Beyond the Books - Brian Pilarski

Summary

In 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

00:00

🎓 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.

05:00

🚀 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.

10:03

🛠️ 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.

15:05

🤝 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.

20:06

📚 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.

25:07

🌟 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.

Keywords

💡Walsh College

Walsh College is the educational institution where the interview takes place and is central to the discussion. It represents the community and academic environment that has shaped the interviewee's professional journey. The college is noted for its business program and is a place where students and alumni connect and grow both personally and professionally.

💡Master's Degree

A Master's Degree is an advanced academic degree that typically requires one to two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. In the context of the video, it signifies a level of educational attainment that can lead to career advancement and increased earning potential. It is also associated with a deeper level of expertise and specialization in a particular field.

💡Professional Development

Professional development refers to the process of acquiring new skills, knowledge, and experiences that contribute to one's career growth. It encompasses various activities such as formal education, on-the-job training, networking, and mentoring. In the video, professional development is portrayed as essential for career advancement and personal fulfillment.

💡Insurance Industry

The insurance industry involves the business of providing financial protection against various types of risk. It includes the creation, sale, and management of insurance policies to individuals and businesses. In the video, the insurance industry is discussed as Brian's area of expertise, where he applies the skills and knowledge acquired from his Master's program.

💡Client-First Approach

A client-first approach is a business strategy that prioritizes the needs and interests of the client above all else. It emphasizes understanding and addressing the client's concerns and goals to provide tailored solutions and exceptional service. In the context of the video, this approach is highlighted as a key principle guiding Brian's interactions with his clients in the insurance industry.

💡Networking

Networking refers to the act of building and maintaining professional relationships. It involves meeting and connecting with individuals who can offer support, advice, or opportunities. In the video, networking is presented as a crucial activity for career growth and business development, with the idea that 'networking never not works,' implying that every networking effort yields some form of positive outcome.

💡Leadership

Leadership refers to the ability to guide and influence a group of people towards achieving a common goal. It involves a set of skills that enable an individual to make decisions, motivate others, and manage resources effectively. In the video, leadership is discussed as a critical skill that Brian has honed through his education and professional experience, which is vital in his role in the insurance industry and his service on the board of trustees at Walsh College.

💡Return on Investment (ROI)

Return on Investment (ROI) is a metric used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment. It measures the ratio of the gain or loss from an investment relative to its cost. In the context of the video, ROI is applied to discuss the value of education, suggesting that investing in a Master's Degree can lead to long-term benefits in terms of career advancement and increased earnings.

💡Personality Assessment

A personality assessment is a tool or method used to evaluate an individual's character traits, behavioral patterns, and psychological attributes. It can help in understanding oneself and others better, leading to improved communication and collaboration. In the video, Brian mentions undergoing a personality assessment, which has provided him with insights into his communication style, leadership approach, and decision-making tendencies.

💡Educational Value

The educational value refers to the worth or benefit derived from an educational experience, including the knowledge, skills, and personal growth that result from it. It is often used to assess the impact of education on an individual's professional and personal development. In the video, the educational value is a central theme, with the discussion highlighting how the education provided by Walsh College has positively influenced Brian's career and approach to his work in the insurance industry.

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