CEO
WORD & BROWN GENERAL AGENCY
WHY: Leads Orange-based health insurance agency Word & Brown, which was co-founded by her father, John, in 1985. Starting working at the firm at age 8, cleaning out file cabinets with a sponge and paper towels.
IN THE NEWS: A 2022 Business Journal Women in Business Award winner. Serves on the California Chamber of Commerce Board and has been involved with the Center for Leadership at CSUF. Recognized with CSUF’s Excellence in Leadership Development award from the College of Business and Economics and is active in mentorship initiatives, including the Titan Women’s Collective. In 2025, recognized as CEO Connection’s Most Influential Women of the Mid-Market, and as a “Top Woman in Benefit Advising” by Employee Benefit Advisor.
NOTABLE: As a leader, believes in learning every part of the business from the ground up. “Take the opportunity to understand the day-to-day realities of the people around you and the work they do.” Says she’s most inspired not by one particular person, but by the everyday women “quietly doing whatever it takes for their families.” Those women embody true leadership through their “commitment, sacrifice, and showing up for others even when no one is watching.”
IN HER WORDS: “Great leadership isn’t about personal success, it’s about creating opportunities for others to grow, lead, and realize their full potential. The greatest reward is watching people thrive beyond what they thought was possible.”
FUN FACT: Started her insurance career as a mailroom clerk.
