On this installment we visit with the HR pro who oversees a team fielding tens of thousands of job applications each year at Progressive. Neil Lenane joined the carrier 35 years ago. His love of coaching sports got him interested in a career in human resources. “Leadership carries over to sports and HR. You’re recruiting that talent, onboarding, coaching, developing, and rewarding and recognizing that talent.”
Technology is changing the entire notion of work, Neil says: “Not just what I do, but where I work and when I work. You might come in on a limited-time basis and contribute 20 hours on a particular project. The gig economy will become more real.” Neil attributes Progressive’s growth to following a “clearly defined set of core values that goes all the way back to the 1970s.” The five values include messaging like, “We value and respect our differences, act with kindness and caring, and treat others as they want to be treated.” Neil says his associates approach business problems with the question: ‘What would our core values expect us to do?’” You’ll enjoy listening to his take on how people should compete for jobs. His personal mantra: “Risk, learn, grow.”
