As Northwestern Mutual convenes its base of company staff and discipline representatives for its 143rd annual assembly in Milwaukee subsequent week, the influence of face-to-face interactions on firm tradition stays an underlying theme.
The occasion, which has lengthy stood as one in every of Milwaukee’s largest annual conventions, is predicted to attract 12,000 attendees from throughout the nation for 4 days of instructional periods, networking occasions and an annual run/stroll alongside the lakefront. It concludes with the Annual Present, this yr that includes performances by nation musicians Cody Johnson and Kenny Chesney on the American Household Insurance coverage Amphitheater.
“We’re within the enterprise of serving our communities, and so once we can come collectively it’s an enormous social gathering, huge celebration,” mentioned Tim Gerend, chief distribution officer at Northwestern Mutual. “There’s a whole lot of studying, there’s a whole lot of actually critical and essential content material however greater than something it’s a chance for us to connect with people who we actually care about and luxuriate in being with.”
And in immediately’s post-pandemic world of hybrid and distant work, that chance for connection is all of the extra significant.
“The dynamic and what we’ve all lived via with COVID and past has actually bolstered for us the worth and significance of human connection and being collectively,” mentioned Gerend.
After shifting to a digital format in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference returned to Milwaukee final yr, drawing practically 14,000 folks – the most important occasion Northwestern Mutual has ever hosted.
At this yr’s annual assembly, the Milwaukee-based life insurance coverage firm will increase a toast to a record-setting yr in 2022, with complete income reaching practically $35 billion. However recognition of each firm and particular person milestones is simply a part of what makes the occasion “core” to firm tradition.
“One side of that tradition is the connection between the house workplace and the sector. We’re actually interdependent and interconnected with one another and we now have a shared mission of serving our coverage house owners,” mentioned Gerend. “Whereas sure issues concerning the the enterprise, merchandise and expertise will change via the years, one factor that hasn’t modified is the connection between house workplace and the sector and the way we work collectively.”
Peer-to-peer studying is a primary focus of the annual assembly. With dozens of breakout seminars tailor-made to numerous ranges of the corporate, attendees have the prospect to listen to from house workplace executives and different monetary advisors about overcoming enterprise challenges and finest practices for fulfillment.
“It is a good way once more to attach on a private degree, however folks additionally come right here anticipating they’ll choose up issues which can be going to assist them be higher within the enterprise, and that abundance sharing and peer-to-peer sharing is a quintessential a part of what annual assembly is all about,” Gerend added.
There’s additionally a chance to be taught from some huge names in enterprise and leisure: This yr’s keynote audio system are Kate Cole, chief working officer and president of world well being and diet firm Athletic Greens, and Mike Rowe, host of “Six Levels with Mike Rowe,” the previous Discovery Channel present “Soiled Jobs” and the previous CNN and TBN present “Anyone’s Gotta do It.”
All basic periods are held at Fiserv Discussion board to maintain all attendees at one main venue. In previous years previous to the pandemic, the assembly took over a number of venues round city.
One other key component of Northwestern Mutual’s annual assembly is its host metropolis, Milwaukee. The occasion is projected to have an $11.6 million financial influence on town, however Gerend mentioned the profit goes each methods.
“The Packers, Bucks and Brewers are the second favourite staff for nearly all our advisors,” he mentioned. “They love Milwaukee and we’re so happy with our hometown and we love exhibiting it off for a number of days … it truly is actually the reference to NM but in addition the connection that our discipline pressure has with Milwaukee is a very particular factor and essential to us as an organization.”
