Show notes
In this episode of The Brave Enough Show, Dr. Sasha Shillcutt and guest Cara Kirsch discuss:
- What made her decide to build your own firm
- What wasn't working anymore about the path she was on — and what gave her the courage to change it
- The drive to champion other women through Ignite
About Cara:
Cara Kirsch is the CEO and Founder of The Kirsch Group, an independent employee benefits brokerage built on a simple idea: employers deserve a partner who explains the numbers, asks the harder questions, and stays in their corner long after the renewal is signed. With more than three decades of industry experience, Cara has built The Kirsch Group into a trusted advisor for organizations across Nebraska and beyond, known for clarity, transparency, and strategy that actually moves the needle on cost and culture. Cara and her team partner with employers of all sizes, from growing companies to large, multi-state organizations, to design benefits programs that align with business goals, support employees, and stand up to scrutiny. Her expertise spans self-funded health plans, managed care, claims and data analytics, and proactive cost-containment strategies, with a focus on translating complexity into decisions leaders can actually make. Clients come to The Kirsch Group when they are tired of surprises at renewal and ready for a partner who will tell them what is really happening in their plan.
Before founding The Kirsch Group, Cara held senior leadership roles including Area Vice President at Gallagher and Vice President at SilverStone Group (now HUB), where she advised executive teams on aligning benefits with culture, budget, and long-term strategy. That experience shaped the firm she leads today, one that combines the resources and sophistication of a large brokerage with the responsiveness and accountability of an independent shop. Beyond her client work, Cara is a recognized voice in the industry. She speaks nationally on leadership, workplace culture, and the future of employee benefits, and is the founder of Ignite Women in Business and host of the Ignite Podcast. These platforms keep her close to the conversations shaping employers' biggest people decisions, insight she brings back to every client engagement.
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Instagram: @thekirschgroupllc
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