The CX Live! Episode 70: How to Prioritize Your Team and Community to Build a Better Program with Jackie Haywood

In this episode, Jackie Haywood, former Director of the Aetna Customer Center, shares about her experience developing and managing the briefing program while staying focused on building an environment that prioritizes team and community. She reveals the guiding principles that she implemented to build a strong team while advising how today’s program leads can expand their reach and pay it forward. From Advisory Boards and Speakers Bureaus to the Voice of the Customer, Jackie highlights ways to build both internal and external community partnerships to help programs evolve and grow.  “Never underestimate opportunities that could come from very unexpected places (i.e. serve on a committee, give an opinion, be part of a project)...It could influence your future career. As managers, we must be willing to do whatever it takes to support your team for success! Never stop supporting each other and always stay in touch with your network.”HighlightsAn overview of Aetna, creating the Aetna Customer Center and teamThe importance of Executive Support and being flexible Expand your program and space to external community initiativesThe Aetna Customer Center program differentiators and best practices  Guiding principles for building a strong and motivated teamAdvice for EBC Program Directors to Pay it ForwardExpanding team member roles to align with interests and strengthsStrategies to build support from the internal Aetna Community: Advisory Boards, Speakers Bureau, Voice of the CustomerImpactful contributions that leave a legacy How to transfer skills learned in briefing programs to our future careersResources“Learning to Lead” Ron Williams, former Aetna CEO “In The Current” by Virginia Kravitz, Writer & Mentor    This blog contains inspiring posts on a variety of topics, each with universal life lessons that are both relevant and relatable. Guest Thought Leader Jackie HaywoodFormer Director of the Aetna Customer Center In her 35 years with Aetna, Jackie held multiple positions including Implementation Manager in National Accounts Sales Support before moving to the Aetna Customer Center first as the Operations Manager and then promoted to the team’s Director. Jackie managed the proposal and building process for the new Aetna Corporate Executive Briefing Center.  She was responsible for all aspects of managing the Center and team, including program development, staff, budget, marketing initiatives, internal & external communications, sales, training & experiential display elements. Jackie assembled a diverse team representing external suppliers & business partners from various professional disciplines (content writers, exhibit designers, media, construction, audio-visual) as well as company-wide business leaders and subject matter experts. She determined program specifications, design requirements, overall content and business objectives for the Center, which was the first of its kind in the healthcare industry and was LEED Silver-certified upon completion.