Beyond the Books - Brian Pilarski
Summary
TLDRIn this engaging conversation, Walsh College alumnus and board of trustee, Brian Polanski, shares his educational journey and professional experiences. Brian discusses the impact of his Master's degree on his career advancement, emphasizing the value of higher education in today's competitive job market. He also provides insights into his work in the insurance industry, highlighting the importance of client-first approaches, continuous learning, and maintaining a strong sense of duty and responsibility. Brian's story serves as a testament to the transformative power of education and its role in shaping leaders who make a positive impact in their fields.
Takeaways
- 🎓 The value of a master's degree is not just in the knowledge acquired, but in the way it transforms your thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- 🚀 A graduate degree can accelerate one's career progression, making up for years of experience and demonstrating a commitment to learning and advancement.
- 🌟 Walsh College's reputation as an excellent business school played a significant role in Brian's decision to pursue his master's degree there.
- 📈 The long-term return on investment of education is evident in the way it continues to benefit individuals throughout their careers, even decades after graduation.
- 💡 The transformational knowledge gained from higher education is different from transactional knowledge and enables individuals to see the world through a different lens.
- 🗣️ Strong communication skills, honed through higher education, are crucial in the insurance industry for effectively understanding and addressing client needs.
- 🔍 A client-first approach in business involves understanding the client's needs, risks, and potential problems, and offering pragmatic solutions.
- 🌐 Networking and putting oneself in situations where connections can be made is essential for career growth and can lead to unexpected opportunities.
- 📚 Continuous learning and investment in oneself are key to staying relevant and competitive in the ever-evolving professional landscape.
- 🛠️ The practical application of knowledge is vital in the insurance industry, where understanding the technical aspects and staying updated on changes is crucial for advising clients effectively.
- 🏆 Walsh College alumni, like Brian, exemplify the college's mission of producing graduates who make a positive impact in their fields and communities.
Q & A
What was Brian's motivation for pursuing a master's degree at Walsh College?
-Brian was looking for a way to advance faster in his professional career and noticed that many positions he was interested in required a master's degree. He chose Walsh College due to its excellent reputation as a business school and the fact that many people he knew were alumni.
How did Walsh College's educational approach benefit Brian in his professional life?
-The education at Walsh College allowed Brian to think differently and approach problems with a more sophisticated and strategic mindset. It also provided him with the skills to communicate effectively and lead, which are essential in his role as a senior vice president at Cap Neck.
What is Brian's perspective on the value of a master's degree in today's job market?
-Brian believes that a master's degree can significantly accelerate one's career, showing potential employers that the individual is serious about their education and professional development. It can also demonstrate the ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
How does Brian apply his education from Walsh College to his current role in the insurance industry?
-Brian uses the skills he learned at Walsh College, such as communication, problem-solving, and financial understanding, to navigate the complexities of the insurance industry. He works with clients to understand their needs and risks, and with insurance companies to negotiate terms that are beneficial for his clients.
What advice does Brian have for students considering a graduate program?
-Brian advises students to take risks and invest in themselves early on. He emphasizes the importance of education and the long-term benefits it can bring to one's career and personal development.
How does Brian approach client relationships in his work?
-Brian follows a 'Client First' approach, focusing on understanding the clients' needs, risks, and potential problems. He aims to provide pragmatic solutions and values transparency in his communication with clients.
What is Brian's view on the role of networking in professional development?
-Brian believes that networking is crucial and that putting oneself in social or professional settings where there is potential for connection always pays off. He suggests that being in the right rooms with the right people can lead to significant opportunities.
How does Brian's sense of duty and responsibility influence his professional approach?
-Brian's sense of duty and responsibility drive him to ensure the best outcomes for his clients. He is committed to understanding their needs thoroughly and providing the necessary advice and support, even if it means extra effort on his part.
What was Brian's experience with Walsh College's study abroad program?
-Brian had a positive experience with Walsh College's study abroad program, where he accompanied students to London. He helped the students connect with companies and facilitated debriefing sessions, enhancing their learning experience.
How does Brian stay updated with the latest trends in the insurance industry?
-Brian stays updated with the latest trends by engaging with industry publications and contributing articles, such as his work on cyber insurance for the State Bar of Michigan's publication. He also continuously seeks to deepen his technical knowledge and understanding of the field.
What impact did Walsh College have on Brian's personal and professional growth?
-Walsh College played a significant role in Brian's personal and professional growth by providing him with a solid educational foundation, a network of alumni and professionals, and opportunities for international experiences. It also instilled in him a sense of duty and responsibility that he carries in his work today.
Outlines
🎓 Welcoming Brian Polanski to Walsh College
The paragraph introduces Brian Polanski, an alumnus and board member of Walsh College, as a guest in the Creator Lab Studio. The conversation begins with pleasantries and a tour of the studio, which used to be a bookstore. Brian shares his journey to Walsh College, his decision to pursue a master's degree, and the wisdom he gained from the experience. The discussion emphasizes the value of higher education in accelerating one's career and the advantages of having a master's degree in the professional world.
🚀 Accelerating Career Growth through Education
This segment delves into the professional benefits of obtaining a master's degree, as Brian reflects on how furthering his education at Walsh College helped him advance in his career. The conversation highlights the importance of critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to view the world through a different lens, which are highly valued by employers. Brian also discusses the long-term return on investment of education and how it continues to benefit him years after completing his degree.
🛠️ Applying Management Skills in the Insurance Industry
Brian shares his professional experiences in the insurance industry, emphasizing the application of management and leadership skills learned at Walsh College. As a senior vice president, he navigates between clients and insurance companies, utilizing his communication and financing skills. The discussion also touches on the importance of understanding and managing risks, as well as the role of insurance as a necessary business expense.
🤝 Client-First Approach and Transparency in Business
In this part, Brian elaborates on his client-first approach and the importance of transparency in his role. He discusses the use of personality assessments to improve communication and understanding with clients and colleagues. Brian's commitment to helping clients and his dedication to ethical business practices are highlighted, showcasing his sense of duty and responsibility in his professional role.
📚 The Value of Graduate Education and Networking
Brian reflects on the differences between undergraduate and graduate education, noting how graduate school offered him a deeper and more focused learning experience. The conversation also explores the benefits of networking and putting oneself in situations that may seem intimidating or uncomfortable. Brian encourages taking risks and investing in oneself, as these actions often lead to significant personal and professional growth.
🌟 Embracing Lifelong Learning and Mentorship
The final segment discusses the importance of lifelong learning and being surrounded by the right people. Brian talks about the influence of mentors and the value of putting oneself in environments that foster growth. He shares his personal philosophies, such as 'networking never not works,' and encourages others to seek out experiences and connections that will positively impact their lives and careers.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Walsh College
💡Master's Degree
💡Professional Development
💡Insurance Industry
💡Client-First Approach
💡Networking
💡Leadership
💡Return on Investment (ROI)
💡Personality Assessment
💡Educational Value
Highlights
Walsh College's beautiful Creator Lab Studio is a space for innovation and creativity.
Alumni and board of trustee, Mr. Brian Polarski, shares his journey of choosing Walsh College for his master's degree.
Polarski emphasizes the importance of furthering education to accelerate one's career and stand out in the competitive job market.
Walsh College's commercial features Brian, showcasing the college's pride in its alumni and their achievements.
The value of a master's degree lies in the transformative knowledge and perspective it provides, beyond just job requirements.
Polarski's experience at Walsh College helped him develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills.
Walsh College's graduate programs rank highly in terms of alumni salaries, reflecting the return on investment in education.
Polarski's transition from an undergraduate to a graduate student was marked by a deeper understanding and application of knowledge.
The insurance industry, where Polarski works, is a field of business problem-solving and risk management.
Polarski's role as a senior vice president at Cap Nekot involves navigating between client needs and insurance company offerings.
Polarski's commitment to a client-first approach in insurance involves understanding client risks and providing tailored solutions.
Polarski's dedication to continuous learning and staying updated in his field is a key aspect of his professional success.
The importance of surrounding oneself with the right people and environments for personal and professional growth.
Polarski's involvement with Walsh College as a mentor and board member reflects his commitment to giving back to the community.
The impact of networking and putting oneself in situations of potential growth and discomfort.
Polarski's advice for those considering graduate studies: take the leap and invest in oneself, as the benefits compound over time.
The significance of mentors and the right connections in shaping one's career path and professional development.
Transcripts
welcome to Walsh College our beautiful
Creator Lab Studio I am so excited to be
joined today by one of our amazing Walsh
College alumni and board of trustee Mr
Brian polarski Brian welcome thank you
Susie pleasure to be here the studio
looks great oh my goodness we are so
proud of this studio and you got to see
it before when it was the bookstore and
now it's our creater lab and we're
making just such amazing content in fact
Brian it's really cool to have you here
because you're in our commercial
actually I know we're so proud of our
Walsh College commercial and uh you got
to star in that so that's great but I
really wanted to talk with you today
about your journey how you came to Walsh
College how you chose Walsh for your
master's degree and then what you
learned and what words of wisdom that
you would have for our students and even
our
alumni well Susie again thanks for for
having me here I do remember being in
here when it was the bookstore and I
bought physical books you did yeah I had
to buy them and then um did you read
them and I had to I did I did I did very
much um and and I think I did pass the
class and did receive a degrees from
here so we do have that on record yeah
we did so pleasure to be here you how I
found Walsh was I was a year or two into
my professional career from my undergrad
and I wanted to find that next step I
was eager to advance in the in the world
like most of our students in alums are
and potential students and I was trying
to find that that leg up and I was
looking at opportunities how can I do
this
faster and I saw experience or a
master's degree required
a lot of the positions I was looking at
the time was management and it was 10
years experience plus or 15 years plus
Andor equivalent uh master's degree
so I looked around I knew I was I had
getting into the business field I was in
a sales position and I liked it I was
intrigued by it I also had no idea how
it all worked you know how this world
worked and and I thought you know I a
master's degree
furthering my education could really
help me in a lot of respects and
possibly give me that chance to maybe
Advance a little faster than 10 years
from now which felt like an eternity so
I looked around at at potential options
for doing that and Walsh had such a
great reputation for being an excellent
business school and a lot of the people
at the time that I was around were wal
Shalom and it just was a natural fit I
from the area it's a great Michigan Bay
school and it just felt like the the
right homeschooled choice to make and uh
I'm glad I did it wow okay so I love
what you said too about how in a way the
education allowed you to accelerate your
career because that is so true I talked
to so many students and employers that
say we're looking for 10 years of
experience but if they have the master's
degree that shows us that they're
serious that they've put more time in
that they're willing to learn they can
learn faster and they've invested in
their education so I think that's an
important point to highlight is if we
have listeners out out there that are
thinking that sounds like me you know I
just graduated and I want to get these
management level jobs I'm ready to lead
I want to make an impact but I don't
have that 10 years don't be deterred
from that jump in a graduate program
jump in a degree because that also
telegraphs to employers a level of
sophistication of professionalism and of
seriousness and you found that as well
well said I mean of course well said you
know and one thing I think when people
assess whether to get a master's degree
in particular or and even in today's
current climate is a a general
undergraduate degree you know quote
unquote worth it or the the expense
there's a there's a lot of rhetoric on
that currently but to the to the master
specifically it really kind of changes
the way you think so I heard this when
we were at our study abroad program last
last summer in London uh with Walsh
class with Dr uh John Moore and they
brought in a uh International Bank
professional that was based in London
and when he was talking about education
he said we we look for people with
master's degrees because when you enter
it you think one way when you leave you
think a different way so a lot of times
people wonder you know what what am I
going to do with this specific class you
know I struggle in in statistics class
oh yes the stats class exactly and then
you learn there software to do it yeah
yeah this was this was uh quite some
time ago so the the methodology of
resources available in business was a
little different then but you know and
one could make the the argument of why
go through the expense the grind the
stress you will think of things
differently when you're done with your
degree and it's true you really can't
it's called it's the positive curse of
knowledge you really no longer
can you know go to a place where you
don't know it because you know it now so
it's really hard to unthink and unlearn
what you what you did you know walking
in so the value of degree is is that you
will think differently you will see the
world in business through a different
lens and a different fil
and that's valuable to employers that
you just may not get from this General
business experience that is so true okay
I love what you said kind of like the
curse of knowledge in a way or the
burden of the responsibility I just got
this image too of the movie The Village
remember where the kids saw like wow
there's a whole world Beyond this and
you can't unsee it you can't unlearn it
and that's what's so wonderful about an
education is no one can take away from
you a well-earned degree of value in
fact it's funny you said that about the
Masters because we just got ranked I
think payscale.com Tom did a survey that
our graduate students or our graduates
of our graduate programs earning the
highest within the top 15 in the country
of colleges that the graduates earn the
most when they finish and you know we
know it's not all about money but you do
invest in yourself so that you see a
return so you see a return for yourself
so you see a return for your family for
your wealth and that's what's so great
about Walsh is we know that you're
sacrificing your time your energy your
money to come here and we want to make
sure that that Roi is there so it's not
only there with the degree and the job
but like you talked about it's the human
being you become in the process you know
critical thinking problem solving
evaluating an issue from both sides
before drawing a conclusion which is the
essence of really a learner individual
so I love hearing that and it's just
it's great to hear that you had that
experience too and that you saw that
firsthand well said I absolutely agree
with everything you said and how you how
you said it um the other thing I would
add that the degree you talked about
return on investment is it had a
longtail return on investment so some of
the things that I went through and
learned about or wrote about or had to
do a presentation with a group about a
specific topic or subject or angle at
something you know the immediate maybe
return of that information or or
exposure to that or or having to think
or write about that I might not applied
at the first few years
postgraduate
degree but nine 10 years later something
similar came up and I said oh I remember
that yeah or there was a specific issue
going on politically and we had talked
about it a few years prior in in in a in
a group project in ethics class at Walsh
college and and who would have thought
that those would intertwin so and I also
found it really improved my writing
skills again we talked about technology
difference so we have different with AI
and the language support tools they have
out there langage support tools right I
know Walsh has a detection on on the use
of AI wording and WR and their papers is
that correct yeah so there is a software
called turn it in and it's well it's
it's supposed to help to make sure that
students are contributing their own work
but it actually uses an AI tool to do
that which is so funny but yes no I know
what you're saying we have much more
technology now to actually support
writers but you still have to learn the
communication skill of writing and I
love when you talked about that right so
it those skill sets that that investment
return has continued to re
benefits mult multiple years I mean even
decades after completing my Master's
Degree it's like it pays dividends at an
ongoing basis you know learning
compounds so you're absolutely right you
might learn something you don't use it
right away because it's not necessarily
transactional knowledge it's
transformational knowledge it actually
transforms the way you think so that you
see later wow I'm actually communicating
differently I'm actually writing this
differently because of what I learned or
I'm thinking about something I love that
I mean that is the that's the return on
that investment over time it pays you
know Nord dividends so one thing I want
to talk about too is so your journey
professionally now you have a master of
science and management you got that in
our graduate program how have you seen
that play out as youve worked through
and I know you work in the insurance
agent business and you're a senior vice
president at cap neck and you know it's
so exciting that you get to work with
clients as well because you know when
people are coming to you for insurance
needs first of all we know it's always
an expense they're always wondering do
they have to pay for like is this really
an expense I need but most of the time
when folks have a problem they have a
claim you know that's not the best time
in their life so have your skills that
you learned in the management program
with leadership and communication do you
see those coming to Bear when you're
working with your
clients absolutely that's a great great
tie into what we were talking about the
with the longtail return on education it
really is problem solving you had
mentioned that before it is a form of
business problem solving insurance for
businesses is a is a form of financing
so some of your Finance skills
it's a way to pay for risk in issues and
unforeseen events it's also a way to
hedge certain risk factors you know
might be out there so that you can take
that business risk and and maybe make
that investment or take that product
line to Market or whatever it may be so
the communication skills you talked
about in reference and be able to put
that together and understand how this
may fit a value proposition and how to
structure this financially where it
makes sense and you mentioned something
about expense or them not liking it uh
it it usually falls on the lower scale
of fund to work with with most people
yeah it's not like going shopping yeah
um but it is something that is necessary
to kind of facilitate and provide that
liquidity of that risk that's inherit in
business and so it is right now a
function of of of making sure business
gets done and there's a financial
recourse available if something does go
wrong unexpectedly yes so it it does
play so the education has allowed all
aspects of that so you talked about the
degree itself I use communication I use
the financing piece I use the
presentation piece you learn all the
communication skills necessary to
interact with both sides not just the
clients that I interact with but the
insurance companies themselves oh yeah
so I I I sit as an adviser agent broker
and so I'm you know in the middle so to
speak so I have to understand the needs
and of the client base and what we're
trying to solve and the budget we got to
work up within and then I also got to
work with the insurance companies to get
them comfortable with the risk for them
to to offer the terms we need to to
negotiate wow and to do things they may
not want to do and it's so all the skill
sets that I learned uh through life but
a lot at Walsh and through the Master's
Degree have been very valuable executing
some of those outcomes yeah it's really
navigating various constituents
differently because again how you're
working with the insurance companies is
different than how you're working with
the clients and how you're communicating
all this and you had to go back and
forth and they're looking at you to give
them the answers and you know you're
having to navigate that so that's really
great the other thing I think about is
it really is a great Testament to you as
a leader to want to help the client
first you know a lot of times in
business business can get a different
wrap people can say oh it's all about
the money especially in insurance but I
know you and you know not only are you a
board member but you've been a great
adviser to Walsh College when we've had
questions about insurance which is a
huge benefit to have board members who
are experts in their field you've been
able to lean in taking a look at our
policy advising us on risk saying okay
here's what really happens when this
comes about and that is your level of
expertise because you've been in the
insurance business now what almost 15
years 14 years 18 18 years oh my
goodness how time flies yeah so 18 years
so the level of expertise you bring
you've seen so much happen and there's
no substitute for that type of knowledge
either and that's why it's so great to
have you on our board and also as a
resource for our students because I know
you've talked to a couple of our
students before that have been curious
about the insurance industry or curious
about careers and how to pick one and
you know you just put that time in to
learn that and I I think that's just
really great kabnick is very fortunate
to have someone who has that level of
expertise but also has the focus on
helping the client because that's how
you get other clients you know clients
talk and they tell their friends and
their family I work with so and so this
is somebody you can trust and because of
that endorsement people will do business
with you so I think that's great and
that's just a great Testament to Walsh
College alumni but let's go into that a
little bit more too so talk about your
approach to when you work with clients
with insurance The Client First approach
I'd love to hear more about that well
first of all thank you for that that
that compliment it's my pleasure and
honor to be able to serve Walsh on the
board and to be able to help students in
alumni alike so I appreciate the
opportunity you afford for that in terms
of the question of approaching with
clients it really is Client First it
really is understanding what's important
to them what their needs are what their
risk are and and what potential problems
may be there or what problem is there
that needs to be solved I I don't need
to create problems for people we don't
need to create extra work we all know
how much everyone has to do so it really
is a problem solving Adventure or
Venture that that I would engage with
any any client or potential client so it
is about what is the issue at hand or
issues and is there are there pragmatic
solutions that we can bring are there
new ideas or new ways to look at this to
help fix that and put it in a better
spot than when I found it yeah and I
love how you stay on top of the latest
trends in the field I know you were just
featured in the insurance Indemnity uh
new publication of the State Bar of
Michigan they asked you to write an
article about insurance specifically
cyber insurance which is a growing area
that we're seeing but also talk a little
bit about I know I know so at cck you
guys did this great thing where you did
a behavioral assessment and you looked
at qualities of how you lead and how you
communicate and what did you learn from
that and talk about your decision to
share that so openly on your website
profile because I remember I saw that
and I thought this is amazing I would
want to work with somebody that is
willing to share this that is so brave
to say hey here are my communication
strengths here's where I tend to lean
behaviorally here's how I communicate
here's how I lead and I want my clients
to know that so they know me and they
know who they're working with yeah
thanks for that there's a lot there I I
think you know this still is a a human
to human business is a people business
people work for people so we use those
assessments to help internally to help
understand working with our teammates
yeah you know what best communication
Styles work what what are Tendencies and
behaviors and how do how do we harmonize
that how do we do that best and and how
does someone need to see information
when do they need to see it but it also
it really works with with clients
because again it's it's People to People
it and and I think you had something
said something earlier about insurance
and just what people might think about
it and there's a a generally negative
perception about insurance at least I
had that when I was first approached
about entering the
industry it was a hard no it was a hard
no but I didn't understand the full
aspect of it and that's a whole
different
conversation but I think that perception
exists for a reason and uh and the
reason I wanted to share with clients to
to full bring full circle to your to
your question or point is you know I
want them to see what's how I operate
what's important to me what are my
Tendencies and in in in there is that
I'm you know happen to be very cautious
I want things to be proven to be the
right thing before we just take take a a
full swing at this you know put
everything at it and maybe shift all our
resources towards this idea if we don't
know if it's true so that I want clients
to see that there could be times where
I'm not the type of Personality that
they need or want or it would be I might
be the right compliment for whatever the
risk tolerance is whatever it is the
goals are of the organizations around
risk management around insurance so I
felt it was great to be as transparent
so people knew I was coming from but
also on this negative connotation thing
that I kind of
started is to help kind of alleviate
that some that it's not this scam or
this ripoff although there are
frustrating aspects don't get me wrong
my business is very frustrating I I'm
sure a lot of people has their have
their own War Stories within their own
Industries um but it it isn't Brian
first you had mentioned clients first
this isn't if you and it's not
necessarily Brian seeing this from a
sales pitch type of way it really is
read the report this is how I'm wired
this is how it's hardwired this is how
it's been nurtured in me my experiences
have have really shaped me to be this
type of professional this type of
advisor and if you look in there one of
the key words that I took away from this
and it helped me understand myself
better and my approach to clients is
this Duty I feel this and which is an
interesting word I know you have a legal
background it's a very legal term it is
a legal term yes so this Duty and it
helps explain a lot so again back why
I'm bringing all this up is it really is
to give clients Choice transparency on
you what the motivations are and and
where we're trying to go and how I
approach things yeah I love that so so
many things you said I want to highlight
to one is the sense of Duty and
responsibility so thinking about this
from a client standpoint if I'm coming
to an insurance agent I want to know
that they're going to approach things
cautiously so that's actually good but
but sometimes that's helpful to know by
the way if I recommend this product or
if I say have you thought about it this
way that isn't me trying to sell it to
you that's me with an eye looking out
for your business because I feel I have
a duty to you to tell you I've seen this
happen before it may not have happened
to you yet so it doesn't feel like it
could because everybody's like oh what
are the odds and it is an odds game and
and hopefully by and large most people
won't even need to activate the
insurance it's there if you need it but
hopefully you don't need it although the
double-edged sword then is but then I've
paid for it I always think that's just a
cost of doing business you know that's
just something that comes along like
you've said as peace of mind so you can
sleep at night knowing what I have
worked so hard for all these years all
that time and sweat and effort I'm not
going to lose because of One financial
event because of a fire because of a
flood something like that but the other
piece of it I think is important is you
and I were talking about this in terms
of so I may not approach things from a
sense of caution I mean I'm always
thinking about what's the worst that can
happen but I tend to look at the
opportunities and the events and like
what can we do here which is great
except that sometimes when we were
communicating even in the board level I
would think oh he doesn't think this is
a good idea or he doesn't trust that we
can execute this and you're thinking I
just want to make sure we've looked at
all Alternatives so the reason that's so
helpful is many times we filter the
world through the way that we would
react if we were in that person's shoes
and so for example using me as an
example I might say well if I reacted
that way I'd be thinking all these
things and you're going no I'm actually
thinking this right so I love that
because that really brings that person
that human element to insurance I know
we talk about Ai and machine learning
being big and emerging however when it
comes down to dealing with humans that
are in real life situations that are
scared that are afraid that are nervous
that are anxious that are angry that
have emotions human beings are best
equipped to do that and that's where
having that human being at the other end
of the phone when someone calls and says
you're never going to believe what
happened what do I do is so important
because you can reassure them and say
great here's how we're going to work
this through right no was hurt if
someone's hurt I'm so sorry here's how
I'm going to help you and I think that's
really really important and that's the
human side of business that we love to
talk about at Walsh because we want to
see our students and our alumni living
our mission in the world and making such
a positive
contribution well said I don't have much
to add to that well let's add this so if
you were talking to a student a
prospective student someone let's say
that's interested in a graduate degree
because there's a lot of talk nowadays
about okay I have an undergrad I've
talked a lot of alumni that say I don't
think I want to go back to school did
you find that graduate school was
different than undergrad and if so how
great question I did I I found graduate
school one I was different so my
experiences were different so when I was
completing my undergrad so it's a
compare contrast type of answer what was
it like for my undergrad what was it
like through my graduate The Graduate I
was young I didn't have a lot of life
experience I was just figuring the world
out and I was growing up still I still
maturing and and and all those different
things so so the the information and the
academic
information but I I saw it one way and I
don't know if I truly understood it I
did well I I scored well I graduated
with with the Honors that you would
expect if you put work towards it but
when I approached it when I started my
AC my Graduate Studies excuse me the
information looked different to me yeah
some of the information I felt like am I
relearning my
undergrad but then I really as I think
back on it reflect I actually was
learning it for the first time the
information some of it might have
overlapped not all of it not saying it's
just a complete repeat but I saw things
differently I had different experiences
and I think every student that takes
that on for for a graduate degree that
has a little bit of professional
experience or they're looking at it for
their first time as maybe a somebody in
their 30s or 40s maybe they haven't been
in the workforce and they're using this
as a as a way to get in the information
will look different because they're
different and therefore the experience
is atire different entirely different
the whole way through oh I love that
because we do we filter the world
through our experiences and we actually
you know it's kind of like sometimes
you'll watch a movie twice or three
times or you read a book and you think
I'm picking up so much more the second
and third time through because that
repetition and deepening that knowledge
as well especially in business you know
sometimes when you if you have a
business undergrad I've heard from a lot
of students that yeah their graduate
work they felt it was familiar they were
able to build on it they were able to go
deeper they were able to go to the
applied standpoint from it but what I
liked too is thinking you know our
program you can do one class at a time
so an undergrad I don't know what yours
was like but I had like four or five
classes going on at once and I was like
oh did I do I read this is it is it this
is it history is it you know whereas now
you can really hone in and focus on your
area and I know some of our students
have said that's really great it doesn't
feel as chaotic or as cumbersome as
undergrad even though it's a higher
level of study and I think that's
exactly what you're saying is you're
able to learn it at a much deeper and
more synthesizing level than maybe at
the didactic level that we had at
undergrad and that's what's so great
about a grad degree is that allows you
to get that level of specialty so in
this world of AI and machine learning
and automation when a lot of the jobs
that you know they might be very
valuable jobs but a company might decide
look I can get a machine to do this
faster I'm not saying better but faster
and I don't have to pay a person to do
it I can make a one-time investment in a
machine we may see companies go that way
for cost whereas those that have that
Advanced Training that knowledge that
leadership that ability to have
leadership communication those are going
to be the folks that are going to get
promoted and that are going to lead and
that are going to secure their future
and that's why we're so proud of that at
Walsh because we are seeing our leaders
out there and doing that so also you
brought up a good point I you had asked
about it might not hit this point the
way to the PACE that you can take the
education in at Walsh specifically was
one of the main attractions to to to me
finally choosing Walsh as a school for
my for my graduate degree the four
semesters yeah the four 11 is 11 and a
halfish weeks right right 11 and a
halfish yeah 11 one's 11 one's 12 weeks
and the 10 to 11 everybody's like what
is that 11 week that 11th week is really
the final project the presentation but
students do say oh it's nice to have
that 11th week yeah I could break it up
because what you're describing in
undergrad is what I felt too which is I
had four five six classes I was carrying
it was a lot to to complete everything I
needed to do it was stressful and I
don't know how much I retained it was it
was really kind of I was able to space
it out so I was paying for my graduate
out of pocket and I needed the pace the
space out and to Pace it so I could one
accomplish it in a way I was working
full-time I needed a cost Pace out too I
needed to be able to pay class by class
I needed to be able to take the time to
get through it so the four semesters
allowed me to achieve what you were
talking about a little more depth and
just a better Cadence for me that worked
for my learning style given what was
going on in my life I was trying to
accomplish it yeah and we have heard
that from a lot of students what's
really nice is a lot of our students
don't graduate with a lot of debt I mean
they have some but they don't have as as
much as you would see if you spent that
time just studying or in the four and
five classes remember when finals week
would come along you're like oh I got a
final every day this week right and with
this it's like oh I can take one I can
take two so it's a much better pace for
our students I think that's great what
professional advice would you give like
if you could go back in a DeLorean time
machine for those of us that are old
enough to know what the DeLorean is if
you were to go back in time what would
you tell someone at your point in your
career maybe right before you got into
Graduate Studies at Walsh or even before
then that you wish you knew today or you
wish you knew that I think I think an
advantage that people I think they fail
to recognize and it's just part of the
human curse condition is the the the
latitude that they have because of their
age the youth they younger you are the
more risk you can take I think I was my
own personal experience and filter it it
comes out in the personality report you
were talking about that I have on on
that site uh I was more risk adverse oh
I think my advice would be take more
risk MH take that extra leap so we're
talking a lot about Walsh and education
and enrolling on a graduate degree some
people are intimidated by biting that
off or committing to that so that I've
categorized that maybe that's a big risk
I don't know if I can there's a little
bit of fear behind that a little
trepidation sure I would say especially
you know earlier on that that is an
advantage that you lose over time and
then that's what people looking back
when they're learing time machine saying
I wish I would have done X Y and Z I
think that regret is not understanding
the value of time that you have right
now and in front of you that that's one
level of just personal advice from
professional advice it is the the
traditional cliche terms they're cliche
for a
reason and because they are true and
they remain to be true is invest in
yourself put yourself
first invest early do those minor basic
not very exciting things doing those
consistently as early on as possible
would would put you in such a great
position yeah a decade or two later yeah
because it compounds like all of that
compounds like you said I think that's
so perfect and you're someone that does
that I know you're always sending me
books that you're reading or you're
auding or podcasts and so I just think
that's so great because when I think
about people I want to do business with
I want to do business with the people
that love what they're doing that feel a
sense of Duty and responsibility that
actually approach it's so funny maybe
that's part of how you got into
insurance is there was a part of you
that said I want to be able to do this
for somebody else I want to be able to
have a sense of Duty and responsibility
for companies and businesses bigger than
myself and I want to be able to do that
in a way that looks out for them even
though they may not see the risk I want
to help them with that so that's just so
great and then someone that invests in
themselves in their training you're
actually dead on and and ultimately why
I said earlier I said a hard no when I
first was approached and you know the
consideration of it and I had a lack of
understanding but once I understood
especially the commercial aspect of the
insurance the whole industry how it
works my role others roles once I
understood that it was two things it was
the ability to form these relationships
with people meaningful structured where
we're doing things together to help each
other that was very important to me they
gave me a lot of personal
satisfaction it it helps drive me Y and
and second was the technical aspect of
insurance it is contract there are
various scenarios to consider there are
things are always changing dynamically
and so that continued push to have to
learn to get deeper technical knowledge
was something I always wanted to keep in
my professional setting it also drives
and gives me satisfaction and
professionally speaking as well so those
were the two reasons now you talk about
Duty and
responsibility I have a client said to
me one time I want somebody that works
for me as my agent and your advisor I
want somebody worried at night up at
night worried about my program I want
them to care and I was up last night
worried about some of's program so it's
great I mean it's people get that with
me and it it has to go back to that
sense of Duty and responsibility and I
and I ABS I just care I want to do it
right I want the best outcome I I tell
talk about potential clients we said
about earlier if if we can't do it right
if I can't do it right we're not going
to do it at all it it only should be
done right and so that's that's how we
approaching just kind of tie that all
together both the duty the technical and
then doing it for others it's got to be
done right or we're just not going to do
it it's not worth it it's not worth it
to them it's not worth it to us yeah and
this is how you move through the world
like I just want to highlight that and
really commend you because this isn't
just like your sales pitch for business
this is actually how you operate it's
how you operate as an Alum as a friend
as a board member as a colleague as a
professional and you know it's like this
is amazing to find a person you can do
business with that actually operates in
a way for their own like their own
standards you know you have your own way
of showing up that happens to align so
well with the clients and that's what's
so important but even that knowledge
that technical expertise insurance is
changing so quickly I mean obviously my
background in law I'm seeing it all the
time in the bar Journal oh that you know
this got repealed or this new
legislation came out with Michigan and
you have to stay on top of that and if
you get agents that are saying you know
what I'm at the end of my career I don't
know if I really want to brush up on
that I'll just kind of go back and defer
to somebody else you could miss
something really important for your
client and you take that very seriously
that sense of Duty that sense of
responsibility and that sense of
connection so in a lot of ways it might
be boy you know this really is your
superpower and the way that you show up
for clients and you know we talk a lot
in life too about decision points you
know you talked about well I was looking
to come to Walsh I could have gone here
I look at you and I think you would have
been successful no matter what happened
no matter where you went and no matter
I'm glad you came to Walsh but no matter
where you went no matter what no matter
what you know career you chose and also
no matter what company you worked for
because the essence of how you show up
for clients and the work you do isn't
dependent on that it's truly dependent
on your own standards in fact I think it
was Tom Brady that said keep your own
scorecard because there was one time I
think the Patriots might have won a game
and then they were all excited and happy
and he's like no we we didn't do all
these things right even though we might
have beat this team we need to keep our
own scorecard and that's how you move
through the world and I think that's
exceptional because that sets you up
kind of as a Renaissance person no
matter where you are in life no matter
what situation you're deposited in you
will figure it out you may not always
feel you'll figure it out but you will
figure it out I wish I had that com
thank you for all that and you're being
very comment I appreciate that but I've
seen it too like that's the nice thing
is we never see this in ourselves we
only see it in others and then it's up
to us to say okay what is it that I'm
not seeing you know and you're really
good about that so so there are multiple
people that have helped provide that as
a guide post as Mentor roles or people
I'm around another piece of advice as
I'm thinking of things from that
question earlier is who are you around
who who you're spending time with who
you looking up to who you seeking advice
from what are they doing are you
modeling or stud people that are in a
position that you might want to be and
and and find out learn from them ask and
and so I'm around you a lot and we get a
chance to have a great relationship and
you're being humble on how much your
thirst for knowledge and how fast you
can process things how many degrees and
certifications you have and and I do get
that rubs off on me because my exposure
to you you have a lot that you share
with a lot of people and I always talk
about this in in a joking but also a
very true way the level of commitment
you bring to learning level commitment
you bring to Walsh the energy you bring
is 247 it is 247 so I'm inspired by that
and I do think I have been fortunate
enough to be around others that have
also embodied that and I've learned from
that and modeled that and I've luckily
wanted to be that a different points in
my life I maybe wasn't sure if I wanted
to be cuz sometimes it's hard yeah it
doesn't always feel like it's always
going to work out and most of the time
it doesn't feel like it's going to yeah
so so true the mentors and the people
you're around and the people I happen to
be in my Orbit whether I consciously
know it or not are influencing how I
look at a situation maybe do I do the
extra thing do I look at that deeper
technical dive and the people I'm around
right now fortunately are doing that and
then someon I have to just keep up that
is awesome Brian well first of all thank
you so much for your kind words it's an
absolute privilege and it's easy with
Walsh because I love Walsh college so I
mean it it sounds like it's a but 24/7 I
mean I think about it all the time so I
love that but you know you highlighted
something really important is not only I
think are you putting yourself in the
position to be around an environment and
people who you want to you know emulate
and but you're becoming that for others
too and you're kind of seeing that right
like having you're you're at the
position where I'm sure people are
coming to you at the job at cabin saying
hey you know can I get your feedback on
this can I get your input they're
looking at you as that expert which
creates a sense of responsibility as
well cuz now we have to model the very
behavior that we before were kind of
learning training up on so I agree with
you your environment is very important
and constantly auditing who you spend
your time with it is hard sometimes we
had friends and families that we say oh
this is this is a person I know I've
known them for years but you know what I
don't really feel like a better person
when I'm around them and those are those
decisions what's nice about Walsh is you
get that community in connection Even in
our hybrid environment you can connect
with students on zoom in the classroom
you can connect with faculty you did
that study abroad I remember you came
back so this Brian was a mentor to our
study abroad it was incredible how you
did this you went on the trip with the
students you opened doors for them to
meet with companies when they were uh in
Europe when they were in England and
then it was really great because you
guys debriefed at the end and you said
this experience was such an amazing fun
time that we had together you're in a
different country you're learning
different things and you were able to
have that connection and community that
is the essence of the Walsh college
experience absolutely agree it gave
access to information experiences and
people I wouldn't have otherwise had any
opportunity
to or see you weren't sure you wanted to
go you're like oh I don't know if I want
to go I've other things that I have to
do and it's always like if we do that
and we put ourselves in those situations
it ends up paying lifetime dividends
small sayings that I have that are
cliche sayings but most good things that
happened to me are on the other side of
I didn't want to do it oo right most
good things are on the other side of I
don't want to that's what I usually say
to others because that usually is an
indication that might be hard it might
be some uncomfortableness there might be
something there of a risk I talked about
earlier my a little more risk adverse
nature and on the other side of that is
going to be a a better experience and a
better lens to see things through that
maybe I don't feel like going through at
the time but looking back and my kind of
advice again do that I think that's such
a high performance hack everything that
you want a better outcome is on the
other side of oh I don't think I want to
do this I don't want to yeah you have
another saying I really like and just to
speak into it real quick you say
networking never not works I love love
this say so what does that mean it's
similar to what we're talking about
putting yourself in these experiences
we're talking about going to London and
having that opportunity with Walsh and
and how that class was facilitated and
the instructors we had and the people
that came putting yourself out in these
situations where there's networking or a
social setting or there's a get together
for some common cause right it could be
a Walsh alumni group it could be a a
social cause it sometimes is
intimidating and those places can be
clicky oh right and and and know so
those people all know each other but
every time in my own personal experience
almost every time if not every time
there's been some weird dividend later
or some payoff or somehow it all came
connected I'm sure a lot more than I
consciously can kind of really recount
yeah and and so I really especially
those in the professional business and
they're younger in their career or
they're trying to figure out what they
want to do or what's next putting
yourself in these settings where there's
other people around going to these
experiences you will meet connections it
will work it will somehow come together
I know that You' written books about
this and you're very mindset driven you
I think you have a new book coming out
soon that you're working on on Quantum
Quantum leadership yeah it's called
Quantum lead like Quantum Leap Quantum
lead you know right and so you to so
that's about all this being related
right so networking never not works is
is what you're going to prove out in a
much more academic in technical way than
my little you you've proven it
experientially and that's really
important too to just make sure that
you're in the right rooms with the right
people a lot of times people look at
highly successful people like yourself
and they say oh he just got lucky oh he
just stumbled upon this or you think you
don't know what I had to go through you
don't know the nights I was agonizing on
do I go to this event do I not is this
the right decision but it's being in the
right rooms with the right people that's
how people get that Oprah Winfree moment
that they're always talking about so
that's what's really great all right
well thank you so much for joining I
really enjoy being able to talk with our
alumni our board members our students
and especially Brian he has just been
such a great supporter of Walsh College
he's a great example of our alumni
living our mission in the world and if
you want to connect with Brian I know
he's on LinkedIn and if you go to capni
docomo business with cap neck or you
want to explore what it is you can check
out Brian's Web page you can look at his
personality trait site that was really
insightful so I know everyone's curious
they're going to go check that out now
but thank you so much for spending time
with us today and our beautiful Creator
studio and thank you for all that you do
for Walsh College thank you so much
Susie thank
you
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