Leaderly Quote: Companies need risk-takers and rule-breakers
By Jo Miller
“Every company is under fierce competition,” says Holly Meidl, Senior Vice President of the Healthcare Division of Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd.
To remain in business, your company will need to stay nimble. And the best way to achieve this, according to Meidl, is to have team members who are already thinking like the competition, and looking for ways to disrupt what they’re currently doing.
“This means thinking about how to do things a better way, to bring a better product to market, to become a better adviser, and to add value or have a value proposition that’s unique,” she explains, adding, “And the only way to do that is by taking a risk, stepping out, and doing something different than the way you’ve always done it.”
Meidl goes so far as to look for appropriate examples of rule-breaking (and risk-taking) on the résumés of those she interviews and hires. It’s a highly prized commodity, in her view, because it shows evidence that an individual is willing to step outside of their comfort zone. “In our current global economy,” she says, “companies need risk-takers and rule-breakers.”
Jo Miller
Jo Miller is a globally renowned authority on women’s leadership. She’s dedicated two decades to helping women advance into positions of influence by leveraging their leadership strengths. Based on her work with hundreds of thousands of women, she developed a pragmatic and powerful roadmap that guides women to become the leaders they aspire to be. Jo shares this proven process in her book Woman of Influence: 9 Steps to Build Your Brand, Establish Your Legacy, and Thrive (McGraw Hill, 2019.)
Jo is CEO of leadership development, consulting and research firm Be Leaderly. Learn more about her speaking engagements at www.JoMiller.com and follow @Jo_Miller on Twitter.

By Jo Miller
“Every company is under fierce competition,” says Holly Meidl, Senior Vice President of the Healthcare Division of Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd.
To remain in business, your company will need to stay nimble. And the best way to achieve this, according to Meidl, is to have team members who are already thinking like the competition, and looking for ways to disrupt what they’re currently doing.
“This means thinking about how to do things a better way, to bring a better product to market, to become a better adviser, and to add value or have a value proposition that’s unique,” she explains, adding, “And the only way to do that is by taking a risk, stepping out, and doing something different than the way you’ve always done it.”
Meidl goes so far as to look for appropriate examples of rule-breaking (and risk-taking) on the résumés of those she interviews and hires. It’s a highly prized commodity, in her view, because it shows evidence that an individual is willing to step outside of their comfort zone. “In our current global economy,” she says, “companies need risk-takers and rule-breakers.”

Jo Miller
Jo Miller is a globally renowned authority on women’s leadership. She’s dedicated two decades to helping women advance into positions of influence by leveraging their leadership strengths. Based on her work with hundreds of thousands of women, she developed a pragmatic and powerful roadmap that guides women to become the leaders they aspire to be. Jo shares this proven process in her book Woman of Influence: 9 Steps to Build Your Brand, Establish Your Legacy, and Thrive (McGraw Hill, 2019.)
Jo is CEO of leadership development, consulting and research firm Be Leaderly. Learn more about her speaking engagements at www.JoMiller.com and follow @Jo_Miller on Twitter.