Joyce LaRosa will be retiring this month after more than 30 years at National Life, most recently as Vice President of Distribution Finance. We caught up with her to reflect on her time with the company. Here’s what she had to say.
Q: Describe a typical Sunday for you?
A: Sundays have always been a time of family, reflection, and rest. Depending on the time of year, there is gardening, quilting, sitting on the dock, or reading. We typically have grandchildren time as well. A good Sunday nap is a bonus.
Q: What words of wisdom would you give your childhood self?
A: “Joyce, ask questions, be curious, be confident that you belong, and focus on improving the day of everyone you meet. Finally, have fun, because approaching life with a sense of humor will make things just a little bit easier.”
Q: Hobbies/Passions?
A: Most of the first 2/3’s of my career was spent with no hobbies. My three boys were my passion. When I wasn’t working, I willingly spent all my time and energy with and on them. As they headed out into the world, I began quilting. I love working with fabrics and colors. I rarely use a pattern. I also love taking pictures of experiences. I think my family might say that I am the family historian thru pictures.
Q: Favorite part of working at National Life?
A: I don’t think it would surprise anyone to hear that I LOVE being part of NLG. When I graduated from Norwich University my goal was to join the company. I have had the honor of recruiting, mentoring and coaching many, many NLG teammates. I have especially enjoyed working with our Intern Program and the Women’s Insight Network. If I were to sum it up, raising up NLG associates has been my favorite part of being part of the NLG family.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: I’d love to survey the teams that I have worked with. I hope they would say that my favorite quote is, “One More Iteration to Perfection”. I am not a perfectionist. The point is that we can always do, or get, better. This makes my husband, John, crazy because I am always trying to figure out better systems of getting chores done. He claims that he can never find anything.
Q: What’s the best part of your day?
A: The best part of any day is when one of my family members walks thru the door.
Q: If you could time travel, where would you go?
A: I would like to have breakfast with my granddaughter, Kaiulani, on the day of her 10th wedding anniversary, or when she is 40, whichever comes first. Why? Because I would love to see what kind of woman she becomes and the life lessons that she has learned.
Q: Describe yourself in five words or less.
A: “I am who I am.”
Q: Tell us three interesting facts about yourself.
A: I asked my boys for input on this one:
- I’m a self-taught artist.
- I sang in church and school choirs from elementary school thru college.
- My grandfather and father were both ministers, so I am a 2nd generation Preacher’s Kid. They both officiated at my wedding.
Q: Best gift you have ever received? Why was it so special?
A: My best friend and husband of 40 years, John. He has made me who I am today. Enough said.
Feature photo: Joyce with her three sons and husband.