Fortune 500 | episode 530

Northwestern Mutual CIO Neal Sample

Neal Sample is the chief information officer of Northwestern Mutual, a financial services mutual organization with revenues exceeding $32 billion annually. As CIO, Neal leads the company’s technology organization, which includes oversight of the major technology systems and developing and refining its financial planning digital platforms. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Neal was the chief operating officer at Express Scripts. February 08, 2021

530: Northwestern Mutual CIO Neal Sample discusses

  • How being a mutual company, as opposed to a public company, allows IT and the broader organization to think with a longer-term perspective in mind and how that impacted the firm’s actions during the pandemic
  • The difference the company is making in local communities through initiatives such as Outsource to America and Hi, Tech
  • Why Neal decided to join Northwestern Mutual as CIO after having been promoted out of that role to the COO post at Express Scripts
  • How the CIO role has evolved to become an immensely influential role
  • How being a former national champion debater has served him well in business
  • How COVID and changing consumer expectations have massively accelerated the pace of business change
  • Why talent mobility is going to have a significant impact going forward

The World Class IT principles in yellow were the focus of this interview

  • 01 1- People
  • 02 2- Infrastructure
  • 03 3- Project and Portfolio Management
  • 04 4- IT & Business Partnership
  • 05 5- External Partnerships

From strategy to implementation

We create actionable solutions. Want to know how?
explore