Industry: Global Health Services
What they do: Cigna delivers health insurance, pharmacy benefits and innovative health solutions to more than 178 million customer relationships in over 30 countries. Through Cigna Healthcare℠ and Evernorth Health Services®, they aim to improve the health and vitality of the people they serve.
Who we spoke with: Andres Delgado, senior advisor for the Financial Leadership Development Program and John Badgett, advisor for the Financial Leadership Development Program and WashU alumnus
Why does Cigna recruit from WashU?
Cigna hires WashU graduates because of the university’s strong reputation and track record. WashU students are talented, critical thinkers who collaborate well and are driven to make a difference. Those qualities align closely with Cigna’s mission to improve the health and vitality of the people we serve. Many WashU alumni hold leadership positions at Cigna, and the organization continually looks to bring in the brightest talent.
What sets WashU graduates apart in the workplace?
WashU alumni have found great success at Cigna. They stand out for their curiosity, professionalism and ability to contribute effectively from day one. The breadth of courses, strong faculty, and diverse student body give them a global perspective and the ability to think beyond daily tasks.
What qualities does Cigna look for in early-career talent?
Curiosity, critical thinking, strong communication skills, collaboration, leadership potential, and a global mindset, along with the ability to work effectively with internal and external partners.
How can WashU students connect with Cigna before graduation?
Attend Cigna’s pop-up events and career fairs on campus, connect with recruiters on LinkedIn, and explore opportunities listed on Cigna.com. These opportunities create meaningful connections that can lead to job opportunities.
For me, attending the Cigna pop-up event when I was a student at WashU was pivotal in launching my career with Cigna.
– John Badgett, advisor for the Financial Leadership Development Program and WashU alumnus
What kinds of positions are available for early talent?
Cigna offers a variety of leadership development programs for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as early career professionals, designed to provide rotational experiences and accelerate career growth. Here’s a snapshot of those programs:
Undergraduate programs
- Actuarial Executive Development Program: Develops full-time members through rotations, actuarial exam support, and leadership opportunities.
- Marketing Leadership Development Program: Provides experiences and skills to become a modern marketer.
- Operations Leadership Development Program: Involves associates directly in the core operations of Cigna.
- Pharmacy Underwriting Development Program: An 18-week program within the Evernorth Health Services division to develop underwriting skills.
- Technology Development Program: Focuses on developing technical, leadership, and business skills for IT professionals.
- Risk Management & Underwriting Leadership Development Program: Guides early career professionals through a mix of training and on-the-job experiences.
- Sales & Contracting Development Program: Offers two tracks: Sales Academy and Network Academy, providing a foundation in health benefit sales and contracting.
Graduate & MBA programs
- Analytics Leadership Development Program: Provides opportunities to work on high-priority analytics and data science projects.
- Financial Leadership Development Program: Designed for early-career MBAs and CPAs to prepare them for leadership positions in finance.
- Health Service Leadership Development Program: Exposes participants to various teams and roles to develop leadership skills for future executive positions.
- Human Resource Leadership Development Program: Provides exposure and development to excel in Human Resources through rotations in different roles.
- Marketing Leadership Development Program: Aims to develop well-rounded marketing professionals.