Kristina George: Winner – Women Leader in Health Insurance Education & Employee Benefits Innovation | International Women Awards 2026
- Great Companies
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The 8th International Women Awards 2026 by Great Companies celebrates exceptional women leaders who are creating meaningful impact through leadership, innovation, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
Among this year's distinguished winners is Kristina George, Founder of Next Step Benefits and Co-Owner of Next Step Insurance, honored as the Winner – Women Leader in Health Insurance Education & Employee Benefits Innovation.
Based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, USA, Kristina has dedicated her career to helping individuals, families, and employers navigate the often-complex world of health insurance with confidence, clarity, and compassion. Through education-first advisory services and unwavering client advocacy, she has helped thousands of people make informed healthcare decisions while protecting their financial wellbeing.
Company Overview
Founder: Kristina George
Business: Next Step Benefits
Location: Plymouth, Wisconsin, USA
Founded: 2013
Category: Health Insurance Education & Employee Benefits Innovation
Industry: Health Insurance & Employee Benefits
Website: https://nextstep-insurance.com/
Making Health Insurance Understandable
Health insurance is one of the most important financial decisions people make, yet it is also one of the most confusing.
Recognizing this challenge, Kristina founded Next Step Benefits with a mission to simplify healthcare coverage through education, transparency, and personalized guidance.
Rather than simply helping clients purchase insurance policies, she helps them understand how their healthcare coverage actually works and how to make informed decisions that protect both their health and financial future.
The organization provides expertise in:
Individual & Family Health Insurance
Medicare Planning
Employee Benefits Design
Group Health Insurance
Voluntary Benefits
Life Insurance
Long-Term Care Planning
Employer Benefits Consulting
Health Insurance Education
Ongoing Client Advocacy
Every recommendation is designed around the unique needs of each client, ensuring that coverage provides meaningful protection rather than simply meeting minimum requirements.
Education Before Enrollment
What distinguishes Next Step Benefits is its philosophy that insurance should begin with education rather than sales.
Kristina believes that purchasing a health insurance policy is only the beginning of the
client relationship.
Her team remains actively involved long after enrollment by helping clients navigate:
Claims Questions
Billing Concerns
Coverage Changes
Employer Benefit Decisions
Compliance Requirements
Medicare Transitions
Healthcare Navigation
By simplifying highly technical insurance information into practical, understandable guidance, she empowers clients to make confident healthcare decisions throughout every stage of life.
This education-first approach has become the cornerstone of the company's success and has earned lasting trust from individuals, families, and employers alike.
Building a Career Around Service
Kristina's leadership journey began with a genuine desire to help people.
Early in her career, she discovered that many individuals were overwhelmed by the complexity of health insurance and often made costly decisions simply because they lacked clear information.
Rather than accepting this as an industry norm, she chose to become an advocate and educator.
Over the years, she built a business focused on empowering people through knowledge instead of pressure.
As the organization grew, so did her impact.
She has helped thousands of individuals and families obtain healthcare coverage while mentoring insurance professionals and promoting higher standards of service throughout the industry.
Her leadership continues to be guided by one simple belief:
When people understand their options, they make better decisions for themselves and their families.
Turning Complexity into Confidence
One of Kristina's greatest strengths is her ability to simplify one of the most complicated areas of personal finance.
Health insurance regulations, provider networks, deductibles, premiums, Medicare rules, and employer benefits can quickly overwhelm clients.
Kristina transforms that complexity into clear, actionable advice.
Instead of focusing on products, she focuses on people.
By listening carefully to each client's circumstances, she designs solutions that provide both financial protection and peace of mind.
This personalized approach has allowed Next Step Benefits to build long-term relationships founded on trust, transparency, and exceptional service.
Leading Through Change
The healthcare industry evolves continuously.
Changing regulations, insurance carriers, benefit structures, and compliance requirements require constant adaptation.
Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Kristina has successfully navigated:
Healthcare Policy Changes
Insurance Market Shifts
Business Growth
Team Development
Compliance Requirements
Entrepreneurial Transitions
Expansion into Employee Benefits
Rather than resisting change, she has embraced it as an opportunity to improve services and create even greater value for clients.
Her resilience has enabled her business to remain trusted in an industry where accuracy, integrity, and continuous learning are essential.
Creating Lasting Community Impact
Beyond helping clients purchase insurance, Kristina is committed to improving financial literacy and healthcare awareness within her community.
She believes that informed healthcare decisions reduce unnecessary financial hardship while improving access to quality medical care.
Through educational seminars, client consultations, employer workshops, and ongoing advocacy, she continues to raise the standard of health insurance education.
Her work has empowered countless families to better understand their healthcare options while giving employers practical strategies for designing effective employee benefit programs.
Advice for Women Entrepreneurs
Kristina shares an inspiring message for aspiring women entrepreneurs:
Do not wait until you feel completely ready.
Confidence grows through action.
Lead with authenticity and compassion.
Build relationships before pursuing transactions.
Learn continuously and embrace change.
Stay connected to your purpose.
She emphasizes:
Confidence is not something you have before you begin—it is something you build through action, experience, and perseverance.
Her entrepreneurial journey demonstrates that resilience, purpose, and a genuine desire to serve others can create lasting success.
The Future
Kristina continues to expand her mission of making health insurance more understandable and accessible.
Her future vision includes:
Expanding employee benefits consulting services.
Growing educational healthcare initiatives.
Mentoring future insurance professionals.
Helping more employers create people-first benefit strategies.
Continuing to advocate for transparent, education-driven healthcare solutions.
Her vision is clear:
To build a future where every individual, family, and employer has the knowledge and confidence to make informed healthcare decisions.
Official Recognition
Kristina George has been honored as the Winner – Women Leader in Health Insurance Education & Employee Benefits Innovation at the 8th International Women Awards 2026 by Great Companies, recognizing her outstanding contribution to health insurance education, employee benefits innovation, client advocacy, and compassionate leadership.
About the Awards
The International Women Awards by Great Companies celebrates women entrepreneurs, founders, executives, and innovators who are creating meaningful impact through leadership, excellence, innovation, and purpose-driven businesses. These awards recognize inspiring women whose work is transforming industries and empowering communities across the globe.