![[Podcast] Making technology learning a team sport](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,quality=80,format=auto,width=720,onerror=redirect/uploads/asset/file/eb01c5f6-81be-4702-8157-44217842a83d/NEWSLETTER_HEADER__1_.png?t=1768329507)
People, process, technology. Ever heard that phrase?
The more conversations I have with leaders from around Western New York for future podcast episodes of The Beacon, I think there's a reason they're listed in that order.
Our latest episode features my discussion with Ashley Engl, Director of Technology Learning and Innovation at Walsh Insurance, to talk about how she decides where technology fits and who needs a seat at the table.
Ashley's path runs from finance to banking to health insurance, then through operations, sales, and benefits, and now into technology leadership. Technology has been the common thread, but it's the people and processes that shape how she works.
She learns directly from the people at the desk serving clients, then works with management and her IT manager to bring the right tools into the agency, from a new insurance-specific AI assistant to better ways of capturing client information.
Ashley and I also covered into the human side of a rollout: building habits, sharing success stories, setting security guardrails, and using technology to bring teams together. Whether you run a small business or lead a department, her approach offers practical ideas you can use right away.
Start with the people doing the work: Ashley gathers her intel and wish lists from the team members who serve clients every day, so the tools she evaluates solve real problems.
Governance matters as much as the tool: Security, access policies, and clear guidance on what people can and can't do build trust. Ashley works closely with IT, and a preferred AI solution helped even hesitant team members get on board.
Pilot with both your champions and your skeptics: A small group testing real workflows creates examples that beat any vendor demo and gives you resources to support the wider rollout.
Technology can be a culture builder: Sharing use cases across departments sparks ideas, helps people learn together, and connects teams who don't often work side by side.
Enjoy the chat with Ashley, and I’d love to hear your feedback on the show, and on who you’d like to hear from in the future!