Digital Minds 2020 Programme Launch
DXC Digital Minds is an innovation, talent development and collaboration programme that, via a series of monthly workshops, training sessions, briefings and events, builds a diverse community of people who have ambition to drive technical and cultural change, and gives them the knowledge, network and influence to do so.
Now in its fourth year, the programme helps DXC Insurance clients to prepare their staff for their transformation journey. DXC Digital Minds works on both an evolution and revolution mindset, with three core pillars to the programme:
- Innovation
- Talent Development
- Collaboration
Following on from an award-winning year in 2019, the DXC Digital Minds programme headed by Caroline Bedford launched for the 2020 cohort on 14 and 15 January. For the first time, it was necessary to split the delegates into two cohorts and, therefore two launch events, due to the sheer number of successful applicants. 2020 sees the DXC Digital Minds programme consist of 150 individuals who represent a wide range of roles and seniority levels from more than 55 insurers, brokers and market associations across the London Market.
The programme aims to take this diverse group of delegates spanning almost 130 unique job titles from the London Market and help them to gain knowledge, expertise, an impressive network and, also aims to expose them to innovation and change within the market to enable them to harness and develop initiatives of their own.
At the heart of the programme are the DXC Digital Minds Initiatives (or DDMIs - the insurance industry does love an acronym after all.) These are the core initiatives that delegates create in groups and work towards for the coming year and beyond. DDMIs from the 2019 cohort include ‘VINCE’ - a virtual insurance negotiation and collaboration e-trade microservice. Plus, iXplainer an app designed for the insurance industry to explain industry terms, acronyms and jargon.
Initiatives don’t just have to focus on technology, but can focus on culture, skills and recruitment to name but a few. The delegates are about to launch a survey to help identify skills gaps in the current workforce.
Delegates are not only supported by DXC via Caroline Bedford and her team but also by a host of advisory board members. This is a group of 16 influential individuals from across the London Market (and past delegates) who are not only there to support the delegates through their year-long programme, but also to connect them to other people within the market that could assist them with their initiatives. Advisory board members include; Lewis Gibbons at Aon, Natalie Botha at Marsh, Freyr Mervick at Aviva and Bobbie Mansfield at AXA XL to name but a few.
To embark on their DXC Digital Minds journey the delegates were split into three groups on both days to discuss the problems, challenges and opportunities that come from their day-to-day experience within the London Market. Unsurprisingly, many themes were seen across all three groups (on both days). Quality of data, legacy systems and cultural change came up across the board. These pressure points often begin as the foundation of DDMIs, where problems are identified, delegates go on to innovate and create ways to combat these challenges.
With no less than 12 further events already planned in to the DXC Digital Minds calendar it’s a fast paced, interactive and unique programme to be part of. It was clear to see that the 150 delegates enrolled on the programme this year are all passionate and committed to changing the London Market in a positive way. 2020 is set to be a record year for DXC Digital Minds.