Great Culture Is the Catalyst for Success at Shepherd Insurance

There’s no shortcut to creating a great workplace culture. It requires deep investment from leadership, whose daily actions remind employees that their presence matters.

For Shepherd Insurance, establishing such a culture has been the priority from day one. The Carmel, Indiana, agency has built a strong working environment by offering excellent benefits, providing continuing education, and giving team members flexible working hours.

That’s according to the many employees who nominated Shepherd as this year’s Silver Award winner for the Midwest region’s Best Agency to Work For.

CEO Quinn Shepherd called the recognition “super humbling.”

“It’s meaningful because it reflects the culture we’ve worked hard to build together,” said Shepherd. “From the beginning, we’ve believed that a great company starts with great people.”

Employees consistently highlighted the family atmosphere that makes Shepherd stand out for an agency of its size. (Shepherd has around 700 employees and offices in six states.)

“The culture of Shepherd is about more than insurance; it is about trust and family,” one employee wrote. “That is not by accident and is not replicated among many of the other large agencies.”

Quinn Shepherd said the goal was never to “simply build an insurance agency.”

“It’s been to create a place where people can grow professionally, build meaningful careers, develop leadership skills, and enjoy coming to work each day,” he said. “I’m honored that our employees feel we’ve created that kind of environment.”

Among the ways Shepherd employees form trust is by having lunch together, going on pickleball outings, and participating in fantasy football leagues. Shepherd also gives employees time off to attend to family matters. As an example, the agency offers grandparents leave.

“All of our team knows they contribute to the greater good of the agency and, as such, everyone is pulling in the same direction,” an employee wrote.

Another employee added, “I will retire here. This is the best organization to work for in my experience.”

Employees say they feel ample opportunities to advance within the agency. They cite how leadership listens to feedback, offers constructive suggestions, and works with employees to find practical solutions when needed.

“What I like most is the accessibility of leadership and the willingness to have open conversations about performance expectations and professional development,” one employee wrote. “Employees are encouraged to ask questions and discuss career goals, creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.”

Shepherd’s environment allows its team members to prioritize their energy on taking care of the clients who depend on them.

“We carry this same care and respect to our clients,” one employee wrote. “We want the best for them; we want to protect them and thus we treat them like family, just like we treat each other.”

The focus on people and relationships is what separates the agency, said Quinn Shepherd.

“We are committed to helping our clients, agency partners, and employees succeed for the long term,” he said. “As we’ve grown, we’ve worked hard to maintain our family-oriented culture while never losing sight of the personal relationships that drive our business.”

Added another employee, “Although the customer service industry can be demanding, leadership makes every effort to help employees navigate challenges. They listen to feedback, offer constructive suggestions, and work with employees to find practical solutions whenever needed.”

Quinn Shepherd encourages other agency owners to put people first and “genuinely listen to them.”

“Culture isn’t created through mission statements and slogans,” he said. “It’s built through everyday actions, transparency, trust, and a commitment to helping employees grow. When you invest in your team and care about their success, the business results tend to follow.”

Topics Leadership