Uplift with Nova Mutual

Sleuthing Workplace Mysteries with Jodi Prouse

How many Mystery Novels have you written at work; are you currently jumping to conclusions about workplace interactions? 
 
Any great mystery can misdirect your attention from the truth, lead you down the rabbit hole and let your imagination fill in the gaps. A great detective can remove the red herrings and visualize just the facts, the objective and all perspectives. At the end of a classic mystery, the revelation is almost always not what we had assumed, and the truth is much less exciting, often right in front of us. Today on Uplift with Nova Mutual, Jodi Prouse, Chief Brand Officer, discusses the Stories we tell ourselves at work.
 
Sleuthing Workplace Mysteries:
00:00 Introduction
03:03 Assumptions and Workplace Roadblocks
10:45 Understanding perspective
14:57 Interacting with toxic conversations
 
Get Involved with Nova Mutual:
Connect with a Nova Mutual Agent: sales@novamutual.com 
Find a Broker Near you: NovaMutual.com/find-a-broker
Join our talented team: NovaMutual.com/careers
Follow Nova Mutual: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

The Magic of Workplace Metamorphosis with Sue Rivard

How do you perceive a change in the workplace? Are you able to see the big picture during times of flux? Are you curious enough to ask challenging questions during uncomfortable times? Today on Uplift with Nova Mutual, Employee Experience Director Sue Rivard shares some insight on how we can see the magic during times of workplace metamorphosis.The Magic of Workplace Metamorphosis:
00:00 Introduction04:40 How a team and leadership perceive change07:20 Looking back on significant changes11:42 How to continue to move forward14:38 The Magic of Metamorphosis
 
Get Involved with Nova Mutual:
Connect with a Nova Mutual Agent: sales@novamutual.com Find a Broker Near you: NovaMutual.com/find-a-brokerJoin our talented team: NovaMutual.com/careers
Follow Nova Mutual: LinkedIn  |  Instagram |  Facebook

Open To Learning - a round table discussion with modern day moms

The information we consume drives our perspective. How good at widening your funnel for new and different ideas are you?
 
Every day we're learning something new and exciting; sometimes it's through asking questions, but most often, it's from our social media, a conversation with our peers or diving deep into google. Who doesn't love to share the fun radio fact from the drive? (Thank you, John Tesh)
 
We're all faced with many challenging conversations today, from human rights, environmental impacts, financial concerns, mental health, and so much more. These are complex topics to explore, learn and listen to beyond your opinion bias. In Today's Episode of Uplift with Nova Mutual, we are having a round table discussion about how we're still open to learning even after the school bell rings. Two modern-day moms, Steph Gruhle and Lisa Budzianowski, take to the mic to share how they stay curious.
 
Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual Family? There are three ways:
email sales@novamutual.com to talk to one of our outstanding agents
Click on the "Find a Broker" button at the top of our website - NovaMutual.com
Check out our careers page; your next opportunity is waiting for you!
Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We'd love to hear from you!  
 
Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual 
#ThinkAheadThinkNova 
#WorkingTogetherMatters
#MutualInsurance

What to do when in a car accident with Donna Gibbs-White

"When there is an accident, The foremost thing you want to do is make sure you are safe."
 
Today on this special mini-episode of Uplift with Nova Mutual, we talk to Claims Adjuster Donna Gibbs-White about what to be mindful of in the unfortunate event of an accident. Whether you are at fault or not, Donna shares the kind of exceptional experience you can expect from Nova Mutual. 
 
"The beauty of a smaller mutual in comparison to a large company is you're going to speak to the same person, that person is going to help you, and they are a resource for any questions you may have."
 
If you are in the unfortunate event of a motor vehicle accident:
Make sure you are safe
If you are afraid, call the police
be mindful of who the other driver is and who is in the vehicle with them
Use your cellphone for photos
Take photos of the license plates
Take pictures of all the damage
Take a snapshot of their insurance information, or copy it down.
If a tow truck is required and police are on scene - know where your vehicle will go.
Report to your insurance company when safe to do so. (Agent, Broker, Representative)
 
"Do what you can in that circumstance and recognize that you're doing the best you can and know as an adjuster we're here to help you out and along the way."
 
"I would much rather you call me than stay awake at night."
 
Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual Family? There are three ways:
email sales@novamutual.com to talk to one of our outstanding agents
Click on the "Find a Broker" button at the top of our website - NovaMutual.com
Check out our careers page; your next opportunity be waiting for you!
Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We'd love to hear from you!  
 
Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual 
#ThinkAheadThinkNova 
#WhereUMatter 
#WorkingTogetherMatters
 

Dan Scarrow: Removing the roadblocks in your process

How does your team communicate and stay connected? With a corporate culture change in the way we work, emphasizing remote-first - has your workplace evolved with modern forms of communication (Teams, Slack, Zoom, Skype)? Today on Uplift, we are talking to one of Nova Mutual's top talents, Business Analyst Dan Scarrow about removing roadblocks in your workflow and the magic of modern-day communication.
 
"The older I get, the more experience I get; I realize there is no bad experience when it comes to working...experience will never hurt you."
 
What is the role of a business analyst in the insurance space? 
Dan explains that problem-solving and collaboration are the two crucial aspects of his role as a business analyst. Helping to ensure the team can function as smoothly as possible without technical roadblocks. Through collaboration and relationship building Dan and the IT team at Nova produce practical solutions.
 
"We're here to help...to move the business forward, whatever that means"
 
Work culture has dramatically changed in the past few years; many companies are now remote-first. It's always been a struggle to embrace authentic and meaningful communication in the workplace. Nova Mutual emphasizes authenticity in the workplace, understanding that you are essential and there is so much more to you than your job title describes. In this episode, Dan shares how he has embraced modern forms of communication to better his work-life and personal life.
 
Stay tuned to the end of this podcast episode to hear one of our most Uplifting stories!
 
Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual Family? There are three ways:
email sales@novamutual.com to talk to one of our outstanding agents
Click on the "Find a Broker" button at the top of our website - NovaMutual.com
Check out our careers page; your next opportunity could be waiting for you!
Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We'd love to hear from you!  
 
Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual 
#ThinkAheadThinkNova 
#WhereUMatter 
#WorkingTogetherMatters
 

Member Spotlight: Nofolk BBQ with Chad Steele

From ‘the Folk’ to your Folk.  
 
Now that patio season is finally here, it’s time to fire up the grill and get saucy! Joining us today on our Member uplift series is Chad Steele of Norfolk BBQ! Chad dishes on how this passion project got started, his love of local and all that Norfolk County has to offer, and even takes us back in time with some of the history of BBQ.  
 
“Sometimes you gotta make lemonade out of lemons, right? That’s how it kind of started.” 
 
What started as a personal passion grew into a full-blown business after seeing a post from a local retailer – The Barntique. When Chad finally found some time to put into scaling up this project, he also realized a market for it in the community, so he looked for the positive, and started making lemonade, so to speak.  
 
“Be as best of an ambassador to the county as I can, just let people know what we do here, what we produce.” 
 
Located in the heart of Norfolk County, Norfolk BBQ really highlights the area, what it has to offer, and the incredible people and places within it. More than just sauce, it’s a collaboration of community working together to uplift each other. Chad excitedly chats about his many connections from getting his maple syrup at Chambers Maple Shop to locally sourcing his apple cider and apple cider vinegar at Kent Creek Orchards and The Cider Keg, to purchasing strawberry juice from Meadowlynn Farms. He eagerly shares some of the incredible local butchers that allow him to place special orders for specific cuts, like VG Meats, Townsend Butchers, and Vanessa Meats. A quick scan of his mouthwatering Instagram page will showcase many more local stops to add to your ‘must visit’ list.  
 
“I think the great thing about here in Norfolk is we have such an abundance of agricultural products. I wanted to support the local farms as best I could.” 
 
Learn more about Norfolk BBQ and check out their savoury sauces: 
https://www.norfolk-bbq.com/ 
https://www.instagram.com/norfolkbbq/ 
https://www.facebook.com/norfolkbbq 
Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!  
 
Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual 
#ThinkAheadThinkNova 
#WhereUMatter 
#WorkingTogetherMatters 
 

Member Spotlight: Generations Marketplace - Experience the Farm

Today on our Member Uplift series we welcome Heidi from Generations Marketplace and Learning Centre. She joins us to chat about her 5th generation family farm and how she honours it’s history while adding her own modern spin. Sustainable living, farm to table freshness, locally handcrafted items, and freshly baked goods – learn about their offerings, and how they also go beyond the marketplace to involve and teach the community.  
 
“We are trying to bring back people into the gardens and knowing where their produce comes from, connecting to it, having a hands-on experience. Also giving them tools and training through our workshops and our classes on what they can do with those items afterwards.” 
 
In the modern world of fast and convenient, Generations is taking the time to highlight the importance of reconnecting with the land, understanding where everything comes from, and how it all works together. They offer a variety of classes and tours including Beginner Gardening classes, Farm Animal and Garden Tours, providing anyone with a chance to explore the farm and learn some tips and tricks.  
 
“We are working with our animals and the fields and the gardens where they grow. We are putting more into enriching our environment than taking away from it. Everything can work hand in hand.” 
Learn more about Generations Marketplace and check out their amazing offerings: 
https://generationsmarketplace.ca/ 
https://www.instagram.com/generations_marketplace/ 
https://www.instagram.com/generations_marketplace/ 
 
Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!  
 
Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual 
#ThinkAheadThinkNova 
#WhereUMatter 
#WorkingTogetherMatters 
 

Member Spotlight: Dennis’ Horseradish with Mark Healy

Today on our Member Uplift series, Mark Healy from Dennis’ Horseradish is chatting with us about growing, producing, and processing horseradish, right in the heart of Norfolk County. From his early beginnings as a small boy dreaming of horseradish… or more accurately to discovering a gem that could be grown. He chats about the ways in which they are growing, and the importance of keeping their roots in Norfolk.  
 
“Use all natural ingredients, produce everything locally, make sure that it’s handcrafted. Put love and care into it, you’re going to end up with a much better product than something mass produced in a factory.” 
 
Learn about the ideal conditions for growing horseradish as Mark gets nerdy talking about soil varieties. Once they’ve grown the best product, hear about the importance of partnership and collaboration in working with retailers to bring the product to market. 
 
“We’re on a journey together, we’re going to provide really good service, we’re going to provide quite a bit of education along the way.” 
 
Speaking of that education, that’s a big strategy for the Dennis’ team as they work to appeal to new target markets and to a wider variety of dishes and recipes beyond the traditional ‘Sunday night roast beef’. Listen as Mark dishes on some of the amazing health benefits and possible pairings for horseradish.  
 
Learn more about Dennis’ Horseradish and check out their amazing offerings: 
https://dennishorseradish.com/   
https://www.instagram.com/dennishorseradish/  
https://www.facebook.com/DennisHorseradish/ 
Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!  
 
Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual 
#ThinkAheadThinkNova 
#WhereUMatter 
#WorkingTogetherMatters 

Demystifying Expenses with Karen Howard

Demystifying Expenses
With Karen Howard, Financial Operations Lead, Nova Mutual
Keeping track of our expenses can be terrifying - but it doesn't have to be! Today Nova Mutual's Financial Operations lead, Karen Howard, is joining us to demystify keeping track of the costs to do business. While we suggest you always talk to a tax professional, Karen will give you some tips to log your mileage, what you can claim when working at home, meals and entertainment and the secret to being better with your reporting.
 
"Are you a trustworthy person? Are you an honest person?
Don't cheat on your taxes - it's not going to get you very far."
 
Meet Karen Howard:
Karen has a professional background in bookkeeping and management with a passion for uplifting the community through song. After spending 20 years successfully running her own business and five years leading a team, she is entering her 3rd year in the Mutual Insurance industry. 
 
"Accounting is Accounting except in Insurance"
Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!  
 
Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual 
#ThinkAheadThinkNova 
#WhereUMatter 
#WorkingTogetherMatters 

Meet The Underwriter - Brent Roloson

This week on Uplift, we chat with Brent Roloson, Senior Underwriter on our Agribusiness team. Listen as he talks about the Mutual experience, and then dives into all things Ag. 
 
“The mutual world has always reminded me of smaller community, kind of like a family-oriented workspace. I’ve really taken that to heart throughout the years and enjoy that aspect of the business.” 
 
Learn how he puts an individual focus on each and every policy he underwrites. Everything from small hobby farms, confined livestock, to full fruit and vegetable operations, right in the heart of Ontario’s garden.  
 
 “We get to put that personal touch on everybody’s policy. It gets that full review, that outside of the box thinking which really helps when it comes to making the right decision for them.” 
 
Brent talks about collaborating with a variety of partners to ensure our wordings and coverages are kept current with changing technology, including a partnership with PrevTech to help mitigate large losses. With so many different types of coverages, it’s important to customize and fill the void, and Brent is up for the challenge!  
 
“There’s always something different, something special that comes along that interests you and puts that spark in you to kind of want to go a little bit above and beyond to meet those needs of our policyholders.” 
 
Do you have a question, or something you’d like to learn more about from our #AgribusinessUnderwriting team? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for future #AskTheUnderwriter episodes!  
 
Do you want to be part of the Nova Mutual family? There are two ways. Check out the Careers page or click on the Find a Broker button on NovaMutual.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for all things Nova. Oh, and if you like this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us one of those five-star reviews. We’d love to hear from you!  
 
Uplift is produced by Nova Mutual 
#ThinkAheadThinkNova 
#WhereUMatter 
#WorkingTogetherMatters