Judy Jackson is creating a culture of conversation built around people. To understand Judy Jackson's job as global chief talent officer at the global digital agency Wunderman, you have to start with her boss, Mark Read. He was appointed CEO in 2015 after more than 20 years with Wunderman's parent company, the U.K. advertising and public relations giant, WPP Group. "I came back because of our global CEO, Mark Read," says Jackson, who was with Wunderman 15 years earlier as the HR leader for the New York office. "Mark is known for turning companies around. He came...

Technology providers constantly update their products. That’s why technology support companies like Asurion must be knowledgeable about the latest devices. Asurion offers mobile protection, extended warranties, and other technical support and services to their clients.Asurion aims to help people “get the most out of their connected lives.” To deliver superior service, the company needs talented frontline associates who serve clients over the phone. In 2015 it became clear that associates needed more training to keep pace with the rapidly advancing technology...

Ultimate Software develops cloud-based human capital management solutions, which help their clients improve their employees’ work experiences. Established in 1990, the organization is quickly growing and expects their workforce to increase from 3,700 employees to more than 6,000 by 2020.In 2014, Ultimate Software’s product development and information services (PDIS) department consisted of 610 employees. The organization expected to hire at least 100 new developers, testers, and analysts by the end of the year. With no formal training program in place for new...

From the Affordable Care Act to the evolution of pay for performance, the world of healthcare is no stranger to shake-ups and transitions. As a player in the health insurance industry for more than 70 years, Florida Blue is always looking for innovative, customer-focused healthcare solutions. Florida Blue aims to provide affordable plans, offer personal support, and build strong communities that promote health and wellness for all.In 2010, Florida Blue served 4 million of its own healthcare members and covered another 15.5 million people in 16 states through...

In 2011, Genpact, a global leader in digitally powered business process management and services, needed to hire outside executives. Advances in technology had changed its market; to keep growing, the company needed new technical expertise from its leaders.However, bringing in new leadership meant taking a risk. According to the Harvard Business Review, about half of externally hired leaders fail—and not for lack of ability. They fail because they do not mesh with company culture or the people on their teams.Thus, Genpact’s company officers and talent development...

With the rise of online-only banks and an increase in insurance companies and large retailers expanding their offerings to include financial service solutions, brick-and-mortar banks face an increasingly crowded and competitive marketplace. Formed in 1859, New York Community Bank (NYCB) is no stranger to thriving in the face of challenges from both new and longtime competitors.The 22nd-largest bank holding company in the United States, NYCB offers its customers a wide range of competitive products and services. However, CEO Joseph R. Ficalora believes that...

Mindtree Limited, an India-based IT consultancy with offices in 14 countries, operates in a hypercompetitive industry. The company faces constant pressure to reduce costs or risk rivals undercutting prices. The engineering skills it requires are scarce in India or come at a premium. This scarcity leads to the organization adopting a strategy to reduce overhead by recruiting a sizeable portion of its workforce directly from undergraduate engineering programs, then providing them specific technical training. However, the recruits often required several months of...

It’s difficult to underestimate the importance of learning to the success of Cerner, one of the largest health care information service providers in the United States, with $4.4 billion in annual revenues and over 23,000 associates. The company supplies customers with a variety of solutions and services developed and delivered by associates who must be equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge of information systems, software, and industry expertise. Cerner currently has more than 120 learning professionals meeting the learning needs of their associates, all of...