Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Baima.
Hi Erin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I never thought I’d end up in insurance. In fact, when I accepted a job at Goosehead Insurance (then TWG Insurance), it was supposed to be temporary. My plan at the time was to go to law school. Instead, I started as a customer service associate and ended up finding a career that changed the entire trajectory of my life.
From day one, I put everything I had into the work. I was determined to be the best, not out of competition, but because I genuinely loved solving problems, helping people, and improving whatever was in front of me. That mindset opened doors. I became a leader, then grew and coached teams, built new departments, and ultimately became a partner at the company. Goosehead became the place where I learned resilience, leadership, and how powerful it is when someone sees potential in you that you didn’t even see in yourself.
After 14.5 years, I was laid off in 2024 – a moment that was very clarifying. It forced me to rewrite my story and decide what kind of leader I wanted to be moving forward. That transition led me to Risk Agency, where I was hired as Director of Compliance & Risk. True to my nature, I didn’t stay in one lane for long. I like to have my hands in everything, especially if it helps the business grow. Since joining, my responsibilities have expanded significantly – now spanning strategy, operations, and technology.
One of the things I’m most proud of is stepping into the tech space. I started learning coding and development so I could build a CRM tailored to our workflows. I’ve always believed that innovation doesn’t require permission – it just requires courage and curiosity. That curiosity has carried me from customer service to executive leadership, and now into building tools and systems that make work easier and more efficient for others.
My story hasn’t been linear, and it wasn’t the story I thought I’d have. But every step, even the hard ones, pushed me toward who I am today: an empathy-driven leader who loves building, improving, solving, and inspiring.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. There were seasons where I genuinely wondered if I would break. Starting from the ground up meant I often had to fight for my voice, my ideas, and my place at the table. One of the biggest challenges I faced was navigating environments where leadership operated from a place of control and short-term gains. I’ve worked under leaders who believed their way was the only way, and whose focus was solely on the bottom line.
For someone like me, who leads with empathy, integrity, and a long-term vision, that was incredibly difficult. It forced me to develop resilience early in my career. I had to learn how to advocate for myself and my teams, how to trust my instincts, and how to protect the parts of me that made me a strong leader in the first place.
But those experiences shaped me. They taught me what kind of leader I never want to be, and they strengthened my commitment to building environments where people feel supported, valued, and empowered to think differently. Looking back, the road wasn’t smooth but the challenges were exactly what shaped my drive, my leadership style, and my mission today.
We’ve been impressed with Risk Agency, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Risk Agency is a commercial insurance brokerage with a very intentional approach to how we grow and support our clients. We’re not focused solely on high-volume, transactional sales. Instead, we focus on building strong referral-partner relationships and serving businesses with complex or niche insurance needs where expertise truly matters.
What sets us apart is our commitment to doing things the right way – even when it’s harder and even when no one’s watching. Before building out aggressive growth strategies, the company invested in compliance first, which is how I joined the organization as Director of Compliance & Risk Strategy. That decision alone says a lot about who we are. Integrity isn’t a brand word for us; it’s the foundation of how we operate.
We’re specialists, not generalists. Many of the situations we handle require deep understanding, creativity, and thoughtful problem-solving. Our brand is rooted in delivering customized coverage solutions instead of pushing cookie-cutter policies just to close a deal. That’s something I deeply believe in and why I’m proud to be part of this team.
Since joining, my role has naturally expanded beyond compliance into broader operational leadership, and I’m excited about the opportunity to continue growing with the company, and hopefully becoming a partner in the near future. I’ve also been able to help shape the backbone of our operations, from building smarter workflows to stepping into the tech side to develop tools that support how our agents actually work.
What I want readers to know is simple: at Risk Agency, we take pride in being the brokerage people trust with the tough, specialized, “can you help us figure this out?” situations. We lead with integrity, we do things the right way, and we’re committed to being the partner businesses turn to when expertise matters most.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I actually love this question because if you only knew me from my title – compliance, legal, risk – you might assume I’m rigid or conservative. But the truth is, I love taking risks. I just believe in taking smart, informed, and intentional risks.
My philosophy has always been: “Don’t stop at ‘no’, simply take the time to figure out how we take the risk and still protect ourselves.” To me, risk isn’t something to avoid. It’s something to understand, shape, and leverage.
Major risks have defined my career. Starting in the trenches of the insurance world with a plan to go to law school was a risk. Growing into leadership roles by pushing for change in environments that weren’t always ready for it was a risk. Even transitioning to Risk Agency after a layoff and stepping into an organization where I could influence operations, tech, and strategy required trusting my instincts and betting on my ability to build something meaningful.
From a compliance perspective, most people think my job is to say no. But I almost never say no. Instead, I’m the person who helps teams take the leap safely by putting structure, insight, and thoughtful planning behind it.
I believe the best organizations are the ones willing to take risks, and the strongest leaders are the ones who know how to take them wisely. Risk, when approached with clarity and intention, not only opens the door to the next level, it strengthens you as a person and deepens the relationships around you. Through everything, my focus has always been people. Business exists for people, and when you invest in relationships and truly serve others, you’ll always find success no matter how long it takes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.erinbaima
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.baima/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-baima-cpcu
Image Credits
All of my images are personal and candid outside of my professional photo. Pro photo taken by Beth Graeme, PPA Craftsman Photographer, Certified Professional Photographer, 240-504-5091 (c)
