Kristie Nicodemus Champions Trust, Consistency, and Connection in Business
Mercer Executive Featured in Leadership Spotlight Calls for People-First Practices in Employee Benefits
ATLANTA, GA / ACCESS Newswire / June 25, 2025 /Following her recent spotlight interview titled "Kristie Nicodemus: From Virginia Roots to Business Development Leader," Mercer Senior Business Development Executive Kristie Nicodemus is using her story to advocate for a return to human-centered leadership in the employee benefits and consulting industry.
"I 'm not trying to close a deal and move on," said Nicodemus. "I 'm here to understand what a company needs and how we can actually help. That starts with trust."
A Call for Real Connection in a High-Pressure Industry
In the article, Nicodemus reflects on her journey-from her days playing basketball and tennis in Virginia to navigating roles at Northwestern Benefit Corporation, OneDigital, and now Mercer. Her steady rise in the field hasn 't been about flashy metrics, but about consistency and care.
"People know I 'll call back. I 'll follow through. I 'll show up," she said. "Those simple habits matter more than people think."
According to Allied Market Research, the global employee benefits market is projected to reach $70 billion by 2030, yet recent surveys show only 30% of employees fully understand or use their benefits.
"Benefits are personal," said Nicodemus. "They 're about someone 's health, their family, their security.
The Importance of Listening and Showing Up
In her spotlight, Nicodemus emphasized the need for deep listening and intentional service-skills she says are more powerful than any sales pitch.
"Clients don 't always know what they need. If you can help them figure it out, that 's leadership," she said. "Listening to learn, not just to respond, is the most underrated skill in business today."
She also pointed to the importance of learning and curiosity in a rapidly shifting market:
"If you 're not learning, you 're falling behind. But if you 're not listening, you 'll never get ahead."
Leading by Example in Work and Life
Beyond her professional work, Nicodemus is active in her Atlanta community. She volunteers at The Nicholas House, supports green initiatives through The Grant Park Conservancy and The Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and prioritizes time with her family.
"Giving back is grounding. It reminds you what really matters," she said. "And honestly, nothing resets my focus like watching my boys play soccer."
She credits sports and fitness-interests that began in childhood-as key to her discipline and clarity today.
"Fitness clears my head. It gives me time to think, reflect, and recharge," she said.
Why This Matters Now
In a time when 83% of companies are re-evaluating their benefits strategy (Mercer 2024), Kristie believes companies must prioritize authentic communication and employee trust-not just tools and transactions.
"Technology is great, but it can 't replace trust," she said. "What people really want is someone they can rely on."
How You Can Take Action
Kristie Nicodemus isn 't starting a campaign or nonprofit-she 's inviting professionals, managers, and community members to reinvest in the basics:
Follow through on commitments, no matter how small.
Practice deep listening-don 't assume, ask.
Build relationships, not transactions.
Volunteer locally-connect with organizations that serve families and vulnerable communities.
Model consistency in your personal and professional life.
"You don 't need a big platform to be a leader," she said. "You just need to show up for people."
To read more, visit the website here.
About Kristie Nicodemus
Kristie Nicodemus is a Senior Business Development Executive at Mercer (a Marsh McLennan Company), with over 20 years of experience in employee benefits consulting. She holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University and is based in Atlanta, GA. She is actively involved in community service and is an advocate for consistent, people-first leadership.
Media:
SOURCE: Kristie Nicodemus
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