In a world filled with opportunities, the A Day In The Life Series is here to shine a light on the many different career paths you can pursue, with sage advice from amazing women who are doing the work! Throughout the series, we’ll hear from women in many different roles across many different industries with one major thing in common - a desire to help you win with whichever path you pursue.

In today’s A Day In The Life segment, we had the privilege of connecting with Jessica Bean-Richardson to talk more about the life of a Community Engagement Executive. Check out our conversation below!

Tell us about yourself.

I'm a Healthcare Insurance Executive, a wife, a dog mom, and an Atlanta native. I'm a fully functioning introvert who has learned to fill her cup before pouring it into others. I spend every day building relationships that help tear down barriers to health in the communities I was raised in.

If you knew where I started, you'd know that God's grace got me to where I am. This isn't a religious thing; it is just the facts. Jessica, the Executive, only happens with Christ. I can't separate the two. Not only did I survive my journey, but I thrived!

Tell us more about your career journey.

My career journey hasn't been a straight path, but it's all contributed to the success (and clarity!) that I now have.

I graduated with a B.B.A. in International Business in 2009 during a recession and a colossal hiring freeze. So I left Atlanta and moved to Chicago with the dream of building my life and my career.

I must have applied for more than 500 jobs. At one point, I remember offering to work for free just to get my foot in the door! To say I felt defeated is an understatement.

I found myself back in Georgia accepting an Admissions Recruiter position at my Alma Mater. It was a toxic work environment filled with long hours and very little pay. During travel season, I worked 100+ hours a week and still needed financial assistance from family to get by.

The best thing to come out of this position was that I honed my presentation skills and overcame my fear of public speaking. Over 75% of the population has glossophobia, so adding this skill automatically puts you in the top 25% of the workforce.

For the next decade, I found myself in Sales and Marketing. I was consistently a top producer, but my heart was never in it. So, as a Sports Marketing Representative, I traveled across North America with the NASCAR and PGA Tour circuits– very much miserable!

I knew I had to make a change, and through a series of "fortunate events," I found myself in the Managed Care Industry. I haven't looked back!

What are your main responsibilities in this role?

My primary responsibilities center around building lasting relationships with community leaders. It could be a government official or the pastor of a church. These relationships allow our agents access to the community to educate and enroll seniors in our Medicare products.

Simultaneously, I'm also training and assisting insurance agents on how to grow their businesses and effectively market our products.

Through these community partnerships, I move the needle forward in health disparities while increasing membership and brand awareness for my company. It's called grassroots marketing and will soon become the norm.

What does a typical day look like?

No day is typical! That's what I love about what I do. I'm meeting with various community influencers and leading large-scale initiatives that keep me constantly engaged and mentally sharp. I could conduct a full day of Zoom meetings, attend a networking event, or participate in a ribbon cutting.

My career allows me to have an outstanding work-life balance and prioritize based on my organization's and my family's needs. In addition, I have the freedom and confidence from my leadership to shape community engagement in Georgia!

I approach my responsibilities like a project manager. I'm typically in one of three phases: initiation, planning, or execution. The project never closes because we're tackling barriers to health. Instead, we start back over and continue addressing the community's needs.

What do you enjoy most about the job?

There are so many things, but I enjoy most the ability to live out my purpose within my corporate position. I recently took the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment, which categorized me as an INFP. It means I must work towards something fulfilling and have a strong desire to solve humanity's issues.

The partnerships and events I work on daily create greater access to care and help overcome health disparities. In addition, it adds indescribable joy to my job satisfaction and faith, knowing that I'm serving so many overlooked communities.

What would you consider the most challenging aspect of the job?

Hands down, the most challenging aspect of my job is time. Building lasting partnerships and tackling social determinants of health like food insecurity take enormous amounts of time. There's no one size fits all solution when you serve varied communities and demographics. It can take months to see a community health initiative to completion.

What would you say are the top skills needed to succeed in your role?

Empathy, creativity, time management, and a collaborative spirit. You also need a strong external and internal network. It's the only way to get things done in community engagement—It takes everyone working together towards a common goal!

What advice can you give someone who is looking to pursue a career as a Community Engagement Executive?

Network, network, network! I also want to point out a vital part of networking that many women find uncomfortable: (humbly) bragging about your work and accomplishments. If no one knows about it, you're doing yourself and the communities you engage in a disservice. There must be buy-in from the community, partners, and colleagues.

When you work for a Fortune 500, your community engagement efforts will affect every area of the company business. At some point, you will need to collaborate with: Finance, Marketing, Branding, Legal, Compliance, Corporate Communications/PR, etc.

That is much easier if you've already cultivated internal relationships and a name for yourself! Your colleagues will be more likely to help you navigate those areas that aren't in your job description but are imperative to getting the work done.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Thank you for the opportunity to highlight a career that I feel not many people are familiar with—It's not your typical 9-5; it's enriching, and depending on your industry, it yields a six-figure income!

Thanks for tuning into the A Day in the Life Series! Be sure to check out the other segments for a glimpse into other roles you may be interested in pursuing.