The Business Development Story That Changed Everything for Jane Allen, Read Davis, and Katrina Johnson

<p>Mo asks Jane Allen: Tell us a business development story that you are really proud of.</p> <ul> <li>Jane tells the story from the early 2000’s during a time when the people they were serving in corporate America were being overwhelmed by the explosion of data. One fateful dinner and “what if” scenario later, Jane started collaborating with a firm to solve real world problems with a solution that was unheard of at the time.</li> <li>As an entrepreneur, Jane didn’t take time to reflect on the success since she was so focused on the execution. Looking back now, finding a partner that was willing to take a risk and then deliver something that enabled her clients to practice law in a completely different way is something she’s very proud of.</li> <li>In terms of her career, Jane is most proud of the incredible people she worked with and learned from, as well as being willing to take the chance on herself and her vision for her business.</li> <li>Reach for your goals and take the chance. Rejection is a part of life, but you will never achieve anything if you don’t try.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Mo asks Read Davis: Tell me about a business development story that you are really proud of.</p> <ul> <li>Read formerly worked for one of the largest brokerage firms in the world, and when he first came to work with McGriff they were often David going up against Goliath.</li> <li>Read recalls several different stories where the relationships they built helped their clients take care of their people. Each experience gave Read additional skills and confidence to take into the next.</li> <li>One, in particular, stands out where Read was handling a casino in Las Vegas. As the real estate guy on the team, Read was meeting with banks and people on the team to help them through the financial crisis.</li> <li>They broke the paradigm by bringing people in from all over to show the client what they could do. The best part of the sales story is that four years later the casino was sold to Blackstone and the client referred Read and his tea