Leading with Curiosity and Purpose 

Jen Yaross, Chief Financial Officer at Quility, believes the strongest organizations are built by balancing financial discipline with a people-first mindset. As CFO, she helps guide Quility’s financial strategy while partnering across the business to support sustainable growth, operational excellence and long-term innovation. 

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jen brings decades of experience across accounting and finance, insurance, innovation and executive leadership. Prior to joining Quility, she spent 15 years at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, where she held the position of Vice President, CFO of Corporate Development and Strategy.  

At Quility, Jen is inspired by the people, the energy and the company’s potential. Beyond her financial leadership responsibilities, she is a passionate advocate for building a healthy company culture and fostering community outreach initiatives that reflect Quility’s values. 

In this Q&A, Jen shares her perspective on leadership, culture and what makes Quility a place where people can do meaningful work. 

1. Tell us about your role as Chief Finance and Operations Officer at Quility. 

The role of CFO at Quility involves oversight of both the financial and cross-functional operations of a multi-business insurtech across different stages of growth. My role focuses on helping the company run smoothly and invest in future-ready products and solutions by partnering with leaders to balance what’s making money today with what we’re building for tomorrow. 

At the end of the day, I’m focused on making sure our teams have the clarity, resources and direction to succeed together. 

2. How did your career bring you to Quility? 

Before joining Quility, I held roles at Deloitte and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. My experience has included everything from audit and accounting roles to CFO positions supporting investment portfolios, shared services, mature businesses and innovative business units. 

Those opportunities allowed me to build a broad range of skills that ultimately made the role with Quility a perfect fit. 

3. What makes Quility stand out? 

The culture. We balance the fast-paced, entrepreneurial mindset of a growing company with a genuine commitment to caring for our people and our partners. That combination is something special. 

4. Why is culture so vital to an organization’s success? 

Culture is the heartbeat of an organization. It shows up every day in how you treat your people, how you support your partners and how you work together to achieve shared goals. 

5. What characteristic do you embody that makes you a successful leader? 

Curiosity. I’m naturally curious, and that mindset helps me lean into challenges instead of away from them. When a problem comes up, I ask the seven layers of questions that can help surface the appropriate response. 

I approach feedback the same way. Whether it’s about my leadership, my team or our processes, I lean into those discussions with curiosity to make sure that the root issue is surfaced and action can be taken. 

Curiosity helps create productive conversations that lead to meaningful action and continuous improvement. 

6. What’s one leadership trait you prioritize with your teams that helps create a whole-hearted culture? 

It probably sounds like a broken record, but it’s curiosity. Curiosity is what creates a whole-hearted culture. When you lead with it, you create an environment where people feel empowered to ask questions, grow and continuously improve. 

7. Quility’s purpose is to elevate an ecosystem for people to protect what matters most and elevate a life of significance. What does that mean to you? 

At the end of the day, we all want to make an impact. That’s what gets us up in the morning and pushes us through the most challenging moments. Quility’s purpose resonates deeply with me because it’s centered on making that impact a reality for everyone it has the opportunity to interact with. This makes the work incredibly rewarding. 

8. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? 

Surround yourself with people who truly see you, recognize your strengths and appreciate what you bring to the table. Those relationships make all the difference, both personally and professionally. 

9. Why are you proud to work for Quility? 

I am surrounded by the most incredible people that are all in it together to do what is best for our company, our people and those we serve. That shared commitment creates an environment where everyone is working toward something bigger than themselves, and that’s something I’m very proud to be part of. 

As Quility continues building the future of insurance distribution, leaders like Jen help ensure that innovation is guided by purpose, collaboration and a commitment to doing what’s right for the people we serve.  

To learn more about how Quility is putting its purpose into action and the principles that guide our roadmap, explore the 2025 Quility Purpose Report.