Founders Blog Post: Batteries Included
By Ben Phillips, CEO and Co-Founder, Monoline
"Batteries Included" is more than a phrase for us at Monoline; it’s a Core Value. It’s how we stay small but mighty, push boundaries, and achieve great things, all while making life easier for our customers.
At Monoline, one of our Core Values is what we call “Batteries Included.” It’s a phrase that resonates deeply with me, and one we landed on when my fellow co-founders, Jerod, Carson, Greg, and I were defining our company culture. The idea came to life when we welcomed several new team members who made an immediate impact, stepping in and taking full ownership of their roles from day one. Their energy and initiative on Day One inspired us to make this a cornerstone of how we operate.
For a small company like ours, with big goals, trust is everything. Knowing that everyone is pulling in the same direction matters. That’s why we wanted this to be a core value. I wish I’d come up with the term, because I just love it. If you’re “Batteries Included,” you wake up every morning ready to go, ready to figure things out, whether it’s all mapped out or a blank slate. We want to foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and the willingness to tackle challenges head-on.
How We Find "Batteries Included" People
When we’re hiring, we don’t focus solely on insurance experience. What truly matters to us is curiosity, problem-solving, and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. Once we’ve identified the technically qualified individuals, our interviews become conversations to get to know who people are. We dive into their real experiences to understand how they think, what motivates them, and whether they’ve got that spark—that “Batteries Included” mentality.
Flexibility is another key trait. We’re a small team, which means we need people who are willing to wear different hats and enthusiastically dive into challenges, even if it’s outside their usual role. We need people who are not just ready to contribute on Day One but are also willing to step outside their comfort zone when needed.
The Power of "Batteries Included"
A perfect example of this is Rachel Crump, our agency transfer manager. When we hired Rachel, we needed to simplify the transfer process for personal umbrella policies, but we didn’t have a clear roadmap.
Rachel bought into the goal, owned it, and brought in every resource at her disposal to get it done for us. She collaborated with our developers, design team, underwriting and marketing. The result? Monoline’s SimpleSwitch program—an initiative that has already created millions of dollars in value for our agency partners, with many millions more on the horizon. Rachel’s ability to rally the team and tackle each challenge embodies what “Batteries Included” means.
That’s the kind of environment we’re building here. Everyone is empowered to take ownership, and we trust each other to make decisions because we know we’re all pulling in the same direction. It’s the key to achieving great things as a small company.
Flexibility and Resilience
In our fast-paced environment, flexibility and resilience are essential. When we launch a new product, we strive to get it right but are always open to improving it. We listen to feedback, whether from each other or from the agents and account executives who use our products. Self-evaluation and the willingness to adjust are key. We fix what needs fixing, always keeping our customers in mind.
Leading by Example
My goal is to keep our agents and account executives front of mind. Everything we do at Monoline is to make their lives easier. I love empowering my team, giving them the tools and autonomy they need, and then stepping back. I’ll admit, that doesn’t come naturally to me, but I’ve learned how critical it is to delegate, trust, and let people shine. When you hire the right people—those “Batteries Included” individuals—it's incredible to see what they create when given the space to thrive.
We’re not interested in creating solutions in a vacuum. We actively engage with our agents, ask them what they need, and then we build based on their feedback. That’s how we ensure we’re truly solving the problems that matter most to our agents and their clients. At the end of the day, their success is what motivates me, it’s where my batteries come from.
Advice for Leaders
If you want a “Batteries Included” culture, be intentional in your hiring. Don’t settle. When you find great people, empower them. As Monoline’s Culture Champion, I believe in walking the walk. Delegation and empowerment are easy to talk about but harder to execute. But once you figure out how to trust, delegate, and step back, the magic happens. Hire great people, give them the freedom to make decisions, and watch them soar.
"Batteries Included" is more than a phrase for us at Monoline; it’s a Core Value. It’s how we stay small but mighty, push boundaries, and achieve great things - all while making life easier for our customers.
With extensive experience in leadership, sales, and business development within the insurance industry, Ben is dedicated to building innovative solutions that simplify life for agents and account executives. Known for fostering a culture of autonomy and ownership, Ben’s focus on collaboration and innovation has been key to driving Monoline's growth.