Name: Kari Wittgens
Company: Liberty Mutual
Role: Director, Application Portfolio and Software Engineering
Location: Seattle, Washington
How did you become involved with ID Federation and SignOn Once? My responsibilities at Liberty Mutual include the oversight of systems used by independent agents to manage security profiles. When a colleague vacated a position on the ID Federation board of directors, I jumped at the chance to get involved. I am passionate about making the password management process easier on our agents.
What challenges does SignOn Once solve for the insurance industry? We’ve all experienced the challenges of managing multiple passwords. At best, it slows you down from accomplishing something you need to do, and, at worst, bad password management leads to fraud and financial loss. For independent agents, these pain points are compounded. Stakes are higher because they are protecting the data of many valued customers. Meanwhile, as agents adopt new tools and expand carrier choice, the complexity of password management grows. With SignOn Once, agents get the peace of mind that their customer data is more secure. Agents can be more productive when they aren’t hitting the common roadblocks associated with password management.
How do you believe a continued remote work force will impact technology in the insurance industry? The pandemic has had a profound, lasting impact on workplace norms. Many of us won’t be returning to an office as frequently as we once did, if ever. This changes a lot of behaviors — from commuting and communicating, to the way we transact business. In turn, a permanent remote work force accelerates the need for insurance companies to transform their digital and data strategies — which goes hand-in-hand with the need to protect against cybersecurity attacks.
What do you enjoy most about working in insurance technology? One of my first jobs in insurance technology was supporting p-c claims systems, where I got to see firsthand how people’s lives are put back together through insurance. That’s what I love about the industry. What I love about my job today is the sheer speed in which insurance is evolving — with technology at the center of everything we do. As I mentioned, secure profile management is a part of my team’s responsibilities. Never before has it been more interesting to explore new technologies and methods for securing against cyberthreats.
What is an activity outside of your career that inspires or motivates you? I live in the Pacific Northwest and love being outdoors, preferably on the water or in the mountains. My favorite activities include hiking, paddle boarding and skiing.
