About
Babiya Polk.
Founder of One Degree Benefits. Originally from Uganda, now in Lewis Center, Ohio. Helping people make sense of their benefits since 2011, and introducing them to the people they need along the way.
The story.
Babiya Polk is a visionary entrepreneur, a dedicated insurance professional, and a passionate community advocate. Originally from Uganda and now based in Lewis Center, Ohio, she is the founder and CEO of One Degree Benefits, LLC.
Her mission is clear: to empower individuals, businesses, and communities through equitable, innovative, and accessible insurance solutions.
Her work in benefits began in 2011 as an Aflac representative, where she learned how voluntary benefits protect working families and support growing businesses. Over the years she built a reputation for integrity, service, and advocacy, especially for underserved communities and the small businesses that traditional benefits models often overlook.
Today she works as an independent broker. She starts with the people a business is trying to look after, explains the options in plain language, and stays the person you call after enrollment.
She is a mother, a grandmother, and the proud partner of Matt, an AI integration expert. She is committed to building a legacy of leadership, for her family and for every business owner and employee she serves. Her philosophy is rooted in connection, education, and win-win partnerships that lift everyone at the table.
The name
Why “One Degree”
The name reaches back to Babiya’s roots in Uganda, inspired by latitude.
It also says something about how she works. Most of what a business owner needs is one good introduction away: the right plan, the right specialist, the right person to ask. Babiya’s job is to close that distance.
The seal says it too: the flags of the United States and Uganda, with a path drawn around the world between them.
Here’s why
A connector, by practice.
Babiya’s introductions are worth having because she knows people the way you come to know people: by being useful to them, over years.
Cold calling never suited her, so she built her practice on relationships instead. Today she is one of Central Ohio’s best-known connectors: a center of influence, trusted by hundreds of businesses.
- President NAWBO Columbus, the Central Ohio chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Her vision for the chapter is at babiyapolk.com.
- Vice Chair Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee, Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council
- Vice President of the Board Eastland Preparatory Academy
So when a client’s question goes beyond benefits (an accountant, an HR consultant, a payroll provider, a lender), Babiya can often put them in the room with someone she trusts. They decide whether to work together. She keeps the introduction honest and the follow-up personal.
Licensed & certified
Licensed in 21 states.
One Degree Benefits, LLC is a federally certified Women-Owned Small Business, a WBENC-certified Women’s Business Enterprise, and an NMSDC-certified Minority Business Enterprise, through the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council. In Ohio it is a certified Minority Business Enterprise, Women-Owned Business Enterprise and EDGE business, and a City of Columbus Emerging Business Enterprise. It is also a BBB Accredited Business.
- Arizona
- California
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Certified & accredited
- FederalWomen-Owned Small Business
- NationalWomen’s Business Enterprise
- NationalMinority Business EnterpriseCertified through the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council
- Better Business BureauAccredited BusinessView profile
- State of OhioMinority Business Enterprise
- State of OhioWomen-Owned Business Enterprise
- State of OhioEncouraging Diversity, Growth & Equity
- City of ColumbusEmerging Business Enterprise
Onboarding One Degree Benefits as a diverse supplier? Certificates are available on request.Ask Babiya