Meet Rachel Leidy, account manager at North Risk Partners (www.northriskpartners.com).

Tell us a little about your business. – North Risk Partners is a Midwest-based insurance company that prioritizes service to their clients. The main thing that drew me towards working in insurance and specifically with North Risk Partners is that I get to help people. It was important for me to find an employer that genuinely cares about their clients and North Risk Partners always puts the client first. We strive to find the best insurance opportunities for local businesses of all sizes. The connections I make with the community around me are what excite me for work every day.

How did you get started in the business? – I got started in the business through my mom. She has worked in the same office for about 15 years, so I basically grew up around the people in the office. It felt really natural joining their office culture and it just made sense to me. I knew who I was going to get to work with and I couldn’t imagine better mentors for a young adult just starting college.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – The biggest challenge I have faced professionally is being so young. When I communicate with clients for the first time and they can tell I am young, they sometimes question or doubt me. Once I show them that I am capable and know the business, they do a complete 180 and come to me for anything after that.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? – The most important achievement I’ve had professionally so far is establishing a name for myself in my company so early on in my career. North Risk is a very large company across numerous states, so I didn’t expect people I had never talked to, to know me. When I get the chance to meet new people, I’m proud to hear I have a reputation of hard work and positivity. That’s my ideal combination of adjectives for my work ethic.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – A wonderful friend of mine got me a desk calendar of daily positivity. This quote was from July 8. “You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try” – Dolly Parton

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – If I were to choose any other profession to be successful in, I would want it to be teaching kindergarten. Before I started in insurance, I worked at a daycare for most of my high school experience. I loved bonding with the kids and watching them learn new things each and every day. My desire to work in an industry that truly makes a difference started here.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – The last good book I read was Believe It: How to Go from Underestimated to Unstoppable by Jamie Kern Lima.

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Kind.

What is your favorite TV show? – Definitely Friends.

What is your favorite local restaurant? – Depending on what I’m in the mood for it would probably be between Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar or Sakura Bana.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?(402) 905-9069; rachel.leidy@northriskpartners.com; www.northriskpartners.com.