Cultivating Flexible, Skills-Based Talent

 
 

Cultivating Flexible, Skills-Based Talent

Johanna Thoma serves as AVP, Skills & Talent Development at Unum, a fortune 500 company that helps millions of people gain affordable access to disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental and vision benefits through the workplace. Johanna is a passionate adult educator with 20+ years of experience in Learning & Development. Her team is responsible for leading, directing and executing on Unum’s talent development strategy, with oversight for enterprise leadership development programs, manager effectiveness, curriculum design and development, career development and skill development programming. Johanna holds a BA in International Relations and Latin American Studies and a Masters in Adult Education. Johanna is an enthusiastic traveler and lifelong learner! 

October 5th, 2022

Watch the full webinar in the video above, or read the recap below.

With a vision of making all employees engaged, adaptable, and skilled, Unum is on a journey shifting towards a skills-based focus. They sought to answer: how can we determine what skills are in our workforce, and how can we cultivate those skills? What skills should they be looking for? How do you retain talent? By cultivating skills within your employees, you help both your customers and your employees further invest in their careers.

To further these skills, Unum developed a handful of tools and systems, including:

  • Emerging Skills Network: By crafting a team that identifies what skills will be critical for future growth, Unum can invest in those skills, providing the foundation for skills-based talent management.

  • Workforce Skills Analysis: This team identifies what skills are already within the workforce.

  • Certification Reimbursement: Unum expanded its tuition reimbursement program to include certifications, giving their employees the opportunity to invest in their own skills, benefitting both the company and their career.

  • Vendor & University Partnerships: Unum works with universities and others for early talent pipelines to capture skills ahead of time.

Unum is fostering skills among all of their employees through a tiered learning experience. In this three-tiered system, Unum introduced the skill of Digital Fluency to its workforce. The first tier applies to all employees—what are the current and upcoming digital trends that impacts employees in all areas, such as the rise of AI and machine learning emphasizing the importance of human-centered skills. The second tier is more intensive and targeted in its skill development, determined by assessment tools and recommendations. The third tier is the most specialized and advanced, often through university partnerships.

Looking for ways to activate the skills within your workforce and invest in your employees? Contact us today to learn about our team development and leadership services.

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