Louise Perrin
SVP, Heartland Zone
State Farm Insurance
Louise tells us...
Who are the women you admire most?
“Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth who risked their own safety and freedom to help others; Eleanor Roosevelt who was fearless in following her convictions; Madam Curie who overcame biases of women in science to make significant contributions, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in the process; Oprah Winfrey (do I need say why?!); and within State Farm, Barbara Cowden and Susan Waring who served as positive role models to women in the organization.”
What’s your brand?
“When I’m not in the room, people would describe me as: a strong leader who is authentic, passionate, visionary and courageous. They would say I am a constant learner, a strategic thinker who is results-oriented and a powerful communicator.”
What would you like to do in your next act?
“In my next act, after I complete my State Farm career, I would like to fulfill my passion in the arts, by performing, writing and directing plays, writing articles and books, and coaching youth to help them reach their full potential.”
More From Louise...
On Understanding Your Brand
“Madonna is someone who really understands her brand and who has changed it over the years to keep it relevant. In an industry as fickle as the entertainment industry, she has managed to stay on top for 20 years, which is very rare.”
On Taking Risks
“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing. I remember my first time at taking a risk. My husband, Carl, was promoted, and we moved to Evansville, Indiana for his new position. I began looking for employment and, after researching the opportunity, decided to become a State Farm agent, running my own business. It was the beginning of an amazing journey of helping people recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams, and a decision I have never regretted.”
On Having a Board of Directors
“You can’t trade the effectiveness of having an external network of people whom you can rely on for candid feedback. I call my external board of directors my “Six Pack.” It’s a group of friends from different industries who all bring different perspectives. We talk frequently, and once a year, we make a point of planning a getaway weekend to somewhere fun. We each walk away with new insights about ourselves. It’s good for the mind and the soul.”
Be True to Yourself
June 2011
Back by popular demand!
When Louise Perrin was growing up in Ohio, she brought home an English paper marked with an “A.” Her mother, Etta Washington, a schoolteacher, looked at the paper, and knew Louise could do better. She asked Louise to rewrite the assignment, which taught an important lesson: Always be personally committed to excellence.
Louise incorporates that homegrown wisdom every day in her role as senior vice president for State Farm, overseeing a six-state operation with 4,200 agents and employees, generating $3 billion in annual revenue. She shares five nuggets of wisdom to consider while shaping your career.
Nugget 1: Be Authentic
Never forget the importance of integrity—be authentic to who you are personally and professionally. You can allow yourself to be flexible, but if you aren’t true to yourself and what you want holistically, you will be out of balance. Your career should not be incongruent with your personal objectives; lack of alignment can lead to dissatisfaction. Don’t fall into the trap of, I’ll have a great professional life for two years, then I’ll shift my priorities to my personal life. Your true self will always surface. Enjoy the whole complement of life.
Nugget 2: Don’t Touch that Keyboard!
Seek positive results by way of clear communication. The quality of your relationship leads to the quality of a person’s thinking, which leads to the quality of the actions that they take, and ultimately to the quality of the results. With all the social media available today, it’s too easy to type out a message instead of having a real conversation. We can all think of a time when we received an email that left us confused, which was reflected in our results. Conversations support relationships that ultimately lead to better quality outcomes.
Nugget 3: Look in the Mirror
What do people say about you when you’re not in the room? And what do you want people to say about you when you’re not in the room? Knowing your brand means knowing how you want people to define you. ‘She’s creative, drives business results and is an excellent communicator.’ By understanding how you want others to perceive you, you will be able to develop and reinforce the skills you need to make it happen. You should stay flexible, and be ready to adapt your brand as you enter your second and third acts along the way in your career.
Nugget 4: Toot Your Own Horn
Your results and accomplishments won’t always speak for themselves. Take time to develop and cultivate relationships. In business, people want to know about you and how you fit into the culture of their organization. Incorporate your accomplishments, work experience, family and hobbies into conversations with your colleagues. As you deepen your network, more people will get to know the real you and appreciate your contributions.
Nugget 5: Share your Knowledge
Resiliency in your career means not taking things personally. Perseverance is recognizing that a setback is just a setup for a comeback. Along the way, you will have successes and you will make mistakes — it's how we all learn. Share your experiences and knowledge gained with others to help them develop. Life’s journey is all about growing, improving and helping others.
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