Brooks Tingle, President and CEO of The John Hancock Company, stands out in the corporate world for his unwavering commitment to purpose-driven leadership. His visionary approach emphasizes the transformative power of values and mission and sets new standards for innovation, success and service in the insurance industry.
Early in his tenure, Mr. Tingle saw that success comes from a strong vision and mission. He said, “I strongly believe that all good results come from a strong vision, mission, and purpose…those good results will come.” This philosophy underpins his leadership style and has guided John Hancock to meaningful initiatives that prioritize social impact alongside economic profit.
Brooks Tingle explains how John Hancock helped him stay longer, healthier, and … [+]
Visionary changes in insurance
Under Mr. Tingle's leadership, John Hancock Insurance has undergone significant transformation, particularly through its innovative Vitality program. This initiative represents a departure from traditional insurance models that prioritize active health management over passive claims payments.
Reflecting on this change, Tingle emphasized: “The fundamental change in our business has been to move from being a passive claims payer to being an active risk manager. This proactive approach reflects Tingle's belief in the power of prevention and early intervention to improve outcomes for both policyholders and the company.
A win-win-win for customers, employees and the business
At the heart of Tingle's strategy is a win-win-win approach to business, which benefits all stakeholders. By encouraging our policyholders to adopt healthier lifestyles, John Hancock not only improves our bottom line, but also the well-being of our customers and the health of society.
Elaborating on this approach, Mr. Tingle said, “It's in our best interest to help you live a healthy life… It's in our business, our customers, and society as a whole. That’s a good thing.” This alignment of interests underscores Tingle's belief that a company's success should inherently have a positive impact on society.
Business leaders succeed by connecting their products to the lives of the people who use them.
Utilizing behavior change science
Tingle's belief in and understanding of behavioral science is the driving force behind Vitality's success. Through gamification and incentives, the program fosters lasting behavior change among policyholders, promoting healthier habits and reducing long-term risks.
Tingle says, “Changing behavior is hard enough, but maintaining it is even harder. It starts with making the right choice the easy one. And then making it fun. ” he explains. By leveraging insights from behavioral science, Tingle ensures Vitality is both engaging and effective in driving positive health outcomes.
overcome difficulties with faith
Despite facing significant skepticism and resistance, Tingle remains a strong believer in the transformative power of purpose-driven initiatives. His beliefs allow him to overcome obstacles and drive meaningful change within organizations.
Reflecting on these challenges, Tingle emphasized: “The challenge and opportunity is to connect everyone in your organization with those stories…If you believe in it, you can overcome anything.” An unwavering belief in this mission, no matter what the path It inspires Tingle's determination to make positive change, despite obstacles.
To energize the connection between individual employees and the company's work, John Hancock and its parent company Manulife share personal stories about how they connect with the brand's mission and purpose. I invited my colleagues. One of John Hancock's team members told how her father's sudden death connects her to her company's mission every day.
After John Hancock's colleague Anna Sr. shared a better story about her father.
Inspirational leadership for the future
Looking to the future, Tingle envisions a future where purpose-driven business models are the norm. He aims to encourage other private sector leaders and executives to prioritize initiatives that benefit both their companies and society as a whole.
Reflecting on leadership, Tingle said, “If you don't have that sense of purpose…do something else, because you'll never reach your potential…life is too short.” His words inspire leaders across industries to embrace purpose-driven leadership as a catalyst for positive change.
Brooks Tingle's leadership at John Hancock embodies the transformational impact of purpose-driven leadership. Through initiatives like Vitality, he has reshaped the insurance industry and proven that profitability and social impact can go hand in hand. Tingle's vision is a guiding light for leaders across industries, inspiring them to prioritize purpose and values within their organizations.
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