At Nationwide, professional development is more than a benefit — it’s an investment in the future. As one of the largest insurance and financial services organizations in the United States, Nationwide is committed to continuous learning and career growth.
In addition to the robust skill-based learning already available, leaders saw an opportunity to strengthen insurance knowledge and broaden business understanding. To support these goals, Nationwide Financial partnered with LOMA to offer Insurance Immersion, an instructor-led program that offers a concise, holistic view of the insurance industry. What began as an effort to deepen industry knowledge has quickly become a sought-after development experience, generating enthusiastic feedback and demand across business units.
Across the Nationwide Financial operations teams, employees are embracing a learning experience that is strengthening business acumen, building connections, and helping them better understand how their work impacts customers.
The initiative was championed by Angela Davis, Vice President of Internal Sales & Service; Stormi Fuller-Napier, Vice President of Annuity and Life Operations; and Sherry Hudson, Vice President of Life New Business, who wanted to make meaningful professional development more accessible while creating a shared understanding of the industry across teams.
Investing in Development
Historically, some employees faced challenges pursuing professional education due to financial hurdles — such as paying course fees upfront before reimbursement. Insurance Immersion offered a solution that made learning more accessible while delivering practical, career-enhancing content.
“As leaders, we wanted professional development to be accessible to everyone,” said Sherry Hudson.
“Insurance Immersion removes barriers by making high-quality learning opportunities available without the financial hurdles that can come with traditional programs. It gives employees an opportunity to quickly build knowledge and confidence.”
Opening Eyes to the Bigger Picture
The program delivers foundational insurance knowledge in a streamlined format while providing credit for LOMA’s FLMI Level 1 Certificate in Insurance Fundamentals. Participants gain a broader understanding of the insurance business and develop a common language that supports collaboration across life and annuity operations.
Leaders saw an opportunity to create dedicated development time that allowed associates to step away from day-to-day responsibilities, focus on learning, and connect with colleagues from across the organization in person.
Participants from sales, operations, and new business functions come together to explore the insurance lifecycle, deepen their understanding of life and annuity products, and gain insight into how each area contributes to customer outcomes. The experience also provides valuable networking opportunities that foster stronger cross-functional relationships.
Learning With Lasting Impact
One of the program’s most meaningful outcomes has been helping employees better understand the full insurance value chain.
“Before participating in Insurance Immersion, many understood their individual role but didn’t always see what happened before or after them in the process,”
said Stormi Fuller-Napier. “The program helps them understand the entire value chain, connect with colleagues across functions, and see the meaningful impact their work has on our customers.”
That broader perspective has led to stronger collaboration, increased confidence discussing insurance concepts, and greater appreciation for the contributions of other teams. The networking component has been equally valuable, helping participants build relationships that extend beyond the classroom and strengthen collaboration across departments.
The response exceeded expectations. Participants describe Insurance Immersion as one of the most valuable professional development opportunities available to them, with many encouraging colleagues and managers to participate in future sessions.
To expand access, Nationwide added virtual Insurance Immersion sessions, ensuring that fully remote employees could benefit from the same learning experience.
“ Associate feedback reinforced the value of the program and the impact it had on building industry and business knowledge,” said Angela Davis. 
“By offering both in-person and virtual sessions, we're able to make the experience more accessible, support broader participation, and extend its benefits across the organization. The enthusiasm has been so strong that participants are actively serving as ambassadors for the program, encouraging others to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Building Future Knowledge
Looking ahead, Nationwide plans to continue leveraging Insurance Immersion as a component of its long-term talent development strategy beyond 2026. Plans include aligning the program with future-skills initiatives, supporting onboarding efforts, increasing attainment of the FLMI Level 1 Certificate in Insurance Fundamentals, and encouraging continued progression through LOMA education programs.
Insurance Immersion is helping Nationwide build stronger business acumen, foster cross-functional collaboration, and prepare future leaders — reinforcing a culture where learning and professional growth are essential to long-term success.