Cally is the Founder and CEO of Lotus, a fertility insurance startup based in Pittsburgh. Her personal experience led her to identify a critical gap in the market for comprehensive fertility insurance coverage, and she is now pioneering a new category of insurance at the intersection of proactive financial and family planning. Under her leadership, Lotus is developing a B2B solution that enables insurance carriers to embed fertility protection into their existing products and distribution channels.

“I was wondering, ‘Why doesn’t this exist?’ It became something I picked up and couldn’t put down,” she said. “Fertility treatments have typically been viewed as elective procedures. The shift is happening but healthcare moves really slowly, and so does insurance. We were looking for a financial solution that could help women and families navigate this need.”

Cally and her Lotus cofounder Meg Mueller, who worked in the insurance industry, started Lotus last year. They worked with a business accelerator based in Des Moines, Iowa, and soon began pitching Lotus at conferences and raising capital. They opted to take a financial approach to the product, focusing on protection for the cost of fertility treatments. They are currently working with several major insurance carriers to pilot the product as a rider for term and permanent life insurance policies.

“We’re building a new insurance product for fertility, but we’re also building a new way to distribute products in the insurance industry,” she said. “If an individual goes to a major carrier to buy insurance, they can select to add fertility protection. Lotus enables that. This also allows us to take a gender neutral approach so that men can buy the insurance, too.”

Cally earned a master’s degree in International Business from Hult International Business School, and her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Mary Washington. In January, she spoke with Ellis staff about her career.

My personal motivation for starting Lotus Fertility Insurance came from my own experience with fertility care. A few years ago, I was looking into fertility preservation options for myself and encountered significant challenges. My employer at the time didn't offer any benefits for fertility treatments, and my health insurance didn't cover the out-of-pocket expenses I was facing for my fertility care. I was frustrated by the lack of insurance options to help fill this gap.

This personal struggle led me to question why fertility health seemed to be separated from overall health coverage. My initial thought was to look for insurance I could buy to cover these expenses, but I found that there was really nothing available in the individual market for true fertility insurance. This realization sparked my curiosity about why fertility insurance didn't exist, and that curiosity ultimately led me to start Lotus Fertility Insurance to address this critical gap in coverage.

What I enjoy most about my work is the freedom to create something truly innovative and impactful. As an entrepreneur, I'm not constrained by the status quo or someone else's vision. I get to build the plane as I fly it, so to speak. The thrill of forging a new path in an industry like insurance, which is often seen as stodgy and traditional, is incredibly liberating. I love that we're not just developing a new product, but reinventing the entire go-to-market approach. There's a sense of purpose and meaning in what we're doing that is deeply fulfilling. Rather than chasing the latest buzzwords or trends, we're laser-focused on solving a real problem in a meaningful way. That freedom to innovate and create something impactful is what I enjoy most about my work.

Building something new is really fun, but the flip side is dealing with the ambiguity. There are always questions like, ‘Are we going to get an investor? How are we going to do this?’ Having to make decisions when you’re able to access your best thinking is a really good skill to develop. The really unfun part is having to make decisions when you’re stressed out.

The ability to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty is crucial for leaders today because the pace of change is accelerating rapidly. In a world that is constantly in flux, leaders can no longer rely on following a predetermined playbook. They need to be able to make clear-headed, rational decisions in the face of incomplete information and shifting circumstances. 

Cultivating mindfulness, advanced cognitive skills, and emotional resilience are key. Mindful leaders are grounded in their values and able to access their best thinking, even under stress. They have the interpersonal skills to effectively lead and inspire teams. And crucially, they have the stamina to sustain peak performance despite the demands of the role.

These are not easy skills to develop, but they are essential for navigating the ambiguity and complexity that leaders face today. Without them, it becomes very difficult to make sound decisions, foster innovation, and drive meaningful change. 

In insurance, being bold means challenging outdated definitions of healthcare and who deserves coverage. When I first began working on fertility insurance, I faced constant resistance, hearing why it "wouldn't work." But I recognized these reasons stemmed from long-held misunderstandings about infertility. Historically, the health care system has categorized fertility treatments as elective, or “not medically necessary.” Being bold means refusing to accept that status quo, advocating for policy change, educating stakeholders, and developing innovative solutions that destigmatize fertility issues in both society and the workplace.

Esse quam videri! To be, rather than to seem. I’ve always loved the Ellis motto, but I haven’t really understood it until now. In your career, when you need to convince stakeholders and investors about your worth, there’s a lot of temptation to fake it until you make it. A lot of the resistance we’ve had to face as we develop Lotus is about how early we are in the product development stage. There’s a temptation to embellish a bit just to get past that resistance but, at the end of the day, authenticity is my north star. To be in any sort of business or partnership situation where you try to be someone that you’re not is not going to be successful.

The experiences at Ellis that had the biggest impact on me were those that fostered my global perspective and desire for international understanding. Events like intercultural day and the emphasis on world languages and the arts really shaped my worldview from an early age.

Studying Spanish and having the opportunity to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country were formative experiences. They instilled in me a deep appreciation for other cultures and a curiosity to explore the world. That global mindset has been invaluable, both in my personal life and in building a company that aims to address a worldwide health issue like fertility.

Additionally, my involvement in sports at Ellis taught me invaluable leadership skills that have served me well as a founder and CEO. Being a team captain and learning to motivate and inspire others has translated directly to my ability to lead a company. The discipline, competitive drive, and collaborative spirit I developed through athletics have been crucial assets.

The advice I would share with current Ellis students is to not let self-doubt or insecurity hold you back. As someone who struggled with ADHD and never felt like the "top student," I know how easy it is to compare yourself to your high-achieving peers and question your own abilities.

But I've learned that your worth and your potential are not defined by your grades or academic accolades. In fact, it's often our unique perspectives and unconventional strengths that make us most valuable. Don't be afraid to embrace your neurodiversity and see it as an asset, not a liability.

The most important thing is to love and accept yourself fully, flaws and all. Forget about trying to please others or live up to someone else's expectations. Focus on being the best version of yourself, with all your quirks and passions. That self-acceptance and intention to grow will serve you far better than any grade point average.

My encouragement to Ellis girls is to have the courage to be authentic, to pursue what truly excites you, and to never underestimate the power of your own unique gifts. The world needs more people who are willing to chart their own path, and I know the Ellis community is full of that potential.