Profile: Tonjia Coverdale, Ph.D.
Meet Tonjia Coverdale, Ph.D. AVP, Workforce & Legal Technology at Nationwide.
Name: Tonjia Coverdale, Ph.D.
Job: Associate Vice President, Workforce & Legal Technology at Nationwide
City: Columbus
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Q: What is it that you do at Nationwide?
I am an AVP within Nationwide Technology serving as the BSA (Business Solution Area) leader focused on Workforce and Legal Technology. I oversee and am leading transformation within the 200+ application portfolio supporting the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, which includes Human Resources, Corporate Real Estate, and Aviation, and the Office of the Chief Legal Officer, which includes Legal, Trial, and Community Programs / Foundation.
Our portfolio spans human capital management including workforce acquisition, management, and optimization, Nationwide (literally) corporate campus functions such as space utilization, building management and security (smart elevators!), and integrated workplace management, and legal matter / compliance management, staff counsel, and philanthropy.
I absolutely love the complexity and diversity of this portfolio, every day is definitely new and exciting!
Q: What’s a problem that you are working to solve?
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the onset of the “workplace of the future” with an immediately changing organizational landscape that is now hyper-reliant on technologies that support and enable a remote and/or hybrid workforce while preserving business normalcy and resilience. As the BSA leader supporting the aforementioned business units, particularly Human Resources, Corporate Real Estate, and Legal/Trial, I was thrust in the middle of this evolution especially given Nationwide’s transitioning to a hybrid workplace with associates in several offices moving permanently to 100% WFH. I definitely do not see this as a “problem” we are trying to solve, actually I am invigorated by the opportunity to help shape the future state of work at Nationwide and beyond.
Several opportunities are arising such as how to support seamless communications and collaboration between on-premise and remote associates, essentially re-dimensioning work in an extraction from time and space. How do we use emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, data analytics, and RPA to further automation and enable customization to provide a more robust consumer-like self-serve associate experience that reflects trends and preferences inherent in everyday user experiences and interactions?
I am particularly intrigued by the prospect of legal modernization and its next iteration, legal digitization, in an industry that is ripe with standard processes that can be easily overlaid with emergent technologies to create a completely digital legal environment that preserves regulatory obligations (Blockchain-enabled attorney-client interactions comes to mind), yet again transcends time and space without sacrificing real-time collaboration and access.
Q: What’s a lesson you’ve learned that has helped shaped your work?
The lesson that I’ve learned that has helped shape my work is to be authentically me.
I am bold, colorful, empathic, optimistic, luminous, and passionate in a tech world that is increasingly becoming such, but has not always been over my 23-year career. In addition, I absolutely love people and staying true to myself, I have a “people-centric” approach to technology delivery where I seek to understand the needs of my various stakeholders to help them reach their business goals. I put my heart and soul into serving my clients and supporting everyone who I am so fortunate to encounter. I honestly endeavor to “be good and do good” in every space I enter.
When you do not allow the veil of the false self to dim the inner light of your authentic self, you shine brighter.
Q: What’s a trend in technology or innovation that you believe doesn’t get enough attention?
I have a few actually. There is so much more opportunity for robotic process automation (RPA). I also think that voice interfaces are underutilized in non-consumer facing contexts. However, the trend I would most like to see get more attention is the digital twin. It’s fascinating!
Q: What’s one moonshot idea that could help make Ohio a world leader in technology and innovation?
Definitely developing a home-grown sustainable tech talent pipeline through innovation-education partnerships!
Last year, I was a keynote speaker at CIO Tomorrow regarding this same subject. The phenomenon that we are experiencing here in Ohio is that although we have a booming tech economy, a good portion of the talent remains on the coasts.
In addition, oftentimes there exists an academic-practitioner gap in which universities and other learning institutions are not adequately preparing graduates with the technology skills that are currently in demand by employers. If we begin to have a more concerted effort with innovation-education partnerships, industry can invest in K-16 institutions through curriculum development, learning materials and facilities, internships, apprenticeships, and mentorships, and apropos for Ohio’s agricultural roots, begin to plant the seeds to grow and cultivate our own talent.
I think there are thousands of qualified Ohioans right here at home who, through coordinated partnerships, can serve as the engine behind an even greater technology and innovation economy. Imagine that…
Q: What’s a recent book, podcast or news story that you found interesting?
When I’m not saving the world through technology, I enjoy a daily practice of yoga and mindfulness. I recently read The Way of Liberation: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Adyashanti and I found it to be extremely clarifying and insightful for my own personal journey.
Q: What's your favorite place in Ohio?
My favorite place in Ohio is the bike trail system in Southwest Ohio. I’ve only been here three years and am still exploring Ohio, but I love cycling on the trails.
Q: What makes Ohio special to you?
Definitely the people! I have lived in five other states (New York, Delaware, Maryland, Georgia, and Florida) and a territory (U.S. Virgin Islands) and by far, Ohioans have been authentically the warmest and most welcoming. I really enjoy the sense of community here, especially the Columbus tech community which is like a huge family. I love the Ohio love and the Buckeye spirit… O-H!
Connect with Tonjia on LinkedIn.