Summary

In a regulated, data-rich industry like insurance, speed isn't the goal—credibility is. 

In this episode of The Human Element, host Barb Bidan sits down with Elizabeth McSaveny, Chief People Officer at Zurich Canada, for a grounded conversation about what it actually looks like to drive AI adoption at scale inside a global enterprise. Liz leads people strategy for a company that already runs on data across underwriting, claims, and risk, which gives her a unique vantage point on how HR should show up in the AI conversation: not as the owner of the technology, but as the orchestrator of trust, clarity, and responsible use. 

She shares how Zurich built ZuriChat—a GPT-based tool with enterprise guardrails—rolled out mandatory Copilot training with annual recertification, and why the gap between access and adoption is almost always a leadership problem, not a technology problem. 

Barb and Liz also get into the distinction between artificial intelligence and augmented intelligence, why 70% of AI transformations fail due to leadership rather than tech, and what Liz is looking for in a new L&D hire tasked with building AI capability across the organization. She closes with practical advice for every HR leader: get comfortable with the tools yourself first, because your team is watching whether you actually use what you're asking them to adopt. If you lead people in a regulated industry or are trying to build AI adoption that sticks, this conversation will ground your approach.

Timestamps

• 01:06 Liz's intro and what leading people strategy means at a global insurer
• 02:10 Why credibility matters more than speed in regulated environments
• 05:26 Advice for HR leaders stepping into global or regulated roles for the first time
• 07:39 How Zurich uses AI in underwriting, claims, and HR
• 10:57 Building ZuriChat with enterprise guardrails and mandatory recertification
• 16:57 Hiring an L&D leader focused on building AI capability
• 23:27 What HR leaders are getting wrong: focusing on the tool instead of the mindset
• 26:02 One action HR leaders can take this week

Takeaways

• Lead with clarity and trust, not speed—credibility is how you earn the right to move fast later
• Close the gap between AI access and adoption by investing in leadership capability, not more tools
• Require training and recertification for AI tools so employees understand both the power and the boundaries
• Sell AI internally as an enabler of your day to day, not a separate initiative layered on top of existing work
• Model AI use yourself before asking your team to adopt—they're watching whether you practice what you promote
• Define what good innovation looks like before telling your team to "be innovative"

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-McSavaney-chrl-bsc-371377/

Company website: https://www.zurichcanada.com/en-ca

Sponsor

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• (01:06) - Liz's intro and what leading people strategy means at a global insurer