Interview with Sarah Lecuna, Global Benefits Leader, Intuit, Inc.

As part of celebrating our 10th anniversary, we have been delighted to share this series of interviews with benefits leaders—Insights From Industry Leaders. These benefits pros have shared their thoughts on the current landscape, and their visions for the future. This interview is the last in the series. You'll find them all on my LinkedIn page.

Today, we feature:

Sara Lecuna, Global Benefits Leader, Intuit, Inc.

We are honored to have worked with Intuit for the past 10 years. Intuit was an early adopter of consumer-driven plans and Sarah continues to push the envelope, evolving its programs to help employees improve their health and financial security. We have been fortunate to share the stage with Sarah many times at conferences such as WorldatWork Total Rewards, HR Executive Health and Benefits Leadership Conference, and HR Technology. In 2014, Sarah was named one of Workforce magazine's industry “Game Changers,” and she has received notable press coverage, including a recent article in Forbes. It is our privilege to work with the Intuit benefits team, and we are thrilled to feature Sarah as our final interview in the series. 

1. What’s your current role and where are you focusing your time and energy?

My current role is overseeing the benefit philosophy and strategy for Intuit’s global benefit programs. We have a lot of programs in place today, so where I’m currently focusing my time is on how we connect the right programs at the right time to the right people. Adding value by helping employees with what’s important to them when they need it, really targeting based on all the information we know about our people.

2. How did you get into employee benefits?

I really fell into it. I knew I wanted to be in the HR function, but wasn’t sure where would be the best fit for me and I the best fit for it. When I got a job in benefits I thought it would be temporary, but I love the work, the ever-changing landscape, and the impact it has on people’s lives.

3. Why have you stayed in the industry?

There is always so much going on—new technology, new ways of thinking and approaching people, and health problems that need solving. There are constantly opportunities to learn more.

4. Why do employee benefits matter?

This is another reason I’ve stayed in the industry. I truly believe benefit programs make a difference in our employees’ and their families’ lives. Whether that’s providing robust wellness programs that help people get and stay healthy, or getting people to a point where they feel financially independent. It’s not just about productivity, although we are in business so that is a great byproduct. It really is about people, and in benefits I’m in the people business.

5. Why does benefits communication matter?

This is such a significant and important part of our job—telling people about what’s available to them and how to use programs that help them or their family in any way. If you don’t communicate, then how will people know what programs Intuit’s invested in and why, and what it means to them?

6. When you reflect on the past 10 years, what accomplishments are you most proud of?  

Wow, difficult to choose but if I have to narrow, it would be the Wellness program. It has evolved and grown over the past decade into something that hits all aspects of a healthy mind, body, and financial well-being. And as our programs have grown and adapted to our employees’ needs, Intuit has embraced wellness. We really do have a culture of health that we talk about and support from a program perspective, but also through our work environment, with our onsite facilities and food programs. It’s grown into this multi-team, all-inclusive offering that helps our people be the best they can be.

7. What has been the most significant change in employee benefits during the last 10 years?

I would say ACA but I’m sure everyone is a little bored of hearing about that. So I’m going to go with technology and the way we can now interact with health care. Smart phones and the internet have changed almost everything in our lives, and health care is no exception. We have telemedicine, digital medical records, and transparency tools with doctor ratings on pricing and outcomes; we self-diagnose with the help of the internet—which I’m definitely not advocating—but this is a time when we have so much information at the tips of our fingers, and it puts power in the hands of the consumer.

8. What are you excited about right now?

I wouldn’t say I’m excited about the existing problems in the health care space with access to mental health providers, but I’m excited about the programs we’re putting in place to support employees in all aspects of their lives. We recently launched our Well Minds program that includes a meditation app and extended mindfulness training reimbursement. Next on our journey is trying to address access to care in the mental health space, and supporting families with children who have special needs under our family support programs.

9. What are you concerned about right now?

Top of mind is stress—work, financial, and health. It’s a global epidemic that is barely being addressed, but it has a significant impact on overall health, well-being and, from a business perspective, engagement and productivity.

10. What do you want to see happen in the next 10 years?

We’ve put many programs in place on a very reactive basis. Reacting to our medical spend, the staggering rate of diabetes, heart disease and cancers caused from smoking and other lifestyle choices around the globe. I hope that in 10 years there has been a societal shift to where the norm is to be proactive about health, and I hope the medical industry has advanced by leaps and bounds in curing cancer and other chronic conditions and making those cures affordable for everyone.

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About Benz Communications

We are a communications and marketing agency that is solely, purposefully, and passionately focused on employee benefits. Our proven approach combines the science of behavioral economics with the best of communications strategy and design. Since 2006, we have served leading employers and benefits providers, including many Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. As a thought leader in the benefits industry, we invest in research and resources to help companies educate employees about health, financial, and other benefits. Learn more at www.benzcommunications.com. Follow us on Twitter @BenzComm and Facebook.