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Digital EditionMeet Monica Adwani: The Workers’ Comp Broker Who Turns Language Barriers Into Bridges
When a worker is injured on the job, the steps are clear: Get them the medical care they need and help them get back to their lives and livelihood.
All well and good on paper.
But in reality, each worker’s journey is different, each injury unique to them, and each life circumstance part of their path to recovery.
“Workers’ compensation … sits at the intersection of business protection and human care. An injured worker is not just a claim number — they are a person whose life has been disrupted,” said Monica Adwani, CEO, Breezy Seguros.
Adwani, a 2025 Workers’ Compensation Power Broker winner, has proven to be a dedicated advocate for the injured worker, with two decades of experience under her belt. Like many in the industry, she was not seeking out insurance; instead, it found her. With a deep desire to help people, she stepped into insurance knowing she wanted “to help people navigate moments of uncertainty,” she said.
“My role as a broker is to bridge the gap between the employer’s responsibilities and the worker’s dignity, making sure both are supported,” Adwani explained. “My goal is to protect their finances, protect their business, protect their legacy, so that their families can continue to grow and enjoy financial freedom.”
Breaking Down Barriers
Adwani immigrated to the United States at the age of 19. The experience of coming into a new country, speaking a new language, sparked something inside her.
“I had to quickly learn how to advocate for myself in systems that weren’t built for me,” she said. “That experience made me empathetic to others facing the same barriers.”
This lesson followed her into her professional life, when, early in her career, she met with an injured employee who only spoke Portuguese. As the adjuster on the claim struggled to get accurate medical updates, the employer became increasingly frustrated.
“The worker felt isolated and mistrustful. It was a potential disaster for everyone involved,” said Adwani. So, she stepped in as translator and cultural liaison. It wasn’t just about the words being spoken; both sides needed to nurture their trust in each other and understand the intent behind certain requirements for workers’ comp.
“That experience reinforced my belief that a broker is not just a transaction facilitator; we are a bridge-builder,” Adwani said.
She was able to provide the necessary clarity for the claim. She coordinated directly with medical providers, explained each treatment plan in plain language, and educated the employer about the cultural factors that could influence communication.
The claim was resolved successfully, Adwani said, and the employee even returned to work sooner than expected.
“Language is more than a communication tool — it’s the bridge to trust. In workers’ comp, that trust can determine how quickly and successfully an injured employee recovers. If they cannot explain their symptoms or fears in their own language, vital information can be lost,” she said.
Building Even Bigger Bridges
These personal experiences with language barriers ignited Adwani’s desire to build even bigger bridges between injured workers and their employers.
“When you speak someone’s language, you’re not just translating words — you’re validating their experience. You’re telling them, ‘I see you, I hear you, and I understand you.’ That is critical when someone is vulnerable and worried about their health, their job, and their future,” she said.
Along with her partners, Adwani helped build Breezy Seguros on the belief that “accessibility is non-negotiable.”
“Our entire team is multilingual — not just Spanish and English, but also Portuguese,” she shared.
With a 90% predominantly Portuguese and Spanish-speaking client base, the brokerage prioritizes communication in the worker’s preferred language from day one. Claims and workers’ comp is centered around a proactive communication approach, placing cultural sensitivity and advocacy at the heart of operations.
“When you remove the language barrier, with the right partners and systems in place, you also remove one of the greatest sources of stress and delay,” she said.
Strengthening Workers’ Comp for Everyone
There are approximately 31.8 million Latinx workers in the United States, according to 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is about 19% of the U.S. civilian labor force. Many are in construction, agriculture, food service, maintenance and similarly higher risk occupations where injuries are more common.
“We focus on serving the Latino community, because servicing in their own language is few and far between,” Adwani shared. “I am lucky in that I can help change people’s lives. I can focus on the education [of] and understanding of workers’ comp for Latino communities.”
She said she’s always had a focus on helping entrepreneurs protect their livelihoods. By building trust through communication and strengthening relationships between injured workers and employers, “we’re enabling a segment of Latino entrepreneurs to protect what they have worked so hard to obtain, regardless of their journeys or difficulties.”
It takes an entrepreneurial spirit to create a business on the idea of communication and accessibility for all. Adwani and her partners as Breezy Seguros understood insurance needed a place for predominantly Spanish and Portuguese speaking workers to get the care they needed after injury.
She said for others thinking about how to improve the workers’ compensation journey for employers and employees alike, it starts with a very simple reminder: An injured worker is a person first, not just a claim file.
From there, brokers in the space can take steps forward to make workers’ comp accessible and effective.
“Leadership is important, but more importantly is understanding what are the gaps brokers are here to close. What are the issues that we have the power to solve, to make a difference within this industry,” she said. “And don’t underestimate the value of educating employers; when they understand the human side of workers’ comp, they become partners in recovery instead of just stakeholders in cost control.
“The workers’ comp journey can be transformed when brokers lead with compassion and persistence. It’s not just about closing a claim — it’s about restoring dignity and stability,” she said. &
