A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and its prestigious Wharton School of Business, Tricia Griffith began her career with Progressive as a claims representative in 1988. She stuck with the company for over 30 years, holding positions as chief human resources officer, president of customer operations, and personal lines chief operating officer before becoming the company’s first female Chief Executive Officer in 2016.
Griffith was responsible for the concept of bundling home insurance and auto insurance, made famous by the company’s often downright silly commercials featuring Progressive’s long-standing mascot, Flo. No other major insurance company offered discounts for insurance bundles, and that innovative approach helped Progressive obtain a significant portion of the market.
As chief human resources officer, Griffith developed the company’s first diversity and inclusion programs. She launched Progressive’s African American Network and LGBT Plus in 2007, with a focus on making the company culture more enjoyable and accessible for all workers, and establishing Progressive as a safe place for minorities to work.
Griffith racked up a handful of serious accolades from 2016 to 2018. In 2016, Fortune placed her at #18 in its annual list of the Most Powerful Women in Business. In 2018, she placed at #13 on the list. Moreover, she was the first woman ever to be named Fortune's Businessperson of the Year. The latter is an extreme rarity for someone who began their career as an entry-level employee.
When asked what advice she would give to aspiring executives, she simply said, “Focus on the job you’re doing now. You will get noticed.” Her no-nonsense, hands-on approach to work and leadership has certainly worked for her, while also keeping her employees happy. Progressive has been noted on Fortune’s Best Places to Work list for keeping employees engaged and encouraging their creativity via employee “hackathons” and think-tank functions.