We recently connected with Melnora Tan Cruz and have shared our conversation below.
Melnora Tan, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
My life has been a continuous journey of taking bold risks that shaped who I am today. Each decision, whether born out of necessity or ambition, became a defining moment in my pursuit of growth, independence, and fulfillment.
The first major risk I took was becoming a young mother and wife at 19, shortly after moving from the Philippines to the United States. I had barely begun exploring life in a new country when I found myself building a family. Despite the challenges, motherhood became my greatest motivation, teaching me strength, love, and perseverance.
My second leap came when I entered Corporate America as a full-time employee with two small children. Starting as a receptionist at an insurance brokerage with no prior office experience was intimidating, but it became the foundation of my professional journey. That first opportunity taught me a strong work ethic and opened the door to a lifelong career in the insurance industry.
The next risk was leaving the company I cherished, to join one of the largest global insurance brokers. It was a difficult decision, but one that expanded my horizons, exposed me to international clients, and taught me the realities of corporate politics. This experience strengthened and helped me aim higher in my career.
At 25, we took another significant step—purchasing our first home while raising three children. Homeownership symbolized stability and achievement, representing the classic American dream that we worked tirelessly to reach.
Entrepreneurship soon followed. My husband and I opened our first business importing products from the Philippines, proudly showcasing our culture in a shopping mall setting. That venture sparked our entrepreneurial spirit, leading to more business endeavors and a deeper belief in taking calculated risks for success.
One of the most difficult risks I ever took was leaving my 22-year marriage. Though my ex-husband was a good partner and father, we grew apart and envisioned different futures. It was a painful decision, especially with our youngest still a child, but it was necessary for both of us to rediscover happiness and personal growth. Our four sons remain our greatest shared legacy.
Professionally, I continued to challenge myself. Despite initially resisting a sales role in insurance, I took the leap and discovered a passion for helping clients understand and manage risk. That decision led me to become an Independent Agent, partnering with a respected agency that aligned with my values. It allowed me to serve clients authentically, mentor others, and build a team that shares my vision.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Born and raised in the Philippines, I graduated from a Catholic all-girls school before moving to the United States in May 1994, just after my 17th birthday. My strong drive and ambition were deeply influenced by my parents, who instilled in me a go-getter attitude. At 19, I married and started a family, becoming a mother of two by the age of 21. Today, I am blessed with four sons who continue to inspire my dedication and resilience.
At just 20 years old, I entered the insurance brokerage industry with no prior corporate experience. A family friend took a chance on my potential, hiring me as a receptionist. Through determination, curiosity, and a commitment to learning, I steadily climbed the corporate ladder — eventually earning the title of Vice President.
My career path is a testament to hard work and humility, having experienced every role in the insurance field. These experiences shaped my leadership philosophy: to mentor others, lead with empathy, and create opportunities for growth within my team.
After 25 years in the industry, I transitioned this year (2025), into becoming an independent insurance agent, partnering with an agency that empowers you to build your own clientele and deliver exceptional service. My focus remains on educating clients, helping them understand their coverage options, and ensuring they receive the value and protection they deserve — not just the lowest price. In addition, I also have partnered with multi-level marketing industries that focuses on AI tools and health & wellness. As we know, our technology has been developing rapidly that we have to keep up or be left behind. Most people are living longer where we need to maintain a healthy life style. These products not only helped guide people but also give the opportunity of business partnership that provides residual income.
I stand out in the industry for my unwavering commitment to integrity, teamwork, and client education. I believe that true success in business comes from investing in people — valuing loyalty, collaboration, and continuous learning. For me, a strong team is not defined by meetings or titles but by mutual respect, open communication, and shared goals. My leadership style emphasizes mentorship, professional development, and nurturing a culture of consistency and excellence.
In the past two years, I have focused on personal development, exploring ways to enhance my skills and reach my full potential. I have also deepened my understanding of energy, frequency, and vibration, recognizing their role in aligning with my life’s purpose — to guide, uplift, and empower others. I have always known that my life purpose is to help and guide people. And because of this, I have been blessed in meeting and building friendship with amazing people including Amy Lin (Founder and CEO of Opulent Academy). She helped me strengthen my self-awareness and introduced mindset tools that focused on growth, resilience, and self-compassion. Once I’ve used these tools, I started attracting the things, people and blessings that will help me build my legacy.
My ultimate goal is to build a nonprofit organization that empowers millions of people globally to achieve meaningful, sustainable success. The vision is to create a holistic platform that aligns three critical elements: personal aspirations, personal development, and community support. Too often, people struggle in isolation-unclear about their purpose, lacking guidance in their careers, or without the resources and community to support their journey. My organization will bridge these gaps by providing:
Personal Development: Helping individuals clarify their values, identify their unique strengths, and shift their mindset to achieve their ultimate goal.
Career Guidance: Offering practical, accessible coaching and resources that enable people to navigate their professional path strategically and confidently.
Community Support: Building a network where people can connect, learn from one another, and access the encouragement needed to get through challenges.
By leveraging escalable resources, technology, and community-driven support, we can democratize access to the tools and guidance that have traditionally been available only to a priveleged few.
Ultimately, I envision a world where people don’t just achieve success-they achieve purposeful success that’s aligned with who they truly are, sustainable for the long term, and accessible regardless of their starting point. That’s the legacy I’m committed to building.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of new clients for me has been a strategic combination of networking, power referral partnerships, and leveraging media opportunities. What makes these channels particularly effective is that they naturally attract my ideal clients – business owners and entrepreneurs who are proactive about their growth and actively seeking strategies to scale their operations while protecting their assets.
I’m particularly intentional about nurturing these referral partnerships because they tend to bring clients who are the right fit: people who are committed to learning, implementing new strategies, and taking a comprehensive approach to both business growth and risk management. The quality of these relationships has been far more valuable than the quantity of leads from other sources.
And for my future nonprofit organization, partnering with other nonprofit organizations to amplify our collective impact. Rather than competing for resources, I believe in building an ecosystem of mutual support where we can share networks, cross-promote programs, pool resources for greater financial sustainability, and refer individuals to the organizations best suited to serve their specific needs.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been focusing on delivering exceptional value to my existing clients, which naturally creates organic growth through referrals.
I invest time in building genuine rapport and truly understanding each client’s unique situation. I conduct thorough risk analysis to identify both obvious and hidden exposures they may not have considered. Then I guide them through tailored strategies that address their specific needs rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions. When clients see that I’ve taken the time to understand their business intimately and I’m working in their best interest, it builds deep trust. They begin to view me as a strategic partner rather than just a service provider.
The result is that my satisfied clients become my best advocates. They enthusiastically refer colleagues, friends, and business associates because they’ve experienced firsthand the value of having someone in their corner who truly understands their exposures and helps them navigate complex decisions.
This referral-based growth has been far more sustainable and has brought me higher-quality clients than any other marketing strategy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mtcruzins.levweb.ai/home
- Instagram: https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmtcruzbiz%3Figsh%3DMXQ3czhpdW5saG5iaw%253D%253D%26utm_source%3Dqr&data=05%7C02%7Cmelnora%40adobebrokers.com%7C4f302bb22e4a4f9fdcf908de25435b3b%7C4708aad1c4ea475ab486aba56564b83c%7C0%7C0%7C638989168388166911%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Wn7lg3LwEPXIjXVgW4rP%2FP25AFmQRoJAcPv%2FXLc626g%3D&reserved=0
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcruz24
- Other: https://omni-ai.levweb.ai/home. – AI Tools
https://mcruz24.xosialx.com – Health & Wellness
