Navigating The Future Together

Growing Together: My 20 Year Journey at Gallagher Bassett

leslie beardsley testimonial tile

By Leslie

March 25 2026


When I look back on the last two decades of my career, I’m surprised by how much I’ve grown not only professionally, but personally. I started my journey at Gallagher Bassett in 2006, and today I’m the Assistant Branch Manager in Syracuse, New York. This path was built step by step, shaped by leaders who believed in me and teammates who truly felt like family.

Growth Has No Limits

One of the first things I realized at Gallagher was how committed the company is to its people. They’re invested in you… if you’re willing to invest in your future, the sky’s the limit.

Growth here is intentional. It’s supported. It’s encouraged. And it’s shared with people who genuinely want to see you thrive.

One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been stepping into the role of developing others. I’ve been blessed with leaders trusting in me to train new individuals.

Watching those I’ve mentored move into leadership positions themselves has been incredibly rewarding.

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There’s been a lot of adjusters who’ve gone on to be supervisors or lead resolution managers… so my growth is their growth.”

The Culture That Made Me Stay

People often ask me how I’ve stayed with one company for 20 years. The answer is simple: It’s the family feel, the teamwork, the culture.

Here, you don’t feel like you’re on your own. You don’t feel like you’re competing with the person next to you. It’s a place where people show up for each other every single day. It’s a true team.

What’s even more special is that this feeling isn’t exclusive to those who’ve been here for years. New hires tell me that Gallagher Bassett feels different from anywhere they’ve worked before. That sense of togetherness is what has grounded me, inspired me, and kept me here.

The Work That Challenges and Rewards

Claims is not an easy field, especially in the New York jurisdiction. It’s fast‑paced, unpredictable, and constantly evolving. Every day brings something familiar, but also something new.

It’s a challenging career, but it’s very rewarding… you get to help others when they’re going through something they’ve never gone through. What we do matters. When someone is navigating a difficult moment, we’re the ones who guide them through it. That purpose anchors you on the toughest days.

And as the work has evolved, so have the tools that support us. That’s been one of the most exciting changes in recent years. Our system updates are significantly improving, and it’s making our jobs so much easier. Technology has begun to transform how we serve our clients, from system improvements to AI tools that streamline complex tasks.

You can see Gallagher Bassett is really working hard to make our lives easier… and ensure clients have the services they need.

In moments that matter, you matter

Twenty years is a long time. But when I look back, it feels full of change and growth. Full of people who shaped me and people I had the privilege to help shape in return.

Gallagher Bassett has been with me in moments that mattered. And I hope, in many ways, I’ve been here for others in theirs.

That’s why I’m proud of this journey. And that’s why I’m still here: growing, learning, leading, and believing in what we do every day.


Explore Careers At Gallagher Bassett

Gallagher believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity and prohibits any form of discrimination by its managers, employees, vendors or customers based on race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy status), sexual orientation, gender identity (which includes transgender and other gender non-conforming individuals), gender expression, hair expression, marital status, parental status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected (herein referred to as “protected characteristics”) by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Equal employment opportunity will be extended in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, layoff, and termination. In addition, Gallagher will make reasonable accommodations to known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified person with a disability, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

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