National Life Group Builds Culture to Support AI and Innovation
National Life Group has positioned organizational culture as the foundation for effective AI adoption, rather than treating technology as a standalone investment. The Vermont-based insurer frames AI as an extension of human capability, not a replacement for it.
Dr. Wendi Walker Schmidt, AVP of Learning and Organizational Development at National Life, said the approach requires deliberate construction before deploying new technology. "Strong organizational culture doesn't happen by chance. You have to build that foundation before you can build anything else," she said.
Measuring Culture Through Engagement
National Life treats culture as a system that produces measurable outcomes. The company recently earned the Gallup Exceptional Workplace award-given to only 78 organizations worldwide-after three consecutive years of rising employee engagement while engagement declined globally.
Trust forms the core of that system. Schmidt said leaders at National Life focus on individualized engagement rather than standardized management approaches. "If leaders aren't having conversations about what engagement means to each individual, some people will feel discounted," she said.
Strengths-Based Talent Development
National Life uses Gallup Strengths across the organization, emphasizing what employees naturally do well rather than fixing weaknesses. The approach shifts focus from individual completeness to team effectiveness.
"It's not about creating a well-rounded individual-it's about creating a well-rounded team," Schmidt said. "If something isn't a strength for me but is a strength for someone else, then I need to collaborate and lean into that."
The company introduced a three-month program called Beginning Your Leadership Journey to help individual contributors transition into people management roles. The program addresses coaching, team development, and engagement-areas where many organizations provide minimal formal support.
Creating Space for AI Experimentation
National Life partners with IT and AI teams to create environments where employees can experiment with AI tools and see how they apply to their work. This reduces uncertainty that often accompanies new technology adoption.
Schmidt outlined the connection: "Engagement builds trust, trust encourages ideas, and those ideas drive innovation." That philosophy extends to early-career talent. The company's internship program encourages interns to explore how their skills might apply across the organization rather than confining them to a single function.
What Sets National Life Apart
As insurance carriers continue investing in AI platforms and data infrastructure, National Life's results suggest the differentiator may be the conditions under which technology is deployed. The company deliberately constructs those conditions through leadership development, talent mobility, and a culture designed to bring out employee capability.
For insurance professionals evaluating AI adoption strategies, the case demonstrates that technology investments alone produce uneven results. Organizations that align leadership practices, talent development, and purpose see more sustained engagement and faster innovation cycles.
Learn more about AI for Insurance or explore how training and development managers can build AI-ready workforces with the AI Learning Path for Training & Development Managers.
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