A ConstAnt
Adjustment
As changes in technology, staffing, customers, end users
and much more occur around her, Aflac’s Pat Rayl has to adjust,
and she says it’s just part of the job.
Editor’s Note: This is the first in INN’s new “Day on the Job”
series, in which INN editors spend a day with insurance
executives to find out how they overcome the challenges they
face on a daily basis.
“If you’re in IT and are unable to adjust, you’re in the
wrong profession.” When Pat Rayl, 2nd VP of IT of Aflac
tells me this, it sums up her day perfectly. Pat adjusts. She
protects, analyzes, manages and adjusts.
The first adjustment to her day starts around
7 a.m. On this particular day, Pat has to adjust to
an editor and photographer always at her heels.
But, like every day, from her office—complete
with family photos, awards and numerous stuffed
Aflac ducks representing her long tenure at the
supplemental insurance carrier—she starts by
studying the daily operational report. She diligently reviews the report, which contains infrastructure and application incidents and outages for the last 24 hours, glitches
and challenges, and follows up on any urgent issues that
need attention before Aflac’s daily operational board review meeting at 8 a.m.
Also evident on Pat’s mind is a meeting in two days to
discuss operational changes within the 550-person IT de-
partment—fortunately, these changes will not result in lay-
offs, but rather changes in responsibility. Pat, for one, will
be named VP of Technical Process Management, which
means her role will change drastically (see “Adjusting to
a New Role,” page 15). However, it’s business as usual as
2nd VP of IT today.
By
Carrie
Burns
