Transparency and autonomy without limits. This is how Alan creates an unbeatable team in Spain.
Learn how Alan revolutionizes health insurance with tech, focusing on talent management to grow and support a dynamic workforce.
Alan is a disruptive company in the business health insurance sector that redefines the healthcare experience through advanced technological solutions. As a health partner for companies, Alan seeks to reinvent the way we take care of ourselves and build healthier, more transparent and accessible work environments. In Spain, the company has offices in Madrid and Barcelona. Javier Alemán, his Global Talent y Employer Brand Lead en Alan, has explained to us how his talent management has been key to carving out a niche in such a competitive industry.
Javier told us that his mission in Spain is to reach 130 “Alaners” (this is how the company's workers call themselves) and to provide service to 300,000 people. The challenge now is to find the right talent, and maintain the culture that has made them come this far. But what are the keys to achieving all this?
NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES OF TECH TALENT SOURCING
To triple an insurtech team in three years, Javier highlights several challenges that Alan has to face. First, the competition for specialized talent followed by understanding generational priorities, being able to communicate Alan's value proposition or leveraging technology and automation.
“The biggest challenge we encounter when hiring is the competition for technological professionals”
“In addition, the incoming generations in the labor market, we talk about Millennials and Generation Z, have different expectations and values than previous generations, including a strong focus on the purpose and social impact of their work,” reports.
Together with these challenges, companies are forced to stand out among all the alternatives that a candidate may have. To achieve this, it is more and more important to work on the employee value proposition.
“We have detected that new generations are looking for something beyond salary. Candidates seek benefits and a culture that aligns with their personal and professional values. This may include professional development, commitment to society or a good work-life balance. This balance has become fundamental for today's workers, including not only flexible schedules, but also a healthy business culture that promotes well-being," he says. “Lately, the use of technology is highly valued. Especially AI. Now employers need to start using AI and employees too. Leading companies in AI and new technologies attract talent. The talents are looking at that, how the technology is implemented and if it is being invested.”, Javier adds.
Overcoming the challenges in the search for technological talent requires a multifaceted strategy that responds to the changing dynamics of the labor market. Therefore, Alan recognizes the importance of adapting to the expectations of new generations by offering not only a competitive salary package, but also an attractive company culture and benefits that are in harmony with their personal values and aspirations.
4 ELEMENTS TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL TEAM
When it comes to selecting and managing talent, the work does not end with attraction. Once you have managed to seduce the talent you wanted, the big thing begins: building a successful team with the value proposition and company culture.
For Javier, “Successful teams are those that have people with great individual talent who manage to improve and contribute to the rest of the team: 1+1 always has to be more than 2. And to achieve this, a combination of technical skills and a strong alignment with company culture. At Alan, we believe that excellence comes with responsibility and autonomy, but also requires working collectively toward a common and social goal, taking care of each other. This philosophy is reflected in our value proposition, where Alan describes himself as a place where excellence meets healthcare. (Alan is the place where excellence meets (health) care)”.
“Successful teams are those that have people with great individual talent who manage to improve and contribute to the rest of the team”
And, to achieve that perfect skills and cultural alignment, Alan follows a very strict selection policy that helps minimize errors.
ALAN’S “PLAYBOOK” TO FIND THE RIGHT TALENT
Values-based recruiting: We look for candidates who not only have the necessary technical skills, but also share our values of transparency, mutual care, and a commitment to excellence. When hiring we are guided by our principles
- “We hire missionaries, not mercenaries”: At Alan, we motivate employees through our mission to transform health and generate social impact, without resorting to commissions or bonuses. We offer fair compensation, promotion opportunities every 6 months and make every employee a part owner of Alan with our generous share policy. Not even the sales team works on commission.
- "We raise the bar when we hire": At Alan, we need to build an organization made up of high-performing people, with a very high talent density. To do this, we only hire people who impress us in their field and whom we are willing to trust with responsibility for different topics. When we hire, we ask ourselves questions like: Will you admire this person? Will this person raise the average level of effectiveness of the group he joins? In what area could this person be a superstar?
Rigorous selection process: Our selection process not only evaluates technical competencies, but also delves into how candidates align with our culture and values. This includes discussions about real-world scenarios and how they would address specific challenges, allowing us to evaluate their approach to teamwork and problem-solving.
- Development and growth: Once members join Alan, we foster an environment of continuous learning and personal growth. Our high-demand culture is balanced with the support of the team and, more specifically, the figure of the coach, which we all have in Alan. Its objective is the mere professional and personal development of the Alaner within the company. Through the coaching system we ensure that all Alan employees can reach their maximum potential.
- Feedback and transparency: Constant feedback and transparency are key at Alan. This allows us to continually adjust and improve our approach, both at an individual and team level, ensuring everyone is aligned with our common goals and values. At Alan, we have 2 performance review processes per year, but we also have a continuous feedback system established in the company so as not to stop growing between one cycle and another.
"As part of each process, the last phase is an “Alan day” where the person spends an entire day in the office or remotely learning first-hand about our culture and way of working. ”
Alan bases his team's success on the combination of exceptional technical skills and strong cultural alignment, giving equal importance to both elements, hard and soft skills. By focusing on these aspects, they can build teams that are highly effective and engaged, and equipped to meet the challenges and seize opportunities in the dynamic healthcare technology sector.
ALAN'S CULTURE AS A PILLAR FOR HIRING THE RIGHT TALENT.
Alan's team continually works to define and improve the value proposition for employees. Given the enormous importance of finding culturally aligned talent, this step is essential.
The company's value proposition is unique and it is based on three fundamental pillars:
· An inspiring mission: radically change the world of health to improve people's lives. This ambition is not just a phrase on an office mural; It is the north that guides every project, every innovation, every decision.
· Solid values that cement a healthy environment for professional growth. "Our culture," Explain Javier, "advocates radical transparency. From performance reviews to salaries, everything is public. We promote open decision-making, documenting and discussing every step on a platform accessible by our entire team. This creates a workspace based on trust, where everyone is informed and can actively contribute to the conversation.
· Hire talented people and do not fear autonomy. Alan doesn't look exclusively at previous experience or time at the company. "What we value is the ability to take on individual responsibilities from day one, with the expectation of generating a significant impact. We are looking for people who not only want to be part of the company, but who aspire to shape and grow it with us."
Javier, breaks down the essence of what makes Alan so special in the competitive world of insurtech. "Our focus," starts, "It is based on three fundamental pillars that, together, not only transform the health landscape, but also enrich the professional and personal lives of those who are part of our family."
However, the value proposition does not end here, transparency is essential for the company. In fact, they not only tell the employee what they will find in the company, they also focus on what they will NOT find in Alan. Javier offers us an unfiltered look, emphasizing that its distinctive culture and work environment are not for everyone. This honesty aligns perfectly with the company's core: radical transparency. "Our intention," he explains, "is to be absolutely clear about what it means to work here. We want every person who joins us, or is considering joining us, to deeply understand what Alan represents."
“Our culture is very marked by transparency. Everything is done in public, from decision making at any level to performance evaluations. Even the salary of each Alaner is public”
In this sense, Alan presents himself as a place that is NOT always comfortable, "We don't aim to be an easy place to work. Our standards are high because we strive for excellence in everything we do. This means that the high-performance culture we foster can be demanding." Likewise, it is defined as a workplace where you will NOT always get it right. For Alan, making mistakes is part of the learning process. Far from discouraging mistakes, in this insurtech they see them as an opportunity to grow and improve." Alan is NOT static; “We value adaptability over previous experience. We encourage our teams to approach problems from new perspectives, to challenge the status quo."
Besides, Javier highlights autonomy as a cornerstone of Alan's experience. "Don't expect to be given all the answers. Here, you own your projects from day one, which requires a strong dose of initiative and self-sufficiency. We are looking for those who not only accept this challenge, but are motivated by he."
“At Alan you own your projects from the first minute. “You need personality to make decisions and accept them being questioned”
It ends with a reflection that summarizes Alan's ethos: "Our approach is not for everyone, and that's okay. We believe that by being upfront about our culture and what we expect, we will attract those who will truly resonate with our mission and way of working."
This commitment to authenticity not only defines Alan's identity, but ensures that those who join are fully aligned with the company's values and vision. In this sense, Javier highlights how transparency, flexibility, trust and equity are not simply political; They are the infrastructure that sustains Alan. "We offer a space where professional development and commitment to society go hand in hand, aligning our operations with the personal and professional values of our team. This is how we attract and retain the best talent."
“Being part of Alan's team means immersing yourself in an environment that constantly challenges your limits, in return the opportunities for growth are endless. At Alan, every day is an adventure toward personal achievement and collective success."
ALAN'S LOOK ON THE FUTURE OF TALENT SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT
Looking to the future, Javier projects an evolutionary landscape for talent selection and management led by profound and accelerated transformations due to technological advancement, emerging workforce expectations, and growing demands of the business environment. "We are on the verge of a revolution in how we attract, select and retain talent," tells us. In this sense, he has highlighted several key vectors that will define this change:
First, the adoption of advanced technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. This will radically transform the recruitment and management processes. "AI will not only make our selection methods more efficient, but will also allow us to make more informed decisions based on predictive analytics. Candidates, for their part, will be attracted to companies that are leaders in the implementation of these technologies," states Javier.
Secondly, the alignment of the values and aspirations of talents with the mission and strategic vision of the company will become an even more critical factor. Candidates are increasingly seeking to join projects with which they feel identified and that have a positive impact, such as the revolution in the health system. "People want to feel that their work has a purpose, that it contributes to something greater," dice.
"Development and continuous training will be fundamental," highlights Javier. He stands that constant technological change demands a workforce that is not only competent today, but can also adapt and grow tomorrow. This will require companies to be committed to the development of their employees, offering clear pathways for continuous learning and professional evolution.
Finally, the soft skills assessment will take greater relevance in the selection processes. "We will look at innovative ways to assess skills such as effective communication, teamwork and resilience, recognizing their growing importance in career success.
The future of talent management at Alan, and in the general industry, is emerging as a more integrated and technologically advanced approach, where strategic and cultural alignment, flexibility, continuous development and employee well-being will build the structure central. "We are shaping not only the future of our company, but also that of the entire sector, preparing to lead in a rapidly changing world," concludes Javier with a note of optimism and determination.
