Following Passions to Success While Inspiring Others Along the Way

Hayley Doran loved aspects of working in retail early in her career, but found her drive when she followed her father and sister into health insurance, where she thrives on helping people provide security for themselves and their families. Now Chief Growth Officer, Group Benefits, she utilizes her competitive nature and determination to help employers offer the best suite of benefits they can to their employees.

In her long career and experience, she’s inspired her daughters to follow their own passions and to seek community among other women, whom she’s been encouraged to see taking more leadership roles in the industry.

Haley is one of many Humana employees making a difference in people’s lives and health on a daily basis. To learn more about working at Humana, visit careers.humana.com.

If you would like to learn more about Humana's employer group benefits or discuss customized coverage that meets your business needs, don't hesitate to reach out to Hayley Doran.

What led you to choose health care for your career?
Doran: To be honest, I don't think anybody intends to end up in health insurance. My dad and my older sister were in insurance sales when I decided my job in retail wasn’t for me. A service role opening at my sister’s company was my entree into insurance. I also have a fierce competitive side, which was another driver for me to explore sales.

In that service role, my job was to go out and explain their benefits to new clients. Every day was different, every client was different, but you really got to see the value of insurance and how important selections that brokers recommend to their clients are, and how they can change the lives of the employees and their families.

Sounds like you found the right fit. What has been the most rewarding part of your career, and can you recall a moment when you saw a direct, positive impact on a customer?
Doran: We’re giving security to employees and their family members during difficult times, and that’s incredibly rewarding within itself.

I was in New York for 9/11 working for an insurance company and we had contractors in the World Trade Center who died tragically that day. One contractor we insured had just gotten married and applied for an additional amount that we were in the middle of evaluating. We did a postmortem evaluation and paid his widow the higher amount, even though we didn't have to, because contractually he wasn't approved. But culture and values matter. You look at the person in the situation and say, what is the right thing to do? That experience has had a lasting impression on me.

What a notable highlight during your career. What would you say has been the greatest challenge of your profession?
Doran: Insurance sales has been a historically male-dominated business, when I first entered the field, there were not a lot of female salespeople. Navigating the balance between work and family is a reason why I think a lot of women don’t lean toward sales. But I would challenge that and say it was the perfect role to have while I raised my children because I was beholden to a goal not a desk. I was fortunate to be able to work around my girls’ school activities, soccer games and theater performances. My two girls are grown now, and I am hopeful my career was an example to them that women can excel in a career and be an involved parent. I hope more women continue to consider careers in sales. It may not be for everyone, but the balance and flexibility were hugely valuable to me.

Can you share examples of Humana evolving to better serve customers?
Doran: Teledentistry was initially a response to a need we saw during COVID, when people couldn’t get into their dental office. I think initially we thought teledentistry would be a short-term solution, but it is proving to be a true long-term value for oral health.

There's a high percentage of emergency room claims that stem from dental care — particularly when there’s excessive pain — which is not only expensive, can also cost hours of time. But with a teledentistry visit, you are able to meet with a dentist on a weekend, who can quickly assess what’s going on and provide some kind of relief until you're able to get back to your dentist during the week. It’s a better experience for everyone, and you’re getting the right kind of care when you need it.

What is something about dental and vision health insurance you wish people understood better?
Doran: The number one thing I would say is that it can be the gateway to so many bigger health issues. For instance, periodontal disease is a precursor to heart disease, and not getting preventive care can lead to those type of chronic illnesses. It's the same for vision—with glaucoma and other much more significant eye illnesses, you wouldn't necessarily know you had them if you didn't have an annual eye exam.

We should be talking about the importance of oral and vision care at a young age and making it accessible to everybody. It’s important to have flexible plans from a benefit and price standpoint so we can make sure every employer has an affordable option for dental and vision care.

Is there something you are passionate about that drives you every day?
Doran: Anyone who knows me knows competition drives me. Family board games are not necessarily a leisurely thing with me. I also carry that same competitiveness at Humana and stay motivated every day to be known as the #1 dental and vision provider.

What does a typical Saturday morning look like for you?
Doran: That depends on the time of year. For the last 15 years, Saturday mornings would find me on a soccer field cheering on my youngest daughter, who's now in college. I also really enjoy the beach, whether it's reading a book on the sand or going into the ocean. I enjoy the downtime and really try to recharge on a Saturday.

What is your favorite book?
Doran: My favorite book is “The Red Tent” written by Anita Diamant. The Red Tent is about women coming together in community and sharing their joys and adversities. What life presents you is inevitable, but how you choose your path forward is up to you. Leading a team that comes together in community, works to overcome obstacles and makes choices for the betterment of the whole are top priorities for me as a leader.