How Manulife Boosted Digital Transformation through Manulife University and Pluralsight Partnership

The digital era has brought about significant transformations across industries, and the insurance sector is no exception. As the world becomes more digitally connected, insurance companies must embrace innovation and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of customers. One such company that has achieved this feat is Manulife.

Manulife’s successful digital transformation journey

Digital transformation is not just about technology but also about ensuring that personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge to operate effectively and efficiently in a digital-first environment. This requires companies to attract and retain high-skilled IT professionals and software engineers in an increasingly competitive market. Manulife recognized the need to upskill and reskill talent as it embarked on its digital transformation journey. Naveed Zahid, Associate Vice President of Engineering Transformation, was brought in to lead that effort in 2018. Zahid spearheaded Manulife’s efforts to build a culture of continuous learning that enabled the company to stay on the cutting edge of technological changes and maintain its competitive edge.

Manulife’s Culture of Continuous Learning

Having worked in the IT industry for over two decades, Zahid understands the importance of staying ahead of the curve. From day one, he was struck by Manulife’s passion for cultivating a culture of continuous learning. According to Zahid, the company’s unwavering commitment to learning and upskilling is a testament to its success in the digital age. To deliver on its commitment to continuous learning, Manulife has launched Manulife University, an educational and skills development program that offers tailored technical specialization programs designed to meet the needs of colleagues and the company. The program has been made flexible and is available for colleagues at any time and place, across all roles within the Global Technology function. Zahid designed the program to be a convenient learning experience for all colleagues.

Tailored and Flexible Learning Experience

The flexibility of Manulife University was one of the cornerstones of its success. The program was designed to be accessible, relevant, and tailored to the unique needs of each colleague. Manulife University offers on-demand content so colleagues can take courses at their convenience, as well as instructor-led and virtual instructor-led courses, giving the most effective way of learning to each person. Zahid wanted the university to be a place where colleagues can learn what they need at their pace, avoiding wasting time on training that does not apply to their work scope.

Digital transformation as a Collection of Ongoing Journeys

Digital transformation is not a one-track journey, but rather a collection of ongoing journeys. According to Zahid, companies must commit to nurturing a “commitment to learning” culture and continuously adapt to meet the ever-changing technological advancements. As such, Manulife University offers a platform for colleagues to evolve their skills with their respective roles as their career progresses.

Manulife’s success in its digital transformation journey is a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to a culture of continuous learning. It aligns with the company’s goal of attracting and retaining highly skilled IT professionals and software engineers. The launch of Manulife University, supported by global partners like Pluralsight, underscores Manulife’s commitment to keeping pace with advances in technology and creating a future-ready workforce. With its efforts to foster a learning culture, Manulife is well-positioned for continued success in the digital era, and the lessons it has learned can serve as a model for other companies to follow.

Explore more

Why Should Leaders Invest in Employee Career Growth?

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, a staggering statistic reveals the stakes of neglecting employee development: turnover costs the median S&P 500 company $480 million annually due to talent loss, underscoring a critical challenge for leaders. This immense financial burden highlights the urgent need to retain skilled individuals and maintain a competitive edge through strategic initiatives. Employee career growth, often overlooked

Making Time for Questions to Boost Workplace Curiosity

Introduction to Fostering Inquiry at Work Imagine a bustling office where deadlines loom large, meetings are packed with agendas, and every minute counts—yet no one dares to ask a clarifying question for fear of derailing the schedule. This scenario is all too common in modern workplaces, where the pressure to perform often overshadows the need for curiosity. Fostering an environment

Embedded Finance: From SaaS Promise to SME Practice

Imagine a small business owner managing daily operations through a single software platform, seamlessly handling not just inventory or customer relations but also payments, loans, and business accounts without ever stepping into a bank. This is the transformative vision of embedded finance, a trend that integrates financial services directly into vertical Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms, turning them into indispensable tools for

DevOps Tools: Gateways to Major Cyberattacks Exposed

In the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, DevOps tools have emerged as indispensable assets for organizations aiming to streamline software development and IT operations with unmatched efficiency, making them critical to modern business success. Platforms like GitHub, Jira, and Confluence enable seamless collaboration, allowing teams to manage code, track projects, and document workflows at an accelerated pace. However, this very integration

Trend Analysis: Agentic DevOps in Digital Transformation

In an era where digital transformation remains a critical yet elusive goal for countless enterprises, the frustration of stalled progress is palpable— over 70% of initiatives fail to meet expectations, costing billions annually in wasted resources and missed opportunities. This staggering reality underscores a persistent struggle to modernize IT infrastructure amid soaring costs and sluggish timelines. As companies grapple with