Ripple Effect Leadership in the Insurance Industry: A Personal Reflection
It's 11:27am on Wednesday of last week (June 11, 2025).
I'm staying at a friend's apartment in Chelsea (Manhattan) and I'm alone getting ready to head to Gotham Hall for my closing keynote at the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Global Conference.
Pants are on. Shirt is pressed. Uber is en route.
I finish buttoning the last button on my shirt.
My phone pings.
"White CRISP shirt is looking sharp 👀 👀 "
It's my sister, Evann Specht, who lives in Philadelphia.
I do a full 360 around the small bedroom I'm in...wtf?! Can she see me?? What's going on?
She saw my prior post about speaking at this event, grabbed a last minute ticket, and hopped on the train that morning to see me speak for the first time ever.
Turns out when I spoke with my dad earlier that morning and he asked me what I was planning to wear (which seemed unusual), it was all part of the plan...hence the creepy text from Evann 😂
As I shared in my keynote, this event was extra special since I've been so connected to the Insurance industry for years. My stepmom, Jody Rollins, spent 25+ years at Chubb (and spoke at this same conference years ago!) and my dad and uncle were 4th generation owners of an insurance agency.
Seeing my sister in the crowd, then catching up with her after was...we'll, I'd call it a Ripple Effect Moment 🌊
Congrats to the whole IICF team on an awesome event, and thank you to everyone in the audience who engaged, sent out postcards, DID THE WAVE! and took the time to share your stories with me after 🩵
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Chris Rollins is an inspirational leadership keynote speaker and creator of the Ripple Effect Mindset™. Inspiring leaders to act with intention in a world craving trust and connection. Specializing in leadership, teamwork, and creating inclusive, human-centered workplaces. Start a ripple that drives lasting impact today.
