Life Accelerated

Equisoft + Insurance Innovation Reporter
Life Accelerated

Life Accelerated is a show from Equisoft with one goal–to keep you from falling behind by equipping you with the practical tools to handle the rapidly changing environment. Each episode will feature thought-provoking conversations with experts in life insurance, facing the same challenges as you. You’ll leave each episode feeling encouraged, excited, and motivated.

  1. 10월 9일

    Unlocking the Potential of AI for Life Insurance Leaders with Richard Wiedenbeck

    In this episode of Life Accelerated, host Anthony O’Donnell brings you an illuminating conversation with Richard Wiedenbeck, Chief AI Officer at Ameritas.  With a wealth of experience in the life insurance and technology sectors, Richard has seamlessly transitioned from his role as CIO to his pioneering position as Chief AI Officer. This title alone signifies Ameritas's progressive strides in adopting artificial intelligence. Richard's background makes him an authoritative voice in discussing the digital transformation landscape within the life insurance industry. This episode offers a deep dive into how Ameritas is leveraging AI to enhance operational efficiencies, streamline underwriting processes, and improve overall productivity. Richard candidly shares real-world examples of AI applications, the importance of proper data governance, and the potential risks and rewards associated with integrating such groundbreaking technology.  By listening, you will glean actionable insights into the steps necessary for a successful digital transformation, ensuring you are not left behind in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.  Key Takeaways: Leveraging AI can streamline repetitive tasks, while drastically reducing costs and enhancing productivity and decision-making Discovering practical steps to responsibly integrate AI into operations without compromising customer trust or regulatory compliance Gaining insights into the transformative potential of AI, ensuring companies stay ahead of competitors and adapt to rapidly changing market dynamics Jump Into the Conversation: [00:00:20] Introduction of Richard Wiedenbeck and his role as Chief AI Officer at Ameritas [00:01:57] Richard’s viewpoint on AI as a crucial tool for the future [00:03:16] The importance of AI in addressing productivity and efficiency challenges [00:04:56] Staying informed via research and experiential learning [00:07:01] Starting with less risky applications before tackling more complex use cases [00:09:32] Training AI agents to navigate and interact with legacy systems [00:13:12] Importance of accurate data sources for AI training [00:16:37] Challenges in navigating the AI claims of various vendors [00:18:36] Emphasizing security, risk management, and clear operational boundaries [00:24:22] Acknowledging the transformative nature of AI and advocating for proactive engagement [00:26:08] Closing   Resources: Connect with Richard Wiedenbeck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-wiedenbeck-6a752/  Check out Ameritas: https://www.ameritas.com/    If you are starting your digital transformation journey, check out these e-books:  How To Kick Off a PAS Modernization Project, the Right Way: Insights From a Veteran Project Manager https://hubs.li/Q02rP_6z0 Critical Resourcing Decisions that Ensure the Success of Your PAS Modernization Project https://hubs.li/Q02rP_D10 The Reality Behind SaaS Policy Admin Vendor Claims. A Roadmap to Success https://hubs.li/Q02rP_Jf0

    27분
  2. 9월 11일

    Promoting Long, Healthy Lives Through Digital Transformation with Jean Olive, John Hancock

    Host Anthony O'Donnell sits down with Jean Olive, CIO of John Hancock, to discuss the company's impressive journey towards digital transformation and its focus on enhancing customer experience. Jean shares her engineering background and diverse industry experience, discussing John Hancock’s mission to promote long, healthy lives through innovative initiatives like vitality behavioral insurance. The discussion covers the significant role of AI and data-driven strategies in revolutionizing underwriting, sales applications, and overall customer satisfaction.  In this episode, listen to how John Hancock is embedding AI into its applications, establishing a data lake to improve data governance, and moving towards cloud-based solutions. Jean emphasizes the importance of nurturing internal talent, creating a culture of continuous learning, and aligning the company's mission with employee and policyholder well-being.  Listen for insights on John Hancock's commitment to industry-shaping innovations, engaging talent, and modernizing infrastructure amidst a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Key Takeaways: Leveraging AI tools like GitHub and Power Apps, along with strong data governance and a data lake, enhances underwriting processes and customer satisfaction. Implementing a "build borrow buy" strategy and creating a culture of continual learning are critical for developing and retaining top talent in an evolving technological environment. Focusing on digital transformation, moving applications to the cloud, and closing mainframe data centers streamline operations and improve the customer experience.   Jump into the Conversation: [00:01:07] Introduction of Jean Olive and her role at John Hancock [00:06:47] Jean’s experiences and how that has benefitted her in her role [00:09:12] What John Hancock is working on inventing now [00:12:08] How Jean and John Hancock are working on a seamless customer experience [00:15:48] How John Hancock is thinking about product development [00:16:56] Where AI fits in John Hancock's digital vision [00:21:14] Challenges related to preparing the data for AI [00:23:17] How the company is keeping people and culture first while innovating [00:28:36] How John Hancock is living up to their mission [00:30:07] Closing   Resources: Connect with Jean Olive: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeantolive/ Check out John Hancock: https://www.johnhancock.com/index.html   If you are starting your digital transformation journey, check out these e-books:  How To Kick Off a PAS Modernization Project, the Right Way: Insights From a Veteran Project Manager https://hubs.li/Q02rP_6z0 Critical Resourcing Decisions that Ensure the Success of Your PAS Modernization Project https://hubs.li/Q02rP_D10 The Reality Behind SaaS Policy Admin Vendor Claims. A Roadmap to Success https://hubs.li/Q02rP_Jf0

    32분
  3. 8월 14일

    Staying Customer Focused in Digital Transformation with Niki Manby, Mutual of Omaha

    Host Anthony O'Donnell welcomes Niki Manby, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Mutual of Omaha to share the remarkable journey of the company’s digital transformation that has boosted the success of the company.   Niki shares her extensive experience in financial services and fintech, showcasing how she's driving change and ensuring the company remains competitive and customer-focused. They explore the unique challenges of the insurance sector, the impact of agile methodologies, and the potential of emerging technologies such as AI to revolutionize the industry.    In this episode, you’ll hear insights from Niki's background and her strategic vision for integrating insurtech capabilities to foster an innovation culture within large enterprises.    Key Takeaways: Build an innovation culture centered around solving customer problems rather than just business problems to foster innovation within the organization. Use Agile and the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) to align business priorities with technology efforts to facilitate continuous communication and iterative improvements. Adopt a balanced approach to InsurTech partnerships to lead to more effective innovation.   Timestamps [00:02:03] Introduction of Niki Manby and her role at Mutual of Omaha [00:05:01] Challenges in aligning strategy and innovation in insurance [00:06:24] How digital innovation can be applied to the life insurance industry and innovation opportunities [00:11:01] How to create a culture of innovation starting with customer problem-solving and fostering curiosity [00:14:19] Addressing alignment between business priorities and technology through Agile methodology [00:19:13] Impact of AI, specifically generative AI, on the insurance industry [00:20:52] The importance of governance and controls in AI [00:21:18] Summary by Anthony on the importance of embedding an innovation culture, integrating insurtech, and the potential of GenAI   Resources: Connect with Niki Manby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikimanby/ Check out Mutual of Omaha: https://www.mutualofomaha.com/   If you are starting your digital transformation journey, check out these e-books:  How To Kick Off a PAS Modernization Project, the Right Way: Insights From a Veteran Project Manager https://hubs.li/Q02rP_6z0 Critical Resourcing Decisions that Ensure the Success of Your PAS Modernization Project https://hubs.li/Q02rP_D10 The Reality Behind SaaS Policy Admin Vendor Claims. A Roadmap to Success https://hubs.li/Q02rP_Jf0

    22분
  4. 7월 10일

    Connectivity Initiatives That Create Seamless Digital Integration with Dora Clements, Unum

    Great leaders in digital innovation often start their journey in diverse fields. Dora Clements is an exceptional leader at Unum whose impressive journey from entertainment law to overseeing transformative initiatives at the 175-year-old company is a testament to the potential for multidisciplinary approaches in driving organizational change. Host Anthony O’Donnell speaks with Dora, the Senior Vice President of Transformation, in this episode about how Unum is leveraging digital technologies to transform its operations, enhance customer experiences, and stay competitive in the ever-evolving life insurance industry. With an extensive operational strategy and technology integration background, Dora brings a wealth of knowledge on how traditional insurance practices can be seamlessly merged with cutting-edge digital solutions to foster efficiency and superior customer experience. They discuss Unum's ambitious digital transformation journey, highlighting its innovative strategies for enhancing customer experiences and maintaining competitiveness in a rapidly changing market. Dora shares the groundbreaking initiatives that Unum has implemented, such as their advanced self-service portals and real-time customer satisfaction analytics. She also explores Unum's commitment to data integrity and responsible AI adoption, providing valuable insights for decision-makers in the life insurance sector eager to embark on or refine their digital transformation journeys.    Key Takeaways: Leveraging digital technologies enhances efficiency and customer satisfaction, setting new industry standards through innovative practices and a commitment to transformation. Data integrity and advanced analytics play pivotal roles in driving effective digital solutions that improve business outcomes and user experiences within the life insurance sector. Building high-performing teams equipped to manage change, foster innovation, and seamlessly bridge the gap between business operations and technology is crucial for successful digital transformation.   Timestamps: [00:00] Introducing Life Accelerated [01:42] Intro to Dora's journey and digital transformation milestones of Unum [05:43] The connection between organizational psychology and industrial psychology to digital transformation [07:00] The “three-legged stool” model as a disciplined way to transform [08:52] The importance of communication and collaboration across teams [10:55] How Unum is transforming to meet the objective of living their mission in today’s technologically-focused world. [12:34] Unum’s focus on customer satisfaction and “My Unum” portals [16:05] The importance of data integrity and architecture; the utilization of data analytics to improve customer experience and business results [19:32] Exploration of AI and it’s future implications [20:18]  Change management by coaching and cultivating high-performing teams at Unum [23:25] Unum’s focus on connectivity, data quality, and customer experience. [25:21] Final thoughts from Anthony O’Donnell   Resources: Connect with Dora Clements: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dora-clements-6385422b/  Check out UNUM: https://www.unum.com/    If you are starting your digital transformation journey, check out these e-books:  How To Kick Off a PAS Modernization Project, the Right Way: Insights From a Veteran Project Manager https://hubs.li/Q02rP_6z0 Critical Resourcing Decisions that Ensure the Success of Your PAS Modernization Project https://hubs.li/Q02rP_D10 The Reality Behind SaaS Policy Admin Vendor Claims. A Roadmap to Success https://hubs.li/Q02rP_Jf0

    27분
  5. 6월 12일

    Simplifying Life Insurance Through Digital Transformation with Nick Rohan and Kevin Cummer, TruStage

    Host Anthony O'Donnell welcomes back Kevin Cummer, Director of Life Products, and Nick Rohan, Director of Partner Management at TruStage Insurance to share the remarkable journey of TruStage’s digital transformation, which has not only redefined their brand but also set new benchmarks in the insurance industry. Kevin and Nick take us through the evolution of TruStage, from its roots as CUNA Mutual Group, primarily serving credit unions, to its current position as a major player in the direct-to-consumer insurance market. They discuss the strategic rebranding of TruStage and how it has unified its offerings under a single, powerful identity, making it easier for customers to navigate and for the company to communicate its mission of making brighter financial futures accessible to everyone. They share industry insights to guide you toward more intelligent and effective strategies for digital transformation within your organization.   Key Takeaways: Simplifying the insurance process through technological innovations, such as developing comprehensive API suites, can significantly enhance customer satisfaction and improve conversion rates. Securing strong senior leadership support is essential for overcoming organizational inertia and resource allocation challenges, ensuring successful digital transformation initiatives. Implementing innovative distribution strategies and simplifying the insurance buying process can lead to substantial business growth, as demonstrated by TruStage's success in doubling its life insurance business and reaching $5.6 billion in in-force coverage.   Timestamps: [01:59] Intro to TruStage's journey and digital transformation milestones [03:17] The importance of unifying under a single brand for consistency and digital capabilities [04:21] Achieving major milestones in API suite for real-time purchasing experience [7:00] Strategic integration with partners and the importance of a compelling business case [10:02] Organizational commitment and support from senior leadership [10:56] Embracing data-focused decision-making and expanding distribution  [13:04] Integrating product and capability roadmaps to enhance distribution and accessibility [17:04] Utilizing instant decision underwriting to streamline the customer experience [18:08] Ways TruStage is thinking about reaching customers [22:17] Significant growth and success in new distribution approaches   Resources: Connect with Kevin Cummer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-cummer-5b728b1a/  Connect with Nick Rohan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-rohan-1337935/  Check out TruStage: https://www.trustage.com/

    26분
  6. 5월 8일

    Enhancing Engagement with Personalized Insights and Database Experiences with Jessica Austin Barker, CXO at TIAA

    Jessica Austin Barker, TIAA's Chief Digital and Client Experience Officer, sits down with host Anthony O’Donnell for this latest episode of Life Accelerated. Jessica’s acumen, honed through her tenure at Intuit and now as a leader at TIAA, is steering the financial institution toward new horizons of client engagement. Jessica brings a profound understanding of the complexities in the financial and retirement planning sectors and a commitment to bridging innovative digital strategy with a personal touch vital to these industries. The episode guides listeners through TIAA's emphasis on capability building, the responsible implementation of AI, and the crucial balance of digital and human elements in sensitive fields.  Hear insights invaluable to the industry as you navigate toward smarter, more impactful approaches to digital evolution within your organization.   Key Takeaways: A design-led strategy that actively involves multiple disciplines allows for the reduction of constraints in thinking, encourages customer-focused innovation, and is crucial for creating exceptional client experiences.   Reimagining the client experience, especially in retirement and financial services, has been spearheaded by implementing organizational changes, developing capabilities in data and analytics, and re-engineering a company ethos where employee participation plays a pivotal role.  AI offers prospects for increased efficiency and personalized financial advice, but there's a clear need to humanize digital spaces, given the sensitivity of retirement planning.    Timestamps [00:00] Introduction to the episode [03:22] Jessica’s transition from Intuit to TIAA [04:32] Starting with solving basic customer problems [06:29] Improving customer focus through immersive client experiences [10:39] Experience with data platforms and increasing data acumen [12:10] Striving for personalized experiences in financial advising [15:18] The core principles of being an AI-first company [17:55] The importance of customers and facilitating digital and human intersection  [22:15] Why design is crucial for creating great experiences [24:07] Creating positive emotion for customers and solving problems effectively [25:54] Closing thoughts   Resources: Connect with Jessica Austin Barker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-austin-barker/ Check out TIAA: https://www.tiaa.org/public/   If you are starting your digital transformation journey, check out these e-books:  How To Kick Off a PAS Modernization Project, the Right Way: Insights From a Veteran Project Manager https://hubs.li/Q02rP_6z0 Critical Resourcing Decisions that Ensure the Success of Your PAS Modernization Project https://hubs.li/Q02rP_D10 The Reality Behind SaaS Policy Admin Vendor Claims. A Roadmap to Success https://hubs.li/Q02rP_Jf0

    27분
  7. 4월 10일

    Cultivating High-Performing Teams Through People-Centric Strategies with Mike Mead, CIO at CNO Financial Group

    Host Anthony O’Donnell is joined by Mike Mead, the Chief Information Officer of CNO Financial Group, in this episode of Life Accelerated. With over 25 years of experience in the insurance and technology industry, Mike has been instrumental in digital transformation initiatives, enabling CNO to adapt and thrive in the rapidly evolving landscape of life insurance and financial services.  Mike shares valuable insights into the role of technology in reshaping the customer experience, streamlining operations, and propelling business growth. The episode delves into CNO's innovative approach to digital transformation, from the intricacies of modernizing customer website tools to the strategic implementation of AI technologies.  Gain valuable perspectives and actionable strategies to navigate the complexities of integrating technology into the heart of your operations as you embark on your own digital transformation journey.    Key Takeaways: Transforming culture is key. Foster accountability, trust, and fluency in AI across the employee base to accelerate technology growth and ensure long-term success in a digital transformation journey.   Seamlessly merging direct-to-consumer and agent experiences is crucial for meeting consumer expectations and driving success in the life insurance market's digital moment.  Prioritize people over process and technology. Building the right team culture and empowering employees fuels technological advancements and shapes the future of life insurance.  Timestamps [00:00] Introduction to the episode [00:12] Mike’s diverse career, global leadership, and looking for opportunity [06:00] The importance of learning and listening in the first 90 days [08:07] The challenges with waterfall delivery and departmental segmentation [11:11] Why insurance companies should focus on enhancing customer experience [14:48] How launching myhealthpolicy.com was a big success [18:20] Mike’s big life lesson on accountability [22:47] Implementing AI fluency for future success [24:14] Closing   Resources: Connect with Mike Mead: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemead/  Check out CNO Financial Group: https://www.cnoinc.com

    22분
  8. 3월 13일

    Practical Insights and Strategies from 5 Life Insurance Technology Leaders

    In this episode of Life Accelerated, host Anthony O’Donnell revisits some conversations from the past year all about practical approaches to digital transformation. He highlights ideas and insights from five visionaries in the life insurance industry — Santhosh Keshavan of Voya, Jeff Donaldson at Mutual of America, Deb Waters at Aegon, Ryan Downing at Principal Financial Group, and Bill Pappas with MetLife.  As the industry continues to evolve rapidly, these experts bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table, shedding light on the challenges of modernizing infrastructure, reshaping customer experiences, and aligning technology with an organization's purpose. Discover actionable insights and strategies from the digital transformation in life insurance as we delve into this industry-wide shift.    Key Takeaways: The shift towards digital transformation in the life insurance industry is driven by the imperatives of innovation and agility.  Embracing the cloud, leveraging customer feedback for improvement, modernizing infrastructure, and fostering a customer-centric mindset can enhance user experiences.  Aligning technology with the organization's overarching purpose is crucial for driving innovation, differentiation, sustainability, and growth in the life insurance industry.   Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to the episode [01:14] Santhosh Keshavan’s case for the cloud [03:10] Ryan Downing’s words on AI and the customer experience [05:04] Jeff Donaldson’s Route 66 strategy to modernize the core platform [07:13] Deb Waters’s take on creating a seamless client experience [09:51] Bill Pappas’s five strategic pillars for framing technological priorities [12:30] Closing   Resources: Connect with Santhosh Keshavan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santhoshkeshavan/  Connect with Jeff Donaldson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreydonaldson/  Connect with Deb Waters: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-waters-41b90a1/  Connect with Ryan Downing: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cxcio/  Connect with Bill Pappas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-pappas-9a35048/

    14분

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Life Accelerated is a show from Equisoft with one goal–to keep you from falling behind by equipping you with the practical tools to handle the rapidly changing environment. Each episode will feature thought-provoking conversations with experts in life insurance, facing the same challenges as you. You’ll leave each episode feeling encouraged, excited, and motivated.

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