joy, and good things will follow.

Barriers

My personal philosophy is that if you can’t change the environment, you change the game and how you play it. If you are not at the table, create your own. Go outside your industry and work in your communities while also creating a personal board of advisers to help guide you. You will always come across a person that may not see eye to eye with you. They may be threatened by you or don’t like the idea of change, but that’s OK. Your job is to figure out the best play that will get you the result you are seeking.

Prominence

People can’t help you if they don’t know what you need help with. Tell people what you are doing and ask them to call you if they see an opportunity. I am big on one-on-one connections with people that bring joy and whom I genuinely like and trust — they are all part of your personal board. The people advocating for you also help promote you. It’s not who you know. It’s who remembers you.

Mentorship

Having the right people to follow is critical for the development of any leader. I often use the PIE theory: P is for Professional, I is for Image, and E is for Exposure. Anyone can use this theory to help mentor individuals or teach leaders how to approach mentoring others. When working with a team member who is struggling, ask yourself, what do they really need? Is it more professional development or do they need to polish their image? It will vary for every person. I have been given PIE throughout my career and I seek PIE every day. That’s how we get better.

Advice

You will face a lot of noise. It’s all part of leading. You may go down a particular path because it seems like the right thing to do, but it’s important to be cognizant when it’s not working and change the plan. Don’t be afraid to pivot or try new things. That’s how you show progress.

Networking

I spent my early years meeting a lot of people and building acquaintances along the way. As an introvert, I struggled with the thought of putting myself out there. So, I made it a game by setting a goal for the number of new people to meet, making it easier to focus. Ten years ago, I set a goal to meet as many people as I could, and met 150 advisers in one year. Those meetings led to relationships that still drive business today. The true secret to networking is to find people that bring you joy.

Do Differently

The 80/20 rule is something I should have used many years ago. We all spend time on tasks and busy work that slows growth. In many cases, your revenue comes from 20% of your clients. Being more strategic and investing time in things that will provide greater impact early on will help you in the long run.

Unwind

Read, run, and wine. I am a voracious reader and love nothing more than enjoying a nice glass of wine by the fire and reading a book. Running also clears my mind, and I have run in races all over the world. In my spare time, I am a total foodie and love to blog about restaurants that I’ve experienced around the world.

Autobiography Title

Empowering Your Success Through Joy, People & PIE.