In this episode, I interview Kim Cathey, Release Manager at RGA, whose career journey is anything but linear, and exactly the kind of story that reminds me there’s no one “right” path into this industry. From a high school internship at a State Farm agent’s office to roles across fashion, banking, aerospace, and ultimately insurance, Kim has built her career through curiosity, adaptability, and connection. What made this conversation especially meaningful for me was hearing how a simple LinkedIn post, one connected to this very podcast, led Kim to an introduction to Sandy Hubert. It was such a full-circle moment and a reminder of how powerful visibility and community can be in shaping someone’s path.

We spent a lot of time talking about what leadership really looks like in practice, and Kim shared something that stuck with me: kindness and niceness are not the same thing. She leads with genuine care for her team, while still having the hard conversations and driving meaningful change. We talked about how she approaches leadership through what she calls the four C’s: collaboration, communication, coordination, and consideration, and how that balance is critical when guiding teams through change. Kim is grounded in authenticity, being honest when she doesn’t have all the answers, creating space for others to speak up, and leading in a way that makes people feel both supported and challenged.