Insurance – like many industries – has dramatically changed. I’ve talked about this disruption for some time now. Customers have different needs. Emerging technologies, a heavier reliance on data, automation … they all factor in.

Shifting workforce needs are also important. They reshape our company’s narrative … how we talk about what we do.

During the past few years, we’ve anticipated a world needing more data, better analytical capabilities and greater product personalization. We’ve seen customers relying on us more for customized protection, as they work toward better lives for their families.

But needs constantly change, and insurance companies must be ready to shift with them.

It’s why American Family has invested so much in our infrastructure, culture, and people. We acquired new companies – Homesite, The General, Networked Insights and Main Street America. We continue to evolve our talent and leadership teams. We’ve expanded into in new areas of the country. And, we’re serving customers differently – with best-in-class online and agent-led experiences.

No one else is doing insurance quite like American Family.

As CEO, I believe we are prepared to tackle new risks and seize new opportunities presented by this disruption in our industry. It’s from this point of strength that American Family plans to expand our team. We want to hire more of the best technical minds to help us solve challenges making our industry inefficient.

We want to develop, recruit and retain innovators who will build groundbreaking products in a culture rooted in strong values, and community and social impact. This requires highly skilled specialists in data science, software engineering, dev-ops, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It’s valuable expertise for our enterprise and for our customers – so we can each take smarter risks.

While I see these as bold moves, they are still closely aligned to American Family’s long-held goals: attracting and engaging the right talent and strengthening our inclusive culture.

At American Family, we want people to have the autonomy to create. We need professionals to build a new industry using data that’s uniquely ours. (PS – we’re hiring!)

Yes, we absolutely still inspire, protect and restore dreams. But in the digital era, that means putting the best talent into a culture of innovation to reinvent an industry that makes everyone’s lives better.