What It Takes To Lead

Today’s episode is a lightening round for Mike Sterlacci. Listen in and Leir and Charlie ask Mike questions about Life, Love, Leadership, and what his remaining years hold. The conversations ranges from building a marriage around a shared faith, to facing death in your later years, to the highly controversial topics like pineapple on pizza.

About the Show

What It Takes to Lead is a podcast about Mike Sterlacci’s...

Ever wondered how top entrepreneurs differentiate between good and great business ideas? Join the cast for a discussion on balancing faith, family, and business in the modern world. Mike and the crew discuss knowing what opportunities to pursue, leveraging your strengths in leading the charge on a new idea, and when your passion is worth pursuing.

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Leif: Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen

Tony: Fearfully and Wonderf...

Our latest episode offers fascinating insights from our special guest, Tony Smith, CPO of Ansel, who unveils the innovative vision behind Ansel and Coverica. The whole crew sits down to discuss where the fast paced technology world meets the slow to adopt insurance world and how listening and understanding user needs can lead to impactful problem solving for insurance agents and providers. 

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Leif: A Practitioner&apos...

Get a behind the scenes look at the long talked about succession plan for Coverica. Today you’ll hear firsthand why Mike chose to transfer 30% of his company to its employees and how this move aligns with his core values, avoiding nepotism and boosting staff engagement. Mike’s thoughtful approach to succession planning and legacy building offers invaluable insights for any business owner contemplating their company's future.

Eric Hurt returns to the podcast for a discussion about Mike’s 4 precepts and how they are used in CoVerica for conflict resolution, effective communication, and the nexus of faith and decision-making. The whole cast weighs in with personal anecdotes and professional insights that have shaped their journey after learning and adopting the CoVerica Ethos.

Erik Hurt has 15 years of industry experience and takes pride in helping pe...

Mark Conley, takes us through his transformative journey, sharing the pivotal moments and hard-earned wisdom from transitioning out of General Mills to guiding a church and creating a flourishing consulting practice. It's a tale of aligning career with purpose, navigating family dynamics, and the introspective understanding of one's personality that can dictate both professional and personal success.

Unravel the ...

Ever wondered how teamwork can elevate your sales game? Alison Nielson and Eric Hurt unveil the secret sauce: a blend of empowerment and collaboration that's turning Coverica into a sales powerhouse. We talk candidly about the transformative shift from solo competition to nurturing collective triumphs. Discover how fostering a culture of creativity and proactive problem-solving can not only electrify a workplace but also drive...

Join us as we sit down with Chris Sterlacci, Air Force veteran and Managing Partner at Covarrica Agency Alliance. He is also the son of our show’s host, Mike Sterlacci.

Navigating the professional terrain with kin often means crossing a minefield of expectations. This episode doesn't shy away from the hard truths about the perils of nepotism and the importance of cultivating a culture where respect trumps popularity. Mike ...

In this episode you will meet John Sutter (EVP of Risk Management) and Andy Bracken (CRO) of CoVerica

Imagine navigating the tumultuous waters of agency mergers and acquisitions, where every decision can either forge a lasting legacy or signal the end of an era. Today, we dissect the complex dance between maintaining a company's culture and achieving top-line growth. This episode peels back the curtain on the personal fact...

In this episode you will meet Rhonda Cox, the Interim CEO of CoVerica. Her story is a testament to the enduring power of mentorship, resilience, and the foundational pillars of faith, family, and friends. This episode peels back the layers of leadership, examining the symbiotic dynamic between a visionary and an integrator—a relationship that is the lifeblood of innovation and operational excellence in any successful business. In t...

On this episode of the podcast, we open a treasure trove of leadership lessons and growth strategies, drawing from both personal transformation and the enduring wisdom of biblical figures like Moses. Today, you will meet Paul Keisling and hear about his experiences in behavioral science and empathy-driven mental healthcare to further color our conversation; thus, providing a rich backdrop for understanding the human dimension of bu...

On this episode of the podcast, we wade through the fascinating journey of Coverica's transition to employee ownership. Mike's candid revelations illuminate how core company values and the power of patience are crucial when guiding a team through mental hurdles and fostering a culture of authentic accountability. Listen in as he addresses the importance of giving and community, the relationship between increasing your inc...

On this episode of the podcast, Mike’s wife, Heidi Sterlaccie, joins the podcast to talk about how they built their company around giving. Heidi has been with Mike for over 30 years. During that time she saw the ups and downs of the building of Coverica and today she shares what she and Mike did to keep their faith and relationship strong, as well as the role giving has played in their lives (both personally and professionally)

Shar...

On this episode of the podcast, Eric Hurt joins the podcast to talk shop and sales with Mike and the crew. Eric Hurt is the Vice President of Personal Lines and has worked for CoVerica for over 15 years. Together, Eric and Mike share their insights on how sales has (and hasn’t) changed over the years, what it takes to be successful in sales, and also what it looks like to practice the four precepts to do the right things for the ri...

On this episode of the podcast, Mike invites Ralph Heffelman onto the show to talk about their friendship of virtue and history together in business. Ralph and Mike share how they met and continued their relationship professionally and personally throughout the years, and what it meant to their development and growth. Mike also takes a moment to share his definition of the three (3) types of friendships, and how to go about identif...

On this episode of What It Takes To Lead, Mike shares how he intends to leave a legacy that takes care of his employees even after he is gone. The crew talk about the problems that come up when a company sells and what Mike would like to do differently to stay in line with his faith, his principles, and the culture he has helped build at CoVerica.

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Charlie: The Waking Up meditation app

Garrett: Sermons by Chuck Swindo...

On this episode of What It Takes To Lead, Mike digs deeper into his 3 ways of dealing with employees. The crew also talk about company culture and building community, the importance of having employee roles fit personalities, and when to let someone go.

The three ways to engage your employees:

1. Help them find contentment in their work, 
2. Help them to understand and achieve the KPIs to reach their career goals, or
3. Help them build...

On this episode of the podcast, our hosts talk about leadership and doing the right things for the right reasons in business. You will hear from Mike on thinking long-term as a business, and why finding your “North Star” is so important for effective business leaders. Also, Mike shares the three (3) ways CoVerica treats its employees and the impacts of servant leadership.

The three ways to engage your employees:

1. Help th...

On this episode of the podcast, hosts Garrett Cooper and Leif Hurst, producer Charlie Hooper, and CoVerica Founder and Chairman Mike Sterlacci discuss the importance of faith, family, friendships, and business lessons. Mike shares his insights from the CoVerica Agency Alliance dinner and emphasizes the need to transition to a concierge-style business model. The hosts then discuss Mike’s “Four Precepts” and the future vision for CoV...