Ekaterina (Katie) Curry, Millennial Specialty Insurance: Precision, Timing, and Advocacy

Ekaterina (Katie) Curry, Millennial Specialty Insurance: Precision, Timing, and Advocacy

Author: Dr. Laura Sicola June 25, 2024 Duration: 28:07

In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Ekaterina (Katie) Curry, the Managing Director of Millennial Specialty Insurance. They discuss various topics related to communication and leadership, including the importance of precision in word choice, the need to be a translator between the C-suite and the team, the power of timing in communication, and the challenge of explaining things to teenage kids. Katie also shares her experience of going to bat for someone on her team and the lessons she learned from it.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Precision in word choice is crucial to avoid misinterpretation and potential problems.
  • Being a translator between the C-suite and the team is an important leadership skill.
  • Timing plays a significant role in effective communication.
  • Explaining things to teenage kids can be challenging, but building a strong relationship and providing guidance can help.

About Katie:

Ms. Ekaterina (“Katie”) Curry is a global business & operations leader with deep expertise in financial services and insurance. She currently leads Operations, Quality, Process improvement and Agency teams at Millennial Specialty insurance multifamily.

2x Fortune 500 leader, she has led colleagues on 5 continents through transformation and rapid growth. Katie transitioned from Financial Services to insurance at the end of 2022 and is focused on bringing best practices to the insurance industry.

Katie is originally from Bulgaria but has lived and worked in the U.S. for over 20 years. She holds an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Yale University.

She is a frequent industry speaker and author on operations,leadership, and working with Gen Z and Millennial colleagues. When she is not working, you might find Katie hiking with her husband, kids and their dog Flynn.

You can connect with Katie in the following way:

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
  • LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LauraSicolainc
  • Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
  • Twitter: @LauraSicola
  • Instagram: @drlaurasicola
  • Website: https://laurasicola.com
  • Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Speaking to Influence features conversations about the tangible mechanics of leadership communication, moving beyond theory into practical application. Host Dr. Laura Sicola, an expert in linguistic influence, guides discussions that dissect how language, tone, and presence directly impact credibility and outcomes. Each episode brings a perspective from seasoned executives and industry figures who share their real-world experiences-not just their successes, but the nuanced moments where a single conversation changed a trajectory. The focus here is on the actionable: how to structure a message for a skeptical board, modulate your voice to convey authority without arrogance, and read a room to pivot your approach in real time. This isn't about generic public speaking tips; it's a deep exploration of the strategic choices behind influential speech. Listeners gain access to a toolkit for building confidence, commanding attention, and achieving specific professional results through more intentional communication. The podcast operates at the intersection of business strategy, personal development, and the often-overlooked technical art of persuasion, making it relevant for anyone whose role requires them to lead, sell, or inspire through spoken word. Dr. Sicola's background provides a unique lens, ensuring every conversation yields insights you can use immediately to refine your own impact.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Speaking to Influence
Podcast Episodes
Charlie Saffro of CS Recruiting: Asking the Right Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
Our newest episode of Speaking to Influence features Charlie Saffro, CEO and Founder of CS Recruiting, who talks about the importance of resourcefulness and curiosity in a job interview, and how to do it by doing your re…
Ossa Fisher of Aurora Tech: Listen First [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:05
Joining Laura on this week’s episode is Ossa Fisher, President of Aurora Innovation, where Ossa shares the multi-faceted pow rapport-building techniques to uncover the real problem and get people on board, resulting in e…
Erik Ryan of Iron Mountain: The Power of ‘No’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:34
This week’s episode of Speaking to Influence is with guest Erik Ryan, Senior Vice President and CFO of Iron Mountain, in a conversation that focuses on the power of ‘no’. In this episode you will learn: About a time Erik…
Chris Hall of Stacuity: Silencing the Skeptics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:29
This week,Chris Hall, Chairman and Co-Founder of Stacuity Ltd. describes thechallenges of being a small startup grappling with geographical bias in the tech industry,and the need to convince others of their credibility i…
Smitha Murthy of Beagle Security: A Leader Who Lifts Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
Joining Laura this week is Smitha Murthy, CEO of Beagle Security. Smitha shares the steps she took to build rapport with key decision makers early in her career in order to be recognized as someone truly ready for a lead…
Chris Hood of CH Digital: Lessons Learned from Google Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:12
This week, Chris Hood of CH Digital and former Head of Digital Strategy at Google discusses the lessons he learned from the communication culture at Google, and how they can be implemented in any business. In this episod…