Staffing & Culture | 05.01.24
From Army Interrogator to Insurance Leader: Nicohle Schluender on Effective Leadership
by: BISA Staff
Nicohle Schluender's journey from U.S. Army interrogator to head of insurance strategy and transformation at American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company is anything but ordinary. At the BISA Annual Convention, she shared her unique perspective on leadership, drawing on her experiences in both the military and the corporate world.
Schluender is a strong proponent of transformational leadership, a style that emphasizes building relationships and inspiring teams to achieve their full potential. She believes this concept, rooted in the idea of shared morality, resonates because leadership is inherently relational. Authenticity and genuine care are crucial for building trust within these relationships.
Finding Your Ambitious Sweet Spot
Schluender's approach to leadership is also influenced by her concept of "ambitiously lazy." This philosophy revolves around leveraging the lessons others have learned, as well as your own to build strengths and skills to create a successful approach. She emphasizes not needing to replicate others' successes, but rather finding what works best for you. When she chose to join the military after college, becoming an interrogator spoke to her simply because it lined up with her skills and the timing — a decision that ultimately changed the trajectory of her life. Initially unaware of the gravity of her role as an interrogator, she quickly learned her role as a leader when serving in Germany immediately before the 9/11 attacks.
After leaving the military, Schluender transitioned into HR, where she discovered a surprising connection to her interrogation skills. Her ability to navigate challenging situations and subtly guide people towards solutions proved valuable in this new environment. She highlights this ability to be a transferable skill for many professional settings.
The financial services industry then called her, leading her to roles in operations and marketing before returning to the financial services realm at American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company.
Three Pillars of Effective Leadership
Schluender's diverse career path has yielded valuable leadership lessons that she shared with the audience:
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Focus on Your Team: She emphasizes that a leader's primary focus should be their team's success. Drawing on her experience where performance reviews were heavily weighted on team performance, she underscores the importance of directing your energy outwards to empower your team.
- Transition with Excellence: The military's structured approach to transitioning into new roles, with observation periods and opportunities for suggestions — 30 days to watch, 30 days to suggest and 30 days to change — is a valuable concept. Schluender advises against rushing into changes when taking on a new leadership position. Building trust and rapport with your team takes time.
- Earn Your Seat at the Table: Schluender acknowledges that some of her past roles may not have been self-evident fits. However, by investing in building relationships with her team members, particularly the technical experts, she was able to earn their respect and establish her leadership. This concept extends to avoiding complacency and surrounding yourself with those who challenge you to grow.
The Power of Perspective and Empathy
Schluender also shared some additional takeaways from her experiences:
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Navigating Success Together: She recounted a situation where, as a female translator in the Middle East, she encountered initial resistance. The people on the ground, however, found a solution and helped make it work — she in return expressed gratefulness to her team and leaders, building a strong framework for camaraderie.
- The Power of Perspective: She emphasizes the importance of not assuming your audience has the same level of knowledge as you. Clear and concise communication is essential for effective leadership.
- Freedom to Care with Candor: While delivering tough feedback is necessary, it should be done with empathy. Leaders should be able to express disappointment while still valuing their team members.
Leading With Authenticity
Schluender's closing message centered on the importance of authenticity in leadership. Leaders should invest in understanding their unique strengths and leadership styles. By empowering their teams to do the same, they can foster a culture of collaboration and shared success. This focus on leveraging individual strengths aligns perfectly with her organization’s future-focused mentality. The key question, then, becomes: "What unique value do you bring to the table?" By understanding this, you can become a more effective and inspiring leader.