Innovating with Purpose at MetLife: Creating Solutions That Matter

In the early 2000s, Naren Peri stepped onto a train platform at Grand Central Station. It was his first time in New York, and as he walked out onto the streets of Midtown Manhattan, he looked up in awe at the MetLife global headquarters, standing tall at Park Avenue and 45^th Street. 

The company’s purpose of building a more confident future for its customers is what later piqued Peri’s interest and encouraged him to join the MetLife team in 2019 as the head of data and analytics in Hyderabad — 19 years after first seeing the MetLife building in New York.

“It was a full-circle moment for me,” he said. “I always viewed MetLife as a pillar in the insurance industry. We’ve been around for over 150 years, operate in more than 40 countries, and have a deep commitment to innovation. I get to come to work every day to further the foundation that MetLife has built and positively impact customers across the world — how awesome is that?”

Since starting his role, Peri has helped the company build out its technological capabilities while reaping the benefits of a culture that values all perspectives and voices. 

A Culture of Innovation

At MetLife, Peri said that every team member has an opportunity to drive impact, thanks to the company’s focus on aligned objectives and experimentation. Its global technology and operations organization operates in an agile, open and inclusive environment with a wide tech stack that gives everyone the chance to drive progress. Their culture also encourages out-of-the-box ideas while supporting teammates lean on each other for guidance when needed. 

So, what does this impact look like exactly? Peri offered the example of how technology and data analytics teams enhanced MetLife’s underwriting process for life insurance in the United States. By applying AI, the process that customers experienced when applying for additional insurance coverage went from taking 2-10 days to just two seconds — a significant step forward in improving the customer experience.  

“We’re on a digital transformation journey where technologists get to be involved with projects focused on business process re-engineering and automation, building end-to-end solutions and expanding their skills with cutting-edge tech. It’s an exciting time to join us,” he said.

Working Together With a Purpose To Be Proud Of

As Peri and his colleagues deliver on their promises to customers, he explained that they have ample opportunities to work on critical projects with colleagues across different geographies and business functions.

“I’m getting better as a professional because I get to apply these technologies in an innovative way that better serves our customers, all while collaborating with colleagues from all over the world. We have so much to learn from one another,” he said. 

Peri believes that every aspect of MetLife, from its focus on experimental innovation to its tight-knit, supportive culture, ties back to the people-first nature of its core purpose: “always with you, building a more confident future.”

Many employees express their gratitude for being able to “bring their whole selves to work.” For Peri, that means having a hybrid work model that offers flexibility to work from home a few days a week, as well as having the ability to share his opinions and seek guidance in a workplace that encourages feedback and open dialogue. It also means having the opportunity to integrate both personal and professional successes. 

"My colleagues have celebrated both my work and wedding anniversaries, which I have always appreciated. We’re there for each other to balance work and life and deliver on our promises to our customers as one team,” he said. “MetLife is a special place in that way. We have this saying here, that it’s ‘All Together Possible.’ I see and feel that every day.”