Taking the Next Leap

Diana loves where she is in her career, and it's not just because of the money. It's because she commands attention and respect. Not only does she have the eternal gratitude of her boss, she has something that money can't buy: "The real gratifying part is I have a reputation in the company. I've been here now long enough that I know a lot of people and I have a lot of influence. To me that's as important as anything."

For example, as vice president of communications, she has a seat at the table of the agent's association, which includes all the agents who sell her employer's insurance in the field. Although they're not technically employees, they need to know important information about the company's strategy—and they need to weigh in on it with their opinions. Once a year, Diana organizes a huge assembly of all the field agents, and it's something she looks forward to each year. "That's really the funnel through which we get intelligence, products of competitors, what customers want; it's really a way for us to keep our career agency system vibrant and healthy," she says. What happens in those groups is crucial to the future of the company, and Diana l....