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26 Hartford Business Journal • April 2, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com Gervasi pushes inclusive, innovative work environment at The Hartford By Wendy Pierman Mitzel Special to the Hartford Business Journal I n her job as chief human resources of- ficer, Marty Gervasi's objective is to keep the 18,000 employees at The Hartford at the center of every- thing she does. From organizing valuable benefits to creating a successful work environ- ment, she and her 240-person team "take great care of employees so they can take great care of our customers." Gervasi joined the insurance compa- ny in 2010 after a career that included 20 years at General Electric. After help- ing realign resources to meet the com- pany's growth and profitability goals as well as focus on diversity, inclusion and recruitment, she was promoted to her current position. "I have a lot of passion for the field," Gervasi said. "It fuels me in that there is so much complexity. I love the vari- ety that the role brings." The Hartford's Chairman and CEO Christopher Swift said Gervasi has been "instrumental" in leading new employee opportunities at The Hartford. "We're building a diverse, inclusive and innovative culture grounded in an open and honest exchange of ideas, where people are respected for who they are, recognized for how they contribute, and encouraged to make a positive difference in the world around them," Swift said. One of the many ways Gervasi gains insight into employee needs is by serving as the current sponsor of The Hartford's GLOBE: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Organi- zation Benefitting Everyone. "All leaders at The Hartford are con- nected to a resource group," Gervasi said. "GLOBE is an integral part to inclusion here … and I have the honor of the job of providing support and removing road- blocks for these employees. They make me better and keep me focused." For nine years running, The Hartford has earned a perfect score on the Corpo- rate Equality Index administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Other parts of her job include attract- ing new employees in innovative ways. "Marty has been a key partner in helping our claims team create a contemporary work environment and implement innovative work practices, such as The Hartford's apprenticeship program," said John Kinney, The Hart- ford's chief claims officer. "Students gain education, training and a full-time position with a company where they can grow their career. We recruit and retain skilled claims professionals out- side of the traditional college track for critical customer-facing roles." The program began with a pilot in Sept. 2015 and received a federal designation the next year with the first official apprentices joining the com- pany in Hartford and Phoenix, Ariz., in June 2017. Two students from the pilot program currently work in claims and there are now 15 apprentice students between the two locations. Meeting employee needs Gervasi said she and her team closely study what is meaningful to the employ- ees through an internal social media platform as well as surveys and by simply listening to their concerns. With five gen- erations of employees to serve, she stays current with trends and technology and is diving into data analytics to analyze where benefits are most effective and what attracts (and keeps) employees. One favored perk is the remote work option. "Our remote worker program is another example of how a focus on flexibility enables us to bring in the best diverse talent," said Kinney. "At this time, approximately 50 percent of our claims staff works remotely. Our retention rates and excellent employee engagement metrics prove out the benefits of this approach." Another major concern for employ- ees: affordable health care. "We need to do more," said Gervasi. "And better. That's the challenge of the healthcare system." Gervasi led The Hartford to become part of the Health Transformation Alliance executive committee, a group of nearly 40 other large companies pooling resources to access health- care options. Just this year, the group negotiated with a new pharmacy pro- vider, using the buying power of the collective to bring more transparency in prices, better costs and opportunity for care to employees. She also serves on the board of governors for the American Health Policy Institute. Gervasi brings her expertise to her alma mater serving on the Univer- sity of St. Joseph's board of trustees, chairing the 2014 presidential search committee and helping to create the Women's Leadership Center. "The university provided me with so much opportunity, it's natural to give back," she said. She said she hopes to pass on to oth- ers many of the lessons she learned at St. Joseph, and throughout her career. "You need courage to be willing to speak up and speak out," she says. "Take risks, try new things and do not be afraid to fail. Be true to your core, meaning not compromising what is important." Gervasi is the proud parent of three Millennials. "Millennials are impactful and impres- sive," she says. "They keep us current." She said she's also grateful for her life partner and husband, Mike. "He has been an incredible dad and partner and allowed me to focus and grow in my career," she says. Marty Gervasi Chief Human Resources Officer The Hartford What are your keys to maintain- ing business success? Success is a team sport at work and home. At work, I have a great team that rounds me out with their diverse skill sets and experiences, along with leaders who empowered me and my team to do meaningful work. They give us the license to be creative and take risks. Another key is staying current with the latest trends and technology by reading and listening to podcasts. Finally, it's important to stay focused on the needs of employees to understand what matters most. What are your keys to maintain- ing work/life balance? The single most critical en- abler of my work/life balance and my career success is my great partnership with my husband Mike. He has been supportive of my career and shared the weight of raising our three children, who are now adults. To help me maintain work/life balance, I focus on maximizing my time out of the office with people, activities and places that fill me with positivity. Being active out- doors, practicing yoga, cooking, spending time with my two dogs — they all help me recharge. "Take risks, try new things and do not be afraid to fail. Be true to your core, meaning not compromising what is important." WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS 2018