Mara Dorne is a powerhouse entrepreneur, Fortune 500 sales veteran, and the bold voice behind the BILF (Boss I’d Like to Follow) Podcast. After building a billion-dollar sales career and becoming a self-made millionaire before 40, Mara shifted her focus to empowering others—especially women—to break barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries. Now leading a nationwide team of more than 1,500 health insurance agents, Mara is on a mission to make health care more affordable, redefine ethical sales, and open the door for a new generation of ambitious professionals. Her story is one of resilience, authenticity, and unwavering determination.
On this episode we talk about:
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Mara’s beginnings: working from age 10, early lessons in money and independence
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How the 2008 recession and life’s curveballs led her unintentionally into health insurance sales
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Why health insurance sales is a meritocracy and how perseverance beats pedigree
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The massive earning potential in health insurance—and what sets it apart from other insurance fields
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How Mara helped diversify and revolutionize a “pale, male, and stale” industry with ethical, customer-focused sales
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The critical role of focus, work ethic, and people skills for today’s young agents in a world of endless distraction
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Her advice on whether young people should attend college or dive into real-world work experience
Top 3 Takeaways
1. The insurance industry can offer life-changing, long-term income and rewards true persistence, ethical sales, and the ability to build relationships—not background or pedigree.
2. Leading with value and customer needs, rather than chasing short-term commissions, is the secret to long-term business and referral success in insurance.
3. For young people, developing people skills and focus—through door-to-door sales, phones, or social media—is more important and profitable than ever in the digital age.
Notable Quotes
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"Perseverance and authenticity shaped my life and became the foundation of my entrepreneurial journey."
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"There’s no shortcut. You still have to grind it out. The real win is in helping the customer and playing the long game."
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"It’s not about the struggles you face; it’s about how you overcome them."
Connect with Mara Dorne:
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