Diving deep to reach new heights

We’re excited to share our conversation with Nicole Farley, recently promoted to Senior Vice President of Agency and Carrier Operations at Bold Penguin and named a Luminary in Insurance. Nicole shares insights on insurance innovation and partnerships and what the future of Bold Penguin looks like.
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1. How is Bold Penguin uniquely positioned for insurance innovation —and how does your team help advance it? 

Bold Penguin is uniquely positioned in the commercial insurance industry because we sit at the intersection of technology, data, and distribution. We’re not just a quoting platform—we’re building an ecosystem that simplifies how agents connect with carriers, and how risks get placed accurately and efficiently.

My team plays a critical role in that vision. We manage the relationships with our carrier partners and oversee our wholesale operation, ensuring we’re aligned on appetite, delivering high-quality submissions, and driving performance on both sides of the marketplace. We’re constantly working to improve carrier connectivity, optimize placement strategies, drive insurance innovation, and create feedback loops that help carriers grow profitably while enabling agents to write more business, faster. That hands-on collaboration and operational discipline are what help turn Bold Penguin’s technology into real-world results. 
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2. You hold both J.D. and M.B.A degrees and have held leadership positions in a variety of roles, including Director of HR, General Counsel, and VP of Carrier Operations throughout your career. How have all those positions helped shape your view of the insurance industry? 

It’s been a rewarding journey for me in the insurance industry, with each role offering a unique perspective on how the industry functions and where it can evolve. 

My legal background sharpened my ability to assess risk and navigate the complex landscape of regulation, compliance, and contracts—all foundational to insurance. My experience in HR underscored the importance of people, culture, and leading change effectively, especially in an industry rooted in tradition. 

And through my work in operations, particularly with carriers, I’ve seen the powerful impact that technology, data, and streamlined processes can have on insurance innovation, speed to market and customer experience. These combined experiences have deepened my respect for the industry and its vital role in protecting and empowering business owners.

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3. Bold Penguin is continually finding new ways to simplify commercial insurance. How do you see us accomplishing that in the next few years?

Over the next few years, I see Bold Penguin continuing to lead the way in simplifying commercial insurance by doubling down on intelligent automation, deeper data integrations, and more personalized experiences across the value chain. We're already connecting carriers, agents, and insureds more efficiently than ever before—but the next phase is about insurance innovation to make those connections smarter. That means leveraging AI not just to speed up quoting and binding, but to proactively guide underwriting, reduce misclassification risk, and surface the best placement options in real time.

We’ll also continue expanding our ecosystem—integrating with more partners, platforms, and data sources—so agents can operate from a single pane of glass. Ultimately, it's about reducing friction at every touchpoint and making commercial insurance as easy and intuitive as possible, without losing the depth or accuracy that complex risks require.

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BONUS QUESTION: We know you enjoy mentoring colleagues who want to focus on career development, especially those who are working mothers on strategies to balance home and work life. What’s one piece of advice you could share with others on how they can support mothers who juggle personal and professional demands simultaneously?

This is one of my favorite topics because I take great pride in both my career and my role as a mother. Balancing work and family is never easy—and the shift to a work-from-home culture post-COVID added a whole new layer of complexity.

If I could share one piece of advice, I’d borrow from Brian Dyson, former CEO of Coca-Cola, who gave a powerful analogy about life being a juggling act. He said some balls are rubber and some are glass. The key is knowing which ones can bounce and which ones will break. You can’t do it all, every day, without sacrificing your mental health—and that realization was hard, but freeing.

There were times I had to let go of perfection. For example, I skipped baking Pinterest-worthy cookies for the school bake sale and bought them instead, so I could focus on preparing for a major client presentation. That decision didn’t make me less of a mom—it made me more present in the moments that mattered most that week.

What’s considered “glass” changes depending on the season of life you’re in, so it’s helpful to check in weekly or monthly and reassess your priorities. That simple habit can help working mothers—and those who support them—create space for grace, flexibility, and growth.
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Recap: Highlights from our chat about insurance innovation with Nicole Farley

1. What is insurance innovation and why is it important?

‍Insurance innovation supports carriers, agents, and business owners, advancing technology and data to simplify the quote and bind process for agents and enhance customer experience for business owners.
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2. How is Bold Penguin driving insurance innovation?

‍Bold Penguin’ Agency and Carrier Operations team helps drive insurance innovation by creating feedback loops that help carriers grow profitably while enabling agents to write more business, faster, and delivering real world results that empower business owners.

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3.What are commercial insurance partnerships, and why are they critical?

Commercial insurance partnerships help agents, carriers, and insurtech providers collaborate, driving efficiency and offering tailored coverage to meet business needs.

Join the conversation on LinkedIn or contact us‍

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