Kristine Seymour, president of Human Wisconsin
Name: Kristine N. Seymour
Title: President, Humana Wisconsin
Company: Humana
Company address: N19 W 24133 Riverwood Dr., Waukesha, WI 53188
Company web site: www.humana.com
Industry: Health, medical and specialty benefits
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communications from Marquette University. Juris Doctor in Law from Marquette.
Family: Husband of 21 years, Tim; two daughters; Stephanie, age 13; and Caroline, age 9
Hobbies and Interests: “Pets have an important place in our family. We call our house ‘the zoo’ because we have so many animals around – four dogs, three cats and two rabbits. With so many pets, my daughters and I are naturally very interested in dog training. I actually teach a dog training class for Waukesha county 4-H, and my daughters have trained and shown several of our dogs. I also love the theater and recently began volunteering at the Sunset Playhouse and Muskego Players Theater. I’ve always been very interested in music as well, and I play the piano. In the summer, I enjoy gardening as a way to relax and enjoy the great outdoors.”
Favorite book and/or movie: “I recently read Dr. Lance Secretan’s book ‘One: The Art and Practice of Conscious Leadership,’ and thought it was fascinating. On a more personal, fun level, my favorite book is ‘Marley and Me.’ In terms of favorite movies, I’ve enjoyed The Notebook, The Last of the Mohicans and Gone with the Wind.
Favorite musician/band: “When I was in my early 20s, I was a VJ on a music program that aired on the local Time Warner Cable station in Milwaukee and Chicago. So, needless to say I’m pretty interested in music. A few of my favorites include ColdPlay, Lenny Kravitz and Van Halen. During my years as a VJ, I got to meet some very interesting musicians but my favorite person that I met during that time was my husband. We met and he proposed on the set of the show.”
Favorite place to visit/vacation: “Maui. Between work, my family and our pets, my life gets pretty crazy. I like visiting Maui because it really has it all. You can do everything from relaxing on the beach, hiking and visiting the local sites like the Dole plantation, to seeing nature’s beauty like Haleakala Crater. It’s a nice mix of relaxation and interesting activities.”
Favorite local restaurant: “Mo’s steakhouse downtown. I love the filet with peppercorns. It’s a very special treat.”
Words to live by: “‘It’s not the breaths you take in life that are important, but rather the moments which take your breath away.’ I try to find happiness and joy in everyday situations. Basically, it’s the little things in life that matter the most and should be treasured.”
What is your core philosophy for doing business? “This might sound cliché, but to me honesty and integrity are really the most important qualities for doing business. I try to live and work by the golden rule of treating others the way you want to be treated. I also believe in leading by example. There should be no task beneath any member of a team that is trying to succeed. A leader must earn respect; it doesn’t just come with the title.”
Who is your role model and why? “On a personal level, my mother is an inspiration to me. She taught me the importance of giving back to the community. She made many sacrifices in her life, but she never stopped giving back or volunteering. She ran a 4-H Club for 20 years and to this day she still volunteers at a local 4-H club and a grade school library. She never puts her needs before anyone else’s. She is an amazing mother and role model. My boss, Larry Rambo, has served as the biggest role model for me, professionally. He believes in me and pushes me to accomplish things beyond what I thought I was capable of doing. Over the years, I have grown to see him as more of a mentor than just a boss. I trust him because he is always honorable and truly is a good person. He represents my core philosophies of doing business.”
What was the funniest thing that has ever happened to you? “My life is full of funny moments, so it’s difficult to narrow it down to just one. But, one event that does come to mind is when my daughter was featured on America’s Funniest Home Videos. When she was three years old, she got her boots stuck in the mud. Of course my husband’s first instinct was to grab the video camera and start filming her because she looked so funny. When she saw that she was being filmed, she went through the roof and started screaming, ‘Dad, put the camera down! I’m stuck in the mud! Don’t you get the point?!’ With her little three-year-old lisp she was hilariously adorable. She wasn’t a finalist, but it was great to see her on the show and our family still gets a kick out of that story.”
