Adjunct Advisors, LLC

Founder & Consultant

Bound & Determined℠ is a podcast supporting women in the insurance industry. Learn more about the podcast at www.adjunctadvisors.com/bound

Podcast Host | Bound & Determined℠

Webb Insurance Group (Lake Forest IL)

Leveraging 20 years of industry experience, and the lessons learned in growing my own small business, I worked with fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners to help them shift from confusion to confidence in navigating the nuances of business insurance. Clients worked with me through one-on-one coaching or attended an engaging workshop that I facilitated.

Independent Senior Advisor

Byrne, Byrne and Company

Senior Account Executive, Property & Casualty

Great American Insurance

Territory Manager, Underwriting, Specialty Human Services

The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

Senior Regional Director, Sales & Marketing

Grange Insurance

Commercial Lines Underwriter

Westfield Group/Westfield Insurance

Production Underwriter

Founder + Consultant | Insurance Sales + Leadership + Organizational Change | Bound & Determined℠🎙 Host | #digitalnomad

At the intersection of personal and professional development lies the squishy, sometimes uncomfortable midpoint - and it's here, as a consultant in the insurance industry, where you can find me. 

It's here where: 
We’re as likely to talk about insurance rate increases as we are to talk about confidence.
We’re as likely to talk about production goals as we are to talk about imposter syndrome. 
We’re as likely to talk about marketing plans as we are to talk about burnout.
We’re as likely to talk about non-renewals as we are to talk about boundaries.

If your experience is like mine, spaces like those I create - for real, relevant conversation - didn't always exist in our industry. 

So as you consider the ways you'll develop yourself and those around you, know that I believe you deserve a better option – one that supports your whole being and is fueled by experience and creativity and humor and so much truth.

It isn’t just my perspective gleaned over 25 years working as an underwriter or leader or producer in the insurance industry that influences the work I do with individuals and organizations today - it’s all of the experiences I've collected in my 45 years of life – and the experience we all have simply being human. You know I love to talk about it! 

The project-based paid consulting work I do today includes: 
- Workshop facilitation for insurance carrier, technology, and agency sales teams, with a focus on the hard market
- Design and production of insurance industry-specific women’s sales and leadership events
- Professional speaking for insurance industry events and conferences, including keynotes and panel moderation
- Facilitation of strategic leadership off-sites and retreats
- Private and small group coaching for sales, executive/leadership, and underwriting professionals
- Industry-specific research and writing for publication through print and online mediums

Looking for inspiration and support right now? Read the regular column I write, Let's Lead, for Rough Notes Magazine, or have a listen to the podcast I host, Bound & Determined℠, featuring the stories of women working in the insurance industry. 

Core Values: Respect | Courage | Service | Integrity

Meg McKeen

The Jill James

Advisory support services for self-funded founders who want on-demand expert support and a quarterly review of their business.

Advisory Guidance

A free, weekly newsletter written for self-funded founder / CEOs who want to achieve their personal goals in a for-profit, high-impact business. Sign up at thejilljames.com/newsletter.

The Jill James Newsletter

Our flagship consulting engagement is the Business Design Reboot. We work with up to 10 new clients annually for an initial 6-month engagement, working 1:1 with you to define your personal playbook and roadmap for building your company.  

First, we define what you want. Then we design your business to meet your goals - high growth, great benefits, paying yourself and others, working a four-day week. You choose the pieces, we solve the puzzle.

That's part one. Now that we've got a roadmap, you’ll need to change how you work, and fast. We’ll support you in implementing that strategic operating plan. You focus on sales, customers, and products. We make sure you've got advice, finance, pricing, operations, partners, and compliance support. We'll put systems and procedures in place so you spend less time running your business and more time building it. 

In this process, we answer questions like: 

- How can I bring my purpose into my company? 
- How can I do more of the things I love?
- How can I be more profitable?
- Am I spending the right amount on my operations? 
- Should I hire people?
- How much can I pay myself?
- How can I be smarter about taxes?

You get: 

- A written 12-month strategic plan and sales forecast, with numbers and financial projections
- A set of offers or products priced for profitability goals  
- A staffing and operations plan
- Six months of executive support and accountability 

Is the Reboot for you? Let's find out - grab a free 20-minute strategy session with me at thejilljames.com.

Business Design Reboot

Three Day Rule

Functioned as COO, CFO, and CMO for personalized matchmaking services and technology company from product/market fit to Series A completion. Grew run rate to $2.5 million with path to profitability. Expanded from two to six metro areas and 2 to 30 full-time employees.

Real Media Group - a division of 24/7 Media Inc.

Fulfilled my commitment to the Panache earnout following acquisition by WPP. Reconcepted the video offering for agencies and brands and led growth of North America video ad network.

Panache

Pivoted the firm from platform professional services to a digital video workflow and ad product solution that drove sales development to reach EBITDA break-even for exit. Acquired by WPP PLC for a multimillion dollar, undisclosed amount.

VP, Marketing

Razorfish

Learned everything digital marketing, e-commerce, creative, SaaS, analytics, media, consumers, kids, and moms from the best in the business. My favorite part was putting Barbie on Facebook. Clients included Mattel, Disney-ABC  Television Digital, SOAPnet/ABC Daytime, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts (WDPRO), LA Metro, and Munchkin.

Account Director

Offermatica

We helped progressive brands test and optimize their e-commerce sales and marketing. Designed and executed e-commerce marketing optimization programs for Fortune 500 marketing departments including Sears, Intuit, T-Mobile, Blinds.com, Fandango, and Kelly Blue Book. The professional services arm of Offermatica, an Accel-backed venture acquired by Omniture ($65M), now Adobe Site Catalyst Test and Target.

Client Manager, Otto Digital

Zimbra

Back when there were only a few SaaS products, launched first two open source web-based collaboration suite products. We helped a lot of large companies give everybody an email inbox. The company was backed by Accel and Redpoint and was acquired by Yahoo! ($350M), now VMWare Zimbra.

Product Marketing Manager (Internship)

AXA Financial, Inc.

Where I got my first taste of supporting a CEO. I spent every day with the CEO and executive team to support our insurance, direct sales, and mutual fund operations in the US. Wrote speeches, ran offsites, evaluated opportunities, worked on mergers, looked for opportunities to improve the company, generally wrangled. 

Before that, I spent two years advising individuals and small businesses on their personal and business financial planning and wealth management.

Project Analyst to the Chairman & CEO

Afternic.com

In the dot com boom, figured out how to automate our services for scale and build internet software for trading stuff. Ran post-auction settlement for global domain name marketplace acquired by Register.com ($60M); defined business requirements, added relationships for escrow and credit card processing.

Commerce Strategy Manager

J.P. Morgan

Managed $150 million leveraged lease portfolio while restructuring to release $30 million in cash to the business unit.

Analyst

I help self-funded business owners build and run profitable, purpose-driven companies through strategic operations support.

When you started your company, everything was fresh and exciting, especially the flexibility. But running the company has become a dull and overwhelming chore. You're having the Sunday Scaries (and the Tuesday Terrors and the Friday Fears). You're not enjoying the work. The day-to-day of balancing growth with HR, finance, and management is tedious. You've lost the joy. And you're wondering, do I really want to keep running this company? 

At the same time, you want to make a positive impact on the world with your work. And you don't want to go back to a 9-to-5 job. You are determined to figure this out.

It's hard to build and lead a company while you learn to manage it, and not lose your focus on impact. I use my background in strategy, operations, finance, and growth management to be a general management partner to self-funded founder/CEOs like you, who are navigating building for-profit companies that balance impact on the world and financial stability for themselves. 

I work with founder / owners who:

- Want to grow their self-funded company to the high 6 or 7 figures, but currently feel stuck
- Know they need a playbook and roadmap that achieves or exceeds their work and personal goals
- Have a non-negotiable mission, purpose, or impact goal 
- Don’t plan to take institutional equity investment 

I help you:

- Design and build a strategic roadmap specifically for YOUR company
- Run your company as a general management partner 

What other founders have said:

💬“I worked with Jill on our operations and growth strategy. Our growth has landed us on the Inc 5000 for five years. We continue to rely on Jill as a trusted advisor as our business evolves.”
 -Amber Allen, Founder & Chief Strategist, Double A Labs

💬 “Jill’s direction and expertise have been instrumental in our company’s year-over-year growth, guiding us from a small startup through our recent recognition as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. We would highly recommend her services for any size company looking to improve operational stability, leadership, and growth.”
-Brian Loschiavo, Co-Founder, Riverside Entertainment 

Have a vision but you’re not sure of the steps to get there? Drowning in admin yuck? Get my support, education, and access to live Ask Me Anything Q&As by joining my list at thejilljames.com. (There's also a link to book a free 20-minute advice call.)

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Meg McKeen

Jill James

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