Staebler Insurance has been around for 145 years in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Lidia’s been working at the brokerage almost four years as a broker. “I love that my position is endless with opportunities to climb the ranks and continuous education to fulfill the academic in me.”
Her absolute favorite part of being a broker is the people. “I’ve met so many amazing people in this industry and have been so impressed how brokers have truly come together throughout this pandemic.”
Lidia is a single mom of two girls. She’s constantly on the go, both at her brokerage and in her personal life. Here’s a typical day in the life of Lidia Pineda.
7:00AM: Working from home has been challenging, but I find that routine is crucial. I wake up before my kids to go through emails, which makes life easier in the long run.
8:00AM: I do a quick yoga workout on YouTube which helps energize me and sets a good tone for my day. Stretching wakes up my body, but the mindful meditation helps me push through more challenging days, and most importantly allows me to focus on tackling my life goals.
8:30AM: Pandemic or no pandemic, I’m always running around helping my children get out of bed and off their tablets while trying to make breakfast. I have oatmeal with blueberries and a banana every morning which I pair with a green tea.
9:00AM: After breakfast I’m in work-mode. Yoga helps me start the workday, gets me ready to speak to clients and underwriters with a focused mind, and multitask more efficiently.
10:00AM: I typically tackle emails and phone calls as they come in—it keeps me on my toes. Part of being a broker is being ready to take on anything, all of a sudden, like a car accident or setting up insurance for a risk I’ve never tackled before.
12:00PM: Lunch at home looks a little different than at the office. It’s usually eggs because they’re quick and easy. I miss the days of regularly heading over to a favourite lunch spot with co-workers to blow off steam or celebrate someone’s birthday.
3:00PM: At this point the afternoon’s flown by, whether I’m working from home or not. I currently specialize in auto, home and small businesses, with everything from hair salons to new tech companies.
5:00PM: I do my best to log off and spend time with my kids. I think all parents are struggling a bit working from home with their children. It’s hard not to feel guilty at times for not spending enough time with my daughters. That said, I hope they grow up to realize the importance of having a strong work ethic and follow suit in their various futures.
7:00PM: On weeknights I mainly spend time with my kids. On weekends I enjoy getting outside, exploring local beaches and hiking trails, and meeting up with friends for patio drinks—my local favorites are White Rabbit, 21 Fir and the Old Marina.
9:00PM: I love to read so I recently joined a book club through the local Kitchener Public Library. We’re currently reading By Chance Alone by Max Eisen. Then it’s off to bed before another day as a broker.