The Power of Partnership in Conversation with Nora Crouch
A strategic thinker, authentic relationship builder, and independent, open-minded problem solver — Nora Crouch can do it all. As someone who builds long-term sustainable relationships, Nora is a firm believer in professional partnerships.
Today we are in conversation with Nora about the power of these partnerships in business. Having had a long successful career, Nora is well educated on the importance of friendships and partnerships in business.
Nora, as an authentic relationship builder you recognize the value of partnerships and working alongside others. Can you share an anecdote that showcases the benefits of professional partnerships?
“Early on in my career, I learned that I can do and achieve more with others, as opposed to by myself. This lesson became more valuable as I progressed into the executive ranks and served on the boards of profit and non-profit organizations. Partnering with those around me, made any challenge less daunting and amplified every success. Taking into consideration other perspectives and different life experiences helped a lot. To sustain effective partnerships, I have learned first to establish strong relationships. Hence the value I see of becoming an authentic relationship builder.
“A partnership I am very proud of started from a relationship that was formed early in my career at Markel. When I joined, I was new to the property and casualty insurance industry and learned a lot. I was lucky enough to be welcomed into the organization by two women who had spent a lot of time with the company but had less professional experience than I did. The three of us developed a strong friendship, which ultimately evolved into a strong partnership. This served all three of us very well. We learned from one another and supported one another over many years. The three of us went on to become the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, and Treasurer respectively. Having three women lead the finance function of a publicly-traded Fortune 500 company was viewed by most as a rare occurrence even back in 2010.”
Thanks for sharing, Nora.
