From Hurricane Sandy to COVID-19: Leadership Lessons from Former Guardian Life CEO Deanna Mulligan

Join us as we sit down with Deanna Mulligan, CEO of Purposeful and former CEO of Guardian Life Insurance Company, to uncover her inspiring journey and unwavering passion for helping people. From the profound messages in her bestselling book "Higher Purpose" to the real-world lessons learned during Hurricane Sandy, Deanna reveals how preparing employees for technological changes through education and training is crucial for any business. Reflecting on how these experiences ensured a seamless transition during the COVID-19 pandemic, Deanna emphasizes the vital role of a skilled and motivated workforce ready to face unforeseen challenges.  

 
Deanna also shares her insights on how AI and cloud-native software are set to revolutionize underwriting, product development, and policy administration. Discover the industry's ongoing efforts to reach underserved markets and the innovative approaches to making insurance more accessible and affordable. We also discuss the significant role of women in sales and the importance of fostering a culture of communication, retaining top talent, and encouraging diverse educational backgrounds.  

Deanna M. Mulligan, CEO of PURPOSEFUL, draws on her extensive leadership background as former CEO and Chairman of Guardian Life Insurance. She serves as a trusted advisor leveraging her roles as Board Director at Vanguard and DuPont, and previously at ARCH Capital. Deanna also advises Guild Education and other private equity-funded start-ups. Recognized for her influence, she has been listed five times among Fortune's Most Powerful Women and is a noted best-selling author. 

About Purposeful: An advisory firm for CEOs and C-level executives focusing on corporate governance, career development, and reskilling. 

The What’s Your Ethos podcast is brought to you by Ethos Insurance and is hosted by Ethos’ CEO Peter Colis. In each episode, Peter sits down with some of the life insurance industry’s biggest movers and shakers. You’ll hear them talk through their biggest breakthroughs, business insights, and leadership challenges — and get to know them on a more personal level.  

Founded in 2016, Ethos is a technology company providing access to instant, accessible life insurance online. Ethos’ mission is to help millions protect their families with access to simple, affordable life insurance. The company has redesigned the application process from start to finish to ensure the customer always comes first. Ethos offers flexible coverage options, access to valuable online tools, and a team of licensed agents ready to help you through it all. Ethos always puts the customer first.  

Discussion points: 

• Deanna Mulligan discusses her journey and values, Hurricane Sandy and COVID. 
• Deanna's transition from consulting to life insurance industry leadership. 
• Hurricane Sandy's wake-up call for tech preparedness. 
• Future trends: AI, cloud-native software, and insurance industry transformation. 
• Enhancing accessibility and affordability for underserved insurance markets. 
• Diverse career paths in insurance, emphasizing women in sales. 
• CEO's role in integrating external insights into company strategy. 
• Importance of communication and one-on-one interactions for retaining talent. 
• Deanna's hobbies and their impact on creativity. 
• Final reflections on Deanna's leadership journey and future endeavors. 

Resources: 

Deanna Mulligan LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-mulligan/ 

Purposeful https://purposefuladv.com/ 

Peter Colis LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/petercolis/ 

Ethos Life Insurance  https://www.ethoslife.com/