Vice president
OLI Insurance Services
Age: 34
After graduating with degrees in biology and art history, Melissa Smyt quickly found a niche in sales and marketing. This skill set eventually paved the way for her to join Heffernan Insurance Brokers as a junior producer. Today, Smyt is vice president of OLI Insurance Services, a boutique insurance aggregator designed to boost local agencies with market access, back-office support, resources and perpetuation solutions. Under Smyt’s leadership, the business has experienced exponential growth and continues to expand its national footprint.
Looking ahead, Smyt hopes to see more agencies working to develop comprehensive gender equity and diversity initiatives to help women and people of color forge career paths in insurance. “The insurance industry provides endless opportunities for professional and personal growth,” she says, “but it is critical that gender equity and inclusivity are built into the fabric of that advancement.”
