Diane McDaniel, Associate Director - Healthcare and Social Services Account Executive, has been making waves in the insurance industry since she joined the Phoenix office in 2021. Recently, she was honored with the prestigious Risk & Insurance Power Broker award, a testament to her dedication and expertise. Her passion for healthcare drove Diane's journey to Lockton. After taking four years to raise her daughters, she returned to the workforce with a renewed sense of purpose. Despite working with talented individuals at another broker, she felt the absence of a dedicated healthcare vertical. Healthcare had always been her passion, and she knew she needed to be in an environment that shared her enthusiasm. "My whole family is in healthcare," said Diane. "My sister is a nurse, my mom works in compliance for a hospital system, and my grandmas and aunts have all been in healthcare. I come from a service-type family, but I've always been business-minded. My service to other people is my business mind supporting people who serve on those front lines." Diane's desire to help healthcare systems manage risk and focus on patient care led her to Lockton. She soon discovered that it was the perfect fit for her. "I always heard Lockton had an ultra-competitive culture," Diane notes. "This initially made me nervous, but when I started working here, I quickly found my people. I had struggled for 20 years at different brokers because I am competitive and want to win. I always felt like people weren't at the same speed – but I quickly found out Lockton Associates were my people." When Diane joined Lockton, she expressed her desire to be an account executive and learn the book and clients she was working with. Shortly after, the team lead left, and Diane, being the senior member, stepped into the role. "I enjoy being in this position, she said. "I enjoy the blend of managerial and technical responsibilities. With seven direct reports and a team of 17, I can work on diverse healthcare projects. Lockton has also given me great opportunities in a supportive environment." Lockton's culture focuses on collaboration and winning together. Diane appreciates the team's willingness to share information and support each other without concerns about billing or hours. This collaborative spirit fosters a sense of unity and progress, ensuring that challenges are met with solutions rather than blame. "The Producer-service team relationship is completely different from anywhere I've worked. Yes, we are Producer-centric – as they bring in money – but they allow the right team at the table to create success for all our clients," she said. "Here, we communicate constantly, and my Producers allow me to lead that negotiation and relationship once a client comes through the door." However, what truly sets Lockton apart for Diane is the culture of continuous learning and growth. She raised her hand for opportunities, and Lockton responded by allowing her to lead significant projects and travel internationally. The organization's focus on understanding and aligning individual strengths with roles has been instrumental in her success. "Success happens here because Lockton spends time figuring out strengths and developing skills," said Diane. "Crucial conversations, consulting excellence, CliftonStrengths – all these training opportunities allow our service teams to step up so we can have meaningful conversations with our clients' C-suites. Our Producers trust us to have those conversations." Winning the Risk & Insurance Power Broker award is a significant milestone for Diane. It symbolizes the collective effort of the healthcare team at Lockton and their commitment to excellence. Diane's passion for healthcare and her role as a broker are evident in her constant pursuit of knowledge and problem-solving. Being recognized by her peers in the industry is an honor that validates her dedication and hard work. "I think we have the best people in healthcare, and this is an outward showing of that," said Diane. We have the best people. I might be the face of this award, but it shows we will continue building our healthcare teams and offerings to support Lockton and our clients." Diane McDaniel's story is a powerful reminder of the impact of passion, dedication, and a supportive environment on one's career.