In this episode, I interview Marya Propis, Executive Vice President of Retail Distribution at RT Specialty, to continue an important conversation she had recently sparked alongside Leanne Berry through RT’s WOW (Women Opportunity Winning) program and APIW, Inc. The engagement from that virtual event was buzzing, proof that ageism in our industry, especially for women, deserves more space. We unpacked the familiar “Goldilocks” assumption that women are either too young and underestimated or too experienced and overlooked, never just right. Marya offered a powerful reframe: the real shift happens when you decide you’re appropriately positioned in your life and career, regardless of outside perception.

We also talked about how men often seem to gain value with age while women are expected to fade quietly, and why Marya believes it’s time we take a page from their playbook. She shared how she’s learned to wear her decades of experience proudly, leveraging depth and perspective as strengths instead of something to minimize. Toward the end of our conversation, Marya bravely brought perimenopause and menopause into the spotlight, advocating for more thoughtful support for women navigating physiological changes. This episode is a reminder that experience is not a liability, it’s an asset, and that advancing women in insurance means honoring every chapter of their careers.