- 2 days ago
Aflac In The Era Of Disruption
Pauline Malcolm-Thorton, Chief Revenue Officer, Essence Ventures
Randi Adkins-Warren, Corporate Counsel, Aflac"
Pauline Malcolm-Thorton, Chief Revenue Officer, Essence Ventures
Randi Adkins-Warren, Corporate Counsel, Aflac"
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00I feel like we're at the Essence GU Awards. Every time I come up here, it's applause. Let's get it.
00:15Let's go. I love it. I love a good intermediary moment. So we're going to keep things rolling
00:20and we're going to receive a quick message from our partners at AFLAC. Then immediately after that,
00:27Essence Chief Revenue Officer Pauline Malcolm Thornton will be checking in with AFLAC's corporate
00:33counsel, Randy Atkins Warren, to hear how AFLAC is shaking things up for the better in this era of
00:41disruption. Roll the clip. The moment that I partnered with AFLAC, actions were taking place.
00:49That is being serious about it. When you support women and women in sports,
00:55this is exactly what it looks like.
01:02Great. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon, everyone. You all look so beautiful, so amazing.
01:14My name is Pauline Malcolm Thornton. I'm the Chief Revenue Officer at Essence Ventures.
01:21This incredible event in Brand GU is a part of that portfolio. And I am so thrilled. I just met you
01:29in the past 10 minutes, but I'm like, she's already a sister. I'm so thrilled to be here with Randy
01:35Atkins Warren, who is the corporate counsel at AFLAC. And we're going to be talking about her
01:41incredible journey, her incredible career journey. Welcome. Thank you so much. And thank you all
01:48for having me. We're thrilled. So thrilled to have you. Let's take a seat. Let's talk and
01:57get started. So we have so many people in the room today who are exploring several different
02:04career paths. Please take us through what a day in the life is for a corporate counsel at one of
02:11the largest. So AFLAC is the largest, one of the largest insurance companies in the world. What's a day
02:17in the life for a typical day in the life for you? Thank you so much. So for me, my day starts with
02:22prayer. So before you can really engage in a productive day, you have to first center yourself.
02:31For me, it's prayer. And so when I go into AFLAC, it's never a typical day, surprisingly.
02:40I like to have fashion for ideas and make sure that I'm looking my best.
02:45Yes, I see. I mean, the red is doing all the things today.
02:50Thank you. And you look so great and Gucci fabulous.
02:55And I always open my door and greet all people who want to come in. So at AFLAC, we have an open
03:02door policy. We make sure that we are listening to not only our customers, our policyholders,
03:09our stakeholders, and also making sure that we're good stewards within our own community as employees.
03:15So as a corporate counsel, a day may be to review contracts for our office in Japan.
03:22It may be to do something in New York, or it may be to prepare for this summit to come here
03:27to Atlanta today because we are housed in Columbus, Georgia. We have AFLAC Japan and also AFLAC Northern
03:35Ireland, along with offices in D.C., Texas, New York, you name it, we're there.
03:41Fantastic. So global, worldwide. So this theme of our conference or our summit is about the
03:49era of disruption. So when you think about, let's focus on that and how disruption is all
03:55about change, right? And so let's think about the concept of change your mind, but not your
04:01mission. How does that concept align with your personal career journey?
04:05So when you're thinking about changing your mind and not your mission, you have to be your authentic
04:12self. And so I know sometimes you always hear the word authenticity, but what does that mean to you?
04:19So for Randy, as corporate counsel, I want to show up and do my best. I want to have a brand that's
04:25focused on customer service. And I want to make sure that I'm never dimming my light, but standing in
04:32that light. And when you are an attorney for the largest supplemental insurance company, we are a
04:38$40 billion company, you make sure that $40 billion company. So as I sit here with my AFLAC duck, I hope
04:47you've seen it with Coach Prime. I hope you've seen our duck at all kinds of events. And we try to leave
04:53duck prints and also really focus on our mission of the people. So what makes AFLAC different is thinking
05:01about policyholders. Think about when you've had a medical bill. We all know they can be astronomical.
05:08Who wants extra money to buy Louboutins, Gucci, and all that fun stuff, right?
05:12Ding.
05:13Hello.
05:14Hello.
05:15But if you have something that changes your life, a cancer diagnosis, sickle cell diagnosis,
05:22you want a supplemental insurance provider like AFLAC that will do something that other insurance
05:27companies don't. They pay the policyholder. So it's so imperative that our message is
05:34on brand with not being just a company for the people, but also we are looking at our founders
05:41and really treating people fairly and living the AFLAC way and making sure our mission is
05:47to help those and help. I brought our duck. So we're looking at sickle cell patients who are
05:53children. We're looking at cancer patients who are children, and we want to provide them comfort.
05:58So our duck is not just a means to have a cute little mission, but also a theme about change,
06:05about providing comfort, and being an insurance provider that's not your typical.
06:11So you talk about the duck a lot, which is so cute. I may steal that duck. I have two kids at home.
06:17But what is the history of the duck? Like, with the AFLAC duck, what is the history?
06:24So AFLAC has been in business over six decades. And with our three founders, the mission really was
06:31to treat people fairly. And when you're thinking about treating people fairly, you don't think
06:36about insurance companies doing that. I know you all have car insurance. I know you have home
06:42insurance, and all those kind of things. But what makes AFLAC different? It is a supplemental
06:48insurance provider. And so thinking about how can we make a name for ourselves? Because people are
06:54like, do you sell insurance? No. Do you sell car insurance per se? No, no, no, no, no. We're selling
07:03you a dream that we can come and say, when you have a medical bill, we're going to pay that medical bill
07:10for you. We're going to provide you those benefits. Think about wanting money in your pocket. How many
07:16insurance companies do you know will say, hey, you filed a claim? And guess what? We're going to pay
07:22you. And so our duck came into play in 2000. And we have just expanded to our Japan market in 2003.
07:29And it's just something cute. So when you're thinking about AFLAC, don't just think about our
07:35beautiful duck. Think about the emphasis and the help that we provide as the insurance company for
07:42everyone. And we wanted to make sure that you all have AFLAC insurance and make sure that you're
07:47talking about AFLAC and the benefits and the diversity that you see on the stage and within
07:51that community. I love that. I love that. So I have a new appreciation for that duck. So again, we talked a
07:59little bit about how disruption has played in your personal journey. Talk a little bit about how AFLAC is
08:06disrupting the insurance industry and bringing change and indifference. Absolutely. So when you're thinking
08:13about disruption, a lot of people think about disruption being something negative. There is a negative
08:20connotation with disruption. First, when you're disrupting something, you have to identify a problem. So when AFLAC
08:28came on the scene in 1955, the problem was we needed an insurance company to actually look at the people who are
08:38actually needing that insurance policy. Additionally, AFLAC provides this mission to treat everyone fairly. We have
08:48what's called the AFLAC way. Those are our seven principles about how do we treat people fairly? How do we make sure that we're
08:56doing the right thing even when things are difficult? But knowing that at AFLAC we have a commitment at the top, we have our VP of
09:05diversity, equity, and inclusion, Kayla here, who's also her mission is to make sure that we are getting our message out, that we have
09:13diverse talent, and that we are actually cultivating that talent. But guess what? It started at the very top with our founding. So AFLAC is not only a great
09:24company, but it's an ethical company, but it's an ethical company, and it's a company who believes in people who are different and values the importance of diversity.
09:33I love that. I love that. So let's switch gears a little bit. Now, before we got on stage, we talked a lot about sisterhood, right? And that's a big theme at this year's Disruptor Summit.
09:47So I want to talk a little bit about also how you have these incredible mentors within AFLAC who look like you, which is incredible, right? And I've kind of been your board of directors. Can you talk a little bit about how that has helped shape your career and also how you plan on paying that forward as well?
10:09Absolutely. Absolutely. When you're thinking about mentorship, it's so important to look at someone who looks like you and also someone who doesn't look like you. So at AFLAC, I have a general counsel who is an African American female. We have a president who is an African American male.
10:30And seeing two African American individuals who have actually been at the top of their game, but who are at senior leadership positions at AFLAC, it allowed me to see that not only can I become a senior leader, but at AFLAC, they value people of color.
10:50They value different trains of color. They value different trains of thoughts, and they actually cultivate that leadership development for people of all ages, all ethnicities, veteran status, and so forth.
11:03So I've been promoted twice. I've been at the company less than five years.
11:08That's amazing.
11:10Thank you. And so as corporate counsel, I manage our duck. I do all things trademark.
11:16I make sure that I'm negotiating contracts and make sure that we have the right language.
11:22I also make sure that I created a pipeline program for AFLAC legal counsel externships and internships so that we could have people who are diverse coming through our departments.
11:34It's so important to give back, and having mentors and your board of directors.
11:40I have my best friends from Spelman College who are here, and it's so imperative, the importance of sisterhood.
11:48When you're thinking about how do you go far, you need someone in your corner.
11:54You need your board director who's always going to be there to support you, but you also need people who will say,
11:59it's not going to be easy, don't stop, keep cultivating your talent, and never, ever give up.
12:06But make sure you give that to someone else so that they can lead the way when your time is up.
12:12Such incredible advice. Incredible advice.
12:15So you have had an incredible growth trajectory.
12:18I mean, you've been promoted twice in a very short time.
12:22What excites you most about the future of your career?
12:25I think what excites me most is helping others and seeing people behind me who say that I've made an impact on their lives.
12:34I think when you have been given the opportunity to be a leader, it's so important that you show humility, that you help others,
12:44that you never give up, and you don't dim your light.
12:48And I say that so much because so many people, you're posting for likes, you know, you're not really in your authentic journey,
12:55but it's okay to take a step back, to be silent, and to restructure your life.
13:03Turn the page when something bad happens, because guess what is life?
13:06And when something bad happens, it is not to say you can't do it, you can't get through it,
13:12but it's saying how will you step through it and grow through it.
13:17I love that. I love that. I love that.
13:20So we have so many people here that are looking for many different career paths.
13:25What advice would you give them as they kind of find, and you found your career path.
13:32You are a ballerina.
13:33You told me that fun fact about you, Randy, but how did you find your career path,
13:40and what advice would you give some of the folks in the room about finding that passion, which is so hard to do?
13:46Thank you so much.
13:48So in the back, we actually had a great moment.
13:52She is a classically trained singer.
13:56So not only do you have this wonderful powerhouse, you have someone who has a passion for something else.
14:02I think it's so important when you are finding your niche and your career that you don't forget those things that you're most passionate about.
14:11So I had dreams of being Miss America, a ballerina, all those great things, but I also had a dream about being a lawyer.
14:20And I wanted to help those people who I knew needed help.
14:24I wanted to be the lawyer that I didn't necessarily see.
14:27Some of you all are too young to remember the Cosby Show, but I wanted to be a lawyer because of Claire Huck's support.
14:34Yes.
14:34Right?
14:35But in my career journey, I started off at a law firm.
14:39I thought I wanted to be a partner, and I was like, oh, my gosh, I have this really great office.
14:44I'm making great money.
14:46But guess what?
14:47I hated it.
14:48And I hated it because I didn't have the sponsorship, I didn't have the mentorship, and I was in a very, very different atmosphere where I could not be my authentic self working at a law firm.
15:02And I had to pivot.
15:05And I pivoted after the loss of my mother unexpectedly.
15:08That really was a shocking moment for me.
15:13But what I realized, I'm living out her legacy.
15:17So what do I want her legacy to look like?
15:20I want it to be fabulous.
15:22I want it to be strong.
15:24And above all, I want to make an impact.
15:27So now I can say I'm doing all of that and more.
15:32I love that.
15:33I love that.
15:35I love that so much.
15:36So there's a little saying, if you love what you do, you'll never have to work a day in your life.
15:42And you clearly love what you do, which is so important.
15:46But the Aflac way that you talked about goes a little bit deeper around that.
15:51And how does that really talk about the Aflac way and how that has really helped shape the employee culture and also your personal trajectory there?
16:00So when you're thinking about the Aflac way and treating all people fairly, doing the right things, those are common tenets of what makes you a good person, right?
16:11So although I'm corporate counsel, I have a senior leadership role, I shouldn't get any more respect than the janitor, than the person who's the security officer.
16:22And so I think it's so important that you remember that on your journey up, it's so important to give back, to be kind, and above all, not to lose the sense of humility.
16:37Because in a drop of a dime, your life can change, and people, they don't remember really much, you know, you might look beautiful, but they remember how you made them feel, right?
16:52So when you're thinking about that, I think good character is what you should focus on, more so than likes.
16:59Because when you're in your authentic self, likes will come, money will come, and guess what? Happiness will come, too.
17:08So true. Very well said. Very well said.
17:12How can folks in the room apply for the externships that you talked about?
17:17Right. So we have some opportunities. I don't know if there are people who want to go into sales, or if you want to go into law, but Aflac, we are a large company.
17:28As I stated, we're $40 billion, but we have all types of atmospheres to get into Aflac.
17:35So as far as the externship program that our legal department does, we have an opportunity that will be sometime in January, where you all can apply to potentially work at Aflac's legal department.
17:48And if you all are interested, you guys can reach out to me.
17:52I can give you my email address, or we can send it out, but it's Randy Atkins, A-D-K-I-N-S, hyphen Warren, W-A-R-R-E-N, at Aflac.com.
18:06And please let me know in your subject line for the legal internship, or if you want to have any other conversations about other opportunities, I will make sure to get you to the right person so that you can have your resume looked at.
18:22And when I ask you to send your stuff, make sure that you have the best resume.
18:28Now I don't want to see typos, okay?
18:31No typos, please.
18:32Because you have to show up, and you get the opportunity, not because you are a person of color, but because you are the best fit.
18:41But that means that you give me the best work product.
18:44I love that.
18:46It's very important, no typos, and show up as your best self.
18:51So we're coming to a close.
18:53You've shared so much in terms of wisdom.
18:56What parting words would you give to the audience today?
19:00I would say for everyone to remember to take time out for yourself.
19:06Give yourself grace.
19:07I think it's so important that you take a step back, reset, get silent, don't post your whole life on social media.
19:18Don't tell people your next steps.
19:20Sometimes you might just need to pop out, and they're like, oh, you're speaking at the essence.
19:25Gee, you, oh my goodness.
19:27But that's because you own the rights to your story.
19:31As an IP attorney, so I do trademarks, think about your brand.
19:36Think about what you want to be remembered most for.
19:40But also, show up.
19:42Don't dim your light.
19:44Wear the outfit with the color.
19:47Have your hair pretty.
19:48Be your best self.
19:50But remember, pay it forward.
19:52No matter how far you go, you need to give back and show up in the way that you want your legacy to be.
20:00Such great words.
20:01Such great words for the audience.
20:03Let's give it up for Randy.
20:05Randy.
20:10Randy, thank you so much.
20:12It's been such a pleasure speaking with you, getting to know you in this short amount of time.
20:17And thank you so much for being here.
20:20Thank you, audience.
20:22Oh, I have a question.
20:24You have a question.
20:26Oh.
20:26Sorry, we didn't want to cut off questions.
20:32Hi, Randy.
20:34My name is Ivy, and I wanted to ask you a question in regards to working with AFLAC.
20:40I know you mentioned the legal department.
20:41You mentioned sales and whatnot.
20:43Do you have any opportunities or content creators to partner with you?
20:46We do have opportunities.
20:49So, as we talk about our duck, there are opportunities that we're wanting to diversify our network of people whom we work for.
20:57So, if you would send me an email, I can put you in contact with our brand department.
21:02Okay.
21:09I sure can repeat that email.
21:11It's R-Atkins, A-D-K-I-N-S, hyphen, Warren, at AFLAC.com.
21:23So generous.
21:24Thank you for that.
21:25Any more questions from the audience?
21:31Okay.
21:32You all have been a wonderful audience.
21:33Thank you so much.
21:35Enjoy the rest of GU.
21:37Thank you again, Randy.
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