Premera Blue Cross CEO: Jeff Roe

In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Roe, CEO of Premera Blue Cross.  Employing over 3,200 people, Premera Blue Cross is the largest health plan insurance provider in the Pacific Northwest, serving more than 2 million people.  

Jeff grew up in Bellevue, WA and had an early interest in politics growing up.  His curiosity and enjoyment of politics led him down a route of working in politics after graduating from the University of Washington.  He worked for a U.S. Senator based in Washington named Slade Gorton; his first job being his driver.  After working his way up and gaining more responsibility in Washington DC, he pivoted to the private sector when he got an offer to return to the Pacific Northwest and help run a public affairs consulting company.  One of their clients was Blue Cross and he eventually jumped into the insurance industry. For the past 24 years of his career, Jeff has been a key leader in the insurance industry.

Listen in to hear about how and why Jeff made career shifts from politics to public affairs to insurance.  Also gain insight to why role models can be so critical to your career development, and what advice Jeff has for those who aspire to climb the corporate ladder.