Growing up in Hawaii, Cora Yamagata never imagined her career would lead her into the insurance industry. In fact, her first passion was the performing arts.

She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater and dance before continuing into a Master of Fine Arts program, spending those years immersed in performance, choreography, lighting design, and stage management. Just one course and her thesis short of completing her MFA, a spontaneous audition turned into a five-year professional performance career, proving that some of life's best opportunities arrive when you least expect them.

When that chapter came to an end, Cora returned to Honolulu and found herself looking for a career that offered financial stability while continuing to pursue the arts. Insurance became a practical way to support herself, but it also introduced her to something she hadn't anticipated. She discovered that helping people weigh choices against potential outcomes brought a distinct sense of fulfillment, one that drew on the same care and discipline that had shaped her work in the arts.

Several years later, another unexpected opportunity brought her across the country. When her life partner relocated to Massachusetts, Cora packed up and embraced another fresh start. She continued working in insurance, eventually recognizing an opportunity to build a business shaped by her own vision.

In 2022, she founded InsuranceLab New England. Working across all six New England states, her brokerage is centered on insurance education, transparency, and client advocacy. As an independent broker, she isn't limited to representing one insurance carrier. That independence allows her to evaluate options through her clients' lens, taking into account their priorities and comfort with risk as they navigate homeowners, condominium, and commercial insurance decisions.

Over the years, real estate professionals have come to rely on her expertise in navigating complex insurance situations and finding solutions where others might see obstacles.

Insurance can be viewed as a transaction, but Cora sees it as a responsibility. Every policy contains nuances that may not become apparent until a claim arises or circumstances change. She believes that careful document review, a thorough understanding of underwriting requirements, and clear communication help clients avoid surprises and make decisions with greater clarity.

That same philosophy extends to relationships she has built across the real estate community.

More than 95 percent of her business comes through referrals from professionals across the real estate community and from existing clients, something she considers both an honor and a responsibility. Every referral is an expression of trust that someone else has spent years earning, whether from a professional making an introduction or a client recommending her to a friend or family member. Cora strives to honor that trust through clear communication, honest guidance, and responsiveness.

Sometimes that means advising a client that a new policy is not the right solution.

Cora understands the pace of the real estate market. Whether coordinating with lenders, navigating underwriting requirements, or reviewing condominium documents that inform coverage decisions, she believes responsiveness and thoroughness go hand in hand. Her ability to adapt to each client's preferred method of communication, combined with careful preparation, helps keep the process moving while ensuring important details aren't overlooked.

Although insurance has become her profession, the arts remain a defining part of who she is.

Today, Cora serves on the Board of Directors for the Boston Arts Academy Foundation after several years on its Advisory Council. Led by CEO Denella J. Clark, the foundation supports Boston Arts Academy, Boston and the Commonwealth's only public high school dedicated to the visual and performing arts, helping provide students with an exceptional arts education that shapes future artists, scholars, and global citizens.

The mission resonates deeply with her own journey.

After initially setting aside her artistic ambitions, Cora returned to college as a single parent and experienced firsthand the impact an arts education can have on a person’s path.

She credits her years in theater and dance with instilling resilience, discipline, creativity, empathy, and a collaborative mindset that continue to shape the way she leads her business. 

Looking back, Cora can see that every unexpected turn prepared her for where she is today. The arts education that once seemed destined to lead her down one path equipped her with qualities that proved invaluable in another. Those same qualities continue to shape the way she approaches challenges and opportunities alike.

At InsuranceLab New England, insurance isn't simply about policies. It's about nurturing relationships, providing clarity, and serving as a trusted resource for homeowners, business owners, and the professionals who support them.

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"To learn more about the Boston Arts Academy Foundation, its upcoming signature annual celebration HONORS: "Come Dream With Us: A Masquerade Ball" taking place on Thursday, October 22, 2026, and the impact of its work, visit www.baafdn.org.