Leaving The Ladder — Ed Holinski's Story

Have a story or inflection point to share? Tap here to message us — we’d love to hear it.What does it take to pivot from a successful sales career into shaping the culture and capability of a global company—without formal training? We sit down with Ed Holinski to unpack the inflection point that moved him from brokerage and risk services into organizational development at Marsh, where urgency, curiosity, and courageous conversations became his working edge.Ed shares how he leveraged credibility in the insurance industry to open doors in learning and development, then learned OD by doing—side by side with experts and executives. From partnering with a new chief pricing officer to building negotiation and pricing capabilities across the firm, to orchestrating a fast, global shift from transactional selling to consultative work, Ed explains why speed sometimes beats pilots and how to iterate in the open. He reveals the surprising power of integrating multiple outside providers—if you ask everyone to “leave your stripes at the door”—and why context should guide content, not the other way around.We dive deep into the human layer: earning trust with leaders under pressure, delivering hard feedback with care, and turning stated values into daily decisions. Ed’s take on talent flips the usual script—celebrate people who surpass you, expect “tours of duty,” and measure success by growth and boomerangs, not just retention. His core belief ties it all together: culture and growth move one conversation at a time. When leaders listen intently, frame problems clearly, and act on values during tough calls, teams align and change sticks.If you’re navigating a career pivot, leading transformation, or trying to make your values real, this conversation offers a practical playbook. Subscribe, share with someone who’s at a crossroads, and leave a review to tell us your biggest leadership inflection point—we’d love to hear your story.Want to connect with Ed? You can find him on LinkedIn here: LinkedIn.com/in/EdHolinskiConnect with Beki on LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/BekiFraserLearn more about her coaching: TheIntrovertedSkeptic.comFollow Short Story Long's LinkedIn Page: Linkedin.com/showcase/shortstorylongpodGet her book, C.O.A.C.H. Y.O.U.: The Introverted Skeptic’s Guide to Leadership - AmazonShort Story Long is produced by Crowned Culture Media LLC