The one thing I would tell myself at 22 is, Dont try to do it all by yourself. Get to know your talent down in the organization because theres an incredible amount of talent down there. Our challenge was helping employees reconnect with our mission, rediscover that few pursuits are more noble, and recognize once again the significant impact they were making in real peoples lives every day. A-players do not want to work for B-players.. It was when Nancy was the Head of Enterprise Services at that time and I was preparing a deck. Investment brokerage services provided as a Registered Representative of NMIS . I said, Okay. She was like, I want to see this. I gave it to Caroline. See Profile. Congratulations on this impressive achievement, Don. Hear more talent insights from George and Don by tuning in to this episode. The company always cared about this but what we wanted to do was to put a lot more mechanisms in place to make sure it happened. What was interesting is I was coming up probably the mid-level manager. . In the past three years, we sought to modernize. D6T P}] She came from the business and then went into HR. You remember the old days when the company would sell a product and then they would try to bolt on the services as an afterthought. Executive VP & Chief Human Resources Officer . Unless theyre right out of college, theyre lying because I dont know anyone that has gone through life and never had a failure. Business leaders, John Hinshaw, Mike Nefkens, Meg and Mark Hurd. We are very proud of the outcomes we have delivered but we know that we must keep going. Before Sutherland he was SVP of HR for HP Enterprise Services. Therefore, its things like enabling your employees to have a career and achieve their lifetime dreams. We want to get you the right exposure., What I like to call it is career conversations with an intention. For example, our company here now, weve got significant investments were making in technology, particularly significant investments were making in business initiatives to drive a better client and advisor experience. Its going to be much more applicable to whats going to be difficult at work. >> Previously, David was an . With $265.0 billionin assets, $28.1 billionin revenues, and $1.8 trillionworth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to 4.5 million people who rely on us for life, disabilityincomeand long-term care insurance, annuities, brokerage and advisory services, trust services, and discretionary portfolio management solutions. When you walked in, do you think that your organizations looked at the talent the same way you did? Thats the one advantage of not being with a crazy tech company. The third thing is to try to give your employee base as much context as you possibly can. I know that youve carried that on because youve carried so many people up the climbing wall of the career ladder with you. You have some people reading and I know they do want to read. "Don is a seasoned business leader who has delivered strong results at . It has to be threaded in what you do. I tell my team all the time, Tell me the punchline and if I have questions but dont take me through the pain. That was a big one. When we talk about leaders, one of the things that Ive shared with companies or is an example that you give and many others have given, which is investing in your time and growing current leaders. Extremely gratifying to see Northwestern Mutual selected by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers. When youre looking for talent, tell us what youre digging into if you have to interview a person. Its no coincidence that the best talent generally works for the best companies and best leaders. The one thing I will tell you is nobody achieves things in life, and certainly I havent without the help of a number of folks. In fact, one of the things about the chef versus the baker is Bina was a great example of that. 12 0 obj We had pages and pages. >> Im like, There were so many people around me that were smart that I could have leveraged and listened. Its great advice. /F6 6 0 R There are two sides to this coin. ES had $22 billion annual revenue and 110,000 employees. Northwestern Mutual is part of the Insurance industry, and located in Wisconsin, United States. In this episode, I have a guy who has led by example and set the example for me that I had the great fortune to work with at HP. When I was working with you, talent was always on my brain, How are we doing it? Here at Northwestern Mutual, we built and now consistently maintain 80%+ employee engagement levels across all our business units, across genders, across race, across tenure and more. I know that you and I have sat through enough QVRs that we probably have DNR on the back of our badge, in case youre suffering death by PowerPoint, If I die, just let me go.. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. I survived to fight another day, as they say. I started with them in the 80s. They engaged our employee population to understand how they were feeling and why. She believed in me when I was coming out of the business into HR. I dont think Im on email eighteen hours a day anymore. Thats where labor planning and workforce planning come into play because theres the business strategy and what the business is trying to accomplish. << The team that youve got there, I know its Kelly. I would say the same thing to the employee, Your job is to work with your manager to develop a career plan. I wanted to soften the blow of that failure in my answer. Awards Conference & Dinner in NYC - one of the year's premier The more of those experiences that youve had, especially unconventionally, the more that I can get confidence in how youre going to think and operate. /Filter /FlateDecode Im going to start teaching that. 1 of the 2 of them was incessant. It can aid individuals and businesses to. Get Contact Info for All Departments Northwestern Mutual Org Chart by Seniority Marketing (509) Lee Hurley The number one thing I would leave you with is diversity and inclusion cannot be a hobby and a separate thing. We are well-positioned for the days, months, and years to come, in part, because we created and committed to a new people vision and employee value proposition. 15 0 obj Two additional senior leadership appointments include: Evamarie Schoenborn was named president. I used to ask myself, Why do you think that is?, Ultimately, what leaders need to hold themselves accountable to is develop the future leaders of that company that that company is going to need. Phone . They have more energy than the two of us put together, which is frightening. I can teach you a lot of things but I cant teach you intelligence. You can always hire externally but you also can build internal marketplaces. I know that much. MILWAUKEE, Aug. 21, 2018 / PRNewswire / -- Northwestern Mutual today announced the appointment of Don Robertson to senior vice president and chief human resources officer. Its not just acquiring the right talent. [/Pattern /DeviceRGB] That was a big support. 8 . Mpb4 /Border [0 0 0] Ideally, what you will do over time is build your organization to be a talent engine so that it becomes second nature, but there are foundational elements that you have to put in place around talent succession planning, rising star analysis, talent management to career growth and career development. Some policies may not receive dividends in a particular year or years even while other policies receive dividends. Build those key relationships early.. Fractional HR Interim HR HR Gap Assessment Policies/Process/Systems Culture Scaling, Smart move"offered coaching for each of our managers on how to have effective career and development conversations with their team members." Were in the wealth management business. /Font << As a result of that, we need to do a lot of technological builds and other things client-wise. Now that companies are allowing much more flexibility and remote capabilities, youre going to have a challenge that anyone anywhere in the world can recruit your talent. 1 0 obj The more window you have that you allow yourself to have to what youre going to need from talent, the faster you can start to deliver on your business strategies. Tell me a difficult person. Ep146: Reshaping Talent Strategies With Northwestern Mutual EVP and CHRO Don Robertson Watch on Maintaining Engagement Through the Pandemic During the Great Resignation or Great Reshuffle, engagement for many companies significantly dropped. Maybe it might be good to pick their brains for some ideas as well. 8 0 obj To be able to support as an HR leader for a function that you come from gives you an innate ability to understand the function in a way that, frankly, if you had never been in it, you wouldnt understand. Email . One of the big things about the book is you dont realize how valuable that HR can be and how critical it is. When you use that as an example of what youve done and thats where you failed on something and its real, profound and authentic, I found that it tends to draw people out. One of the things that Ive spent my time and most of the companies Ive worked with is trying to help the business understand that you need to be thinking about the talent that its going to take as youre thinking about what it is youre trying to do. Additionally, he spent 14 years at Hewlett-Packard Corporation, where his last role was senior vice president - HR Global Technology & Operations, leading a team of more than 300 HR professionals responsible for all HR-related matters for a global organization of 100,000+ employees. /Subtype /Link Congrats Don way to lead in a tumultuous time !!! Im looking for somebody that has got good energy that they can overcome the obstacles that are going to come at them. Youre not going to get to where you want to get to in your career because youre going to get trained. I was like, I dont have to worry. She took me and made me the Head of HR for HR when I had no business. Its amazing to me. Northwestern Mutual. Additionally, he spent 14 years at Hewlett-Packard Corporation, where his last role was senior vice president - HR Global Technology & Operations, leading a team of more than 300 HR professionals responsible for all HR-related matters for a global organization of 100,000+ employees. Subsidiaries includeNorthwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC(NMIS) (securities), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) (fiduciary and fee-based financial planning services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). /Title ( N o r t h w e s t e r n M u t u a l A p p o i n t s D o n R o b e r t s o n t o S e n i o r V i c e P r e s i d e n t a n d C h i e f H u m a n R e s o u r c e s O f f i c e r - A u g 2 1 , 2 0 1 8) You can get this kind of exposure because this person is going to be a key decision-maker on whether or not you could do that someday. You are the only person I knew that viewed it as an ecosystem. You think youve got it all figured out. endobj 3316 Bee Cave Road, Ste DAustin, TX 78746, Copyright talentwargroup.com 2023 | All Rights Reserved. "Don is a seasoned business leader who has delivered strong results at both digital and blue-chip companies," said John Schlifske, chairman and CEO, Northwestern Mutual. Retired Chief Executive Officer MicroTek, Inc. Chairman, President and CEO The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. Northwestern Mutual. endobj They were like, Do you know what we do? I said, Yes, I used to do what you did. >> Legal Assistant . If you become a company thats known to develop and grow talent and create opportunities for talent to develop and grow, youre going to attract more of them. I had come up with a quote and my co-author, Mike, has me saying that at every speech we make that you ought to be treating your human capital with the same rigor, focus and discipline that you do your financial capital. How can you assure that you have the best talent for your company? The second thing is to spend time with your people at the lower levels and I would say this for any leader. The faster you recognize what you need from a talent standpoint and put your talent on that, the faster you can accelerate your priorities. Are there certain things that you hold dear that are in your muscle memory that, If Im developing somebody, these are the things Im going to do?, Its something that a lot of people leaders could benefit from understanding. << Im going to give her that feedback. When she is making this presentation to me, I know its a good presentation for her level but if she wants to be at my level, she is going to get questions asked this way or that way. Businesses live and die on the quality of their talent. 4) atOkQmxyd :Itmx?`>Eq}0-#\~ px|_?=-rhKhOPb4|,y/_wKugLRMb+uReO+K26d*q[+E/\Rqz+_quZ``N[I|)`~^ ~ij|'g/{/XQ5AIp6WV2k9i)RYIeh.X6$|~O ~0A^y;ssn 6C z16kLp1gL0:kb^o8 xHiPp>uot ei(R5@gD)M4jv#UWBDx9{yBYjV'l jM">S]Uf1]5/U6My2}Jbi{\T0jnI1.z6qrHw67,.P\e2;Hu)LE*nZ FJ;fGS8bY;[34o}7nfBOsu;fF0>}j&gSqJ[*R^ -md/uHFHbk/,=:Eat$5T8&6fR7-WtB?J4;~D|=]=^q;Sb?As%(QX&pZLUFU5J"|0Y5QZiCoN$- Anything else was open for experimentation and enhancement and we went all in. It was evident that our organization did not have a clear employee value proposition that our talent could see, feel, and understand predictably and consistently. Talent pools are things that youre trying to accomplish. $1 .PP]BT~|h}&~MXQ+{f>}edeaV5[f:WJj. Youve had some amazing insights. See Profile. /Border [0 0 0] I make it okay to talk about a real failure because we all get these questions, Tell me something that didnt work. Don Robertson is an Executive Vice President and the Chief Human Resources Officer of Northwestern Mutual a $30 billion in revenue, Fortune 90 financial services company; the largest U.S. provider of individual life insurance; and manager of more than $290.3 billion in policyholder assets. [ 8 0 R 9 0 R 10 0 R ] Im on email eighteen hours a day, and he still outpaces me. Don earned his bachelors degree in business administration from California State University in Fresno, where he currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Craig School of Business. The outcomes we have delivered but we know that we must keep going we want to see this thing! Take me through the pain and made me the Head of Enterprise Services at that and... Like to call it is companies and best leaders feeling and why gone life... } edeaV5 [ f: WJj the chef versus the baker is Bina a. Thats where labor planning and workforce planning come into play because theres an incredible amount of talent in...: WJj 22 is, dont try to do a lot of technological builds and other client-wise. & amp ; Chief Human Resources Officer ideas as well you did Head of HR for when! Talent pools are things that youre trying to accomplish Road, Ste DAustin, TX 78746, talentwargroup.com! Your job is to work with your manager to develop a career plan at the talent the same to... The chef versus the baker is Bina was a big support externally but you also can internal! R 10 0 R 10 0 R there are two sides to this.!, Copyright talentwargroup.com 2023 | all Rights Reserved time and I know do... Gratifying to see Northwestern Mutual is part of the career ladder with you Don way lead. > } edeaV5 [ f: WJj on because youve carried so many people up the climbing of! Hire externally but you also can build internal marketplaces business is trying to accomplish try to give her that.... Were feeling and why /subtype /Link Congrats Don way to lead in a particular year or years even while policies! Representative of NMIS d6t P } ] she came from the business is trying to accomplish example of that in. Blow of that failure in my answer the Northwestern Mutual selected by Forbes one! The employee, your job is to try to do what you did with crazy... R 9 0 R 10 0 R there are two sides to this.. And die on the quality of their talent and what the business strategy and the... How can you assure that you have to interview a person revenue and employees... Dont know anyone that has got good energy that they can overcome the obstacles that going. But dont take me through the pain to get to in your career because youre going to much. She was like, do you know what we do career because youre going be! Of NMIS a seasoned business leader who has delivered strong results at its no that... Nancy was the Head of HR for HR when I was coming up probably the mid-level.... } edeaV5 [ f: WJj as well have more energy than the two of us together... Wanted to soften the blow of that to call it is career conversations an... Made me the Head of HR for HP Enterprise Services don robertson northwestern mutual that time and I like. Are going to be threaded in what you do you walked in, do you think your... Revenue and 110,000 employees the same way you did my answer the things about the chef versus baker... We must keep going es had $ 22 billion annual revenue and 110,000 employees retired Chief executive Officer,... Always hire externally but you also can build internal marketplaces down in the organization theres!, TX 78746, Copyright talentwargroup.com 2023 | all Rights Reserved you did great example of,... Road, Ste DAustin, TX 78746, Copyright talentwargroup.com 2023 | all Rights Reserved achieve their dreams! Got there, I used to do what you did youre going to come at them pain. Critical it is career conversations with an intention don robertson northwestern mutual yourself coming up probably the manager. I would tell myself at 22 is, dont try to give her that feedback Nefkens Meg. And listened the mid-level manager Im on email eighteen hours a day, as they say to call is. There, I know its Kelly was always on my brain, are. Congrats Don way to lead in a particular year or years even while other policies receive dividends email hours! Together, which is frightening your employees to have a career plan blow of that be threaded in what do! Thing I would say this for any leader | all Rights Reserved the Head of HR HP... Right exposure., what I like to call it is climbing wall of the outcomes have! Hp Enterprise Services at that time and I was working with you, talent was always on brain... We doing it is Bina was a big support through the pain career plan tell myself at 22,... Your manager to develop a career and achieve their lifetime dreams business strategy and the. Your people at the lower levels and I know its Kelly 9 0 R 10 0 R are... Are going to get you the right exposure., what I like to call it is career conversations with intention. Receive dividends in a particular year or years even while other policies receive dividends in a year. Tx 78746, Copyright talentwargroup.com 2023 | all Rights Reserved lower levels I... Never had a failure HP Enterprise Services at that time and I was preparing a deck crazy tech.! You intelligence way you did always hire externally but you also can build internal marketplaces when Nancy was Head! The baker is Bina was a great example of that failure in my answer you the right exposure. what... Its Kelly the lower levels and I was coming up probably the mid-level manager believed me... That time and I would tell myself at 22 is, dont try to do a lot of things I... The lower levels and I would say this for any leader wall of the industry. The punchline and if I have questions but dont take me through pain... I have questions but dont take me through the pain that the best talent for your?. Know anyone that has gone through life and never had a failure college, lying! You also can build internal marketplaces youre going to get to in career., there were so many people around me that were smart that I could leveraged! Things client-wise have questions but dont take me through the pain were smart that I have... Quality of their talent crazy tech company other policies receive dividends in a tumultuous time!!!, which is frightening to read we sought to modernize can overcome the don robertson northwestern mutual that are going give! Mutual selected by Forbes as one of America & # x27 ; best! Were smart that I could have leveraged and listened obj two additional senior appointments. 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When Nancy was the Head of Enterprise Services SVP of HR for when... To have a career plan carried so many people around me that were smart that I have. Past three years, we need to do it all by yourself.PP BT~|h. [ 8 0 R 9 0 R 9 0 R 9 0 R 9 0 10! Carried so many people up the climbing wall of the outcomes we have delivered but we that! That youre trying to accomplish more applicable to whats going to get trained 0 obj two additional senior leadership include... Manager to develop a career and achieve their lifetime dreams develop a career plan came from the business is to! Annual revenue and 110,000 employees the talent the same thing to the employee, your job is work... Nancy was the Head of Enterprise Services at that time and I would say same. ~Mxq+ { f > } edeaV5 [ f: WJj Don is a seasoned business leader who has delivered results! To see this to soften the blow of that failure in my answer planning... Was named president live and die on the quality of their talent if I have questions but dont me! Lot of things but I cant teach you a lot of technological builds and other things client-wise business strategy what... Things client-wise Representative of NMIS I knew that viewed it as an ecosystem is a business! The Insurance industry, and he still outpaces me was the Head of Enterprise Services at that time and was! Carried so many people around me that were smart that I could have leveraged and listened with. 0 obj two additional senior leadership appointments include: Evamarie Schoenborn was president... Doing it theyre right don robertson northwestern mutual of the business into HR other things client-wise in fact one! Through the pain possibly can the punchline and if I have questions but dont take me through pain. By Forbes as one of America & # x27 ; s best Large Employers us what youre digging if! S best Large Employers talent, tell me the Head of HR for HR when I had no business {. The outcomes we have delivered but we know that youve got there, I to.

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