DANIELLE LUCAS | Age: 33 Director of business development

Pie Insurance Holdings Inc.

Thousand Oaks, California

Danielle Lucas’ career in the insurance industry started in 2009 when she took a job as an administrative assistant for a local agency while studying at California State University, Northridge. She continued working in the industry after graduating, eventually becoming Pie Insurance’s first business development employee in 2019. Today, she manages a team of 45.

 

What’s a lasting effect of the pandemic on the way you work?

The way we form relationships and communicate. It’s not even the mechanism of how we communicate but ensuring that we’re more thoughtful in the way we communicate. We have to be more mindful of the dialogue and the point that we are trying to get across.

 

What’s your advice on navigating the current insurance market?

Make sure you’re staying on top of the trends that are going on in the industry, specifically the trends around technology. We, as a society, have higher expectations around speed and instant results, so our customer base is going to have the same needs.

 

What’s a problem that needs fixing in your sector?

We are doing a disservice to our customer base because of the lack of scalability within our industry. We’re finding (the industry) is not able to provide that level of shopping for coverage that customers want to see because of the lack of ability for human interaction. Being able to provide technology to support efficiency and ease of use is going to open avenues.

 

What is something about you that would surprise people?

I’m a triplet. Growing up there was a level of constant competition that creates an innate drive and grit that you only get from being part of a multiple situation.

 

Favorite hobby or pastime?

Getting out in nature. I’m an animal lover as well, so hiking with my dog or getting on the trails with my horse.