I Didn’t Have It All Figured Out, and That’s What Helped Me Grow

Hi, I’m Caitlin, Global Talent Enablement Leader at Gallagher. In my role, I focus on developing and delivering strategies that support career empowerment, leadership readiness, and organizational growth. A big part of my day-to-day work is helping colleagues navigate their careers, build meaningful skills, and connect to opportunities across the business.

What I do now looks very different from where I started and that’s one of the things I value most about my career at Gallagher. Over time, my role has evolved as I’ve grown, taken on new challenges, and explored different paths across the business. None of it followed a straight line, and I didn’t have it all figured out from the beginning.

Where I Started and How My Path Evolved

When I joined Gallagher more than 13 years ago as a Client Associate, I didn’t have my whole career mapped out. What I did have was the opportunity to learn.

In that role and in the client service roles that followed I built a strong foundation in servicing our clients and learned just how important relationships, responsiveness, and delivering value really are. Those lessons stayed with me as my career continued to evolve.

From there, I transitioned into Sales Enablement, where I supported producers and teams as they worked to drive growth and enhance client experience. At the time, it wasn’t the path I expected, but it turned out to be an important step. It helped me grow in new ways, build confidence, and expand my perspective. Looking back, each move built on the last, even when the connection wasn’t immediately obvious.

Learning to Grow Without a Set Plan

My journey at Gallagher wasn’t planned step by step. It was shaped by curiosity, a willingness to grow, and leaders who encouraged me to explore new paths.

There were several moments where I stepped into something new without having all the answers, moving into a different function, taking on broader responsibilities, or stepping into leadership roles. Those moments came with uncertainty, but they also became some of the most defining parts of my career.

What helped me through those stretches was focusing on learning instead of perfection. I stayed open to feedback, asked questions, and trusted that I could build the skills I needed along the way. I was also fortunate to have leaders and mentors who encouraged me to keep going, even when I didn’t feel fully ready. That support made a real difference, and it shaped how I think about development today.

Why Career Ownership and Elevate Matter to Me

My passion for career ownership comes directly from my own experience. I learned early on that growth doesn’t just happen; you have to take an active role in it. At the same time, I know that career growth isn’t something people should have to navigate alone.

That balance is why Elevate means so much to me. Elevate is our career empowerment framework designed to support growth in the flow of work. It’s not a training program; it’s an experience that helps colleagues reflect on their goals, explore possibilities, and take ownership of their development in a way that feels accessible and meaningful.

I’ve had the opportunity to help design, develop, and bring Elevate to life alongside an incredible team. Together, we’ve shaped the vision, built practical tools like the Flight Plan, created opportunities for career conversations, and partnered with leaders and teams globally to make career empowerment part of everyday work.

One of the most rewarding parts has been seeing how it resonates. I’ve seen colleagues have more meaningful career conversations, leaders support development in new ways, and individuals recognize opportunities they may not have seen before.

To me, that reflects what makes Gallagher special.

There’s real opportunity to build a career overtime here supported by people who invest in where you are today and where you can go next. My journey is just one example of what’s possible.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: you don’t have to have everything figured out. You just have to be willing to grow.”