Talent assessment and leadership development are key to building a strong, capable workforce. They help organizations identify top talent, align people with the right roles, and develop future leaders, driving growth and ensuring long-term success in a competitive market.

In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business show, Ben spoke with David Jones, CEO of Mercer Talent Enterprise, a global leader in talent assessment, technology, and leadership development, part of Mercer, about the fascinating journey of founding the Talent Enterprise 12-13 years ago and its recent acquisition by global powerhouse Mercer. David speaks about the challenges and opportunities of scaling a tech-based business in a competitive global market, the impact of AI on talent assessments, and the importance of maintaining rigorous data standards.

Mercer Talent Enterprise is a global leader in talent assessment, technology, and leadership development, part of Mercer. As the pioneers of Behaviourmetrics®, they provide innovative solutions that blend behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and data insights to help organizations make critical talent decisions. With a growing network across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America, they support over 350 clients. Their flagship platform, Lighthouse, offers a comprehensive suite of psychometric tests, virtual assessments, and surveys to address key recruitment, leadership development, and succession planning needs.

David Jones is the Chief Executive Officer and Partner at Mercer Talent Enterprise, where he leads global growth and key client relationships. With over 34 years of experience, including 26 years in the Middle East, he has advised clients in over 40 countries on talent and leadership. Jones holds degrees from the University of York, University of West England, University of Bradford, and a PhD from the University of Leicester. He is a senior advisor to policymakers, a global lecturer, and a published author, with works including “The Future of Assessments” and contributions to various academic volumes.

In a wide-ranging discussion, David and Ben talked about:

In the benefits technology space, effective solutions start by tackling deployment challenges head-on. By blending health benefits expertise with strong engineering, top platforms offer tools that simplify every part of ICHRA, from planning and compliance to enrollment. The goal is to reshape the benefits landscape, making personalized and sustainable solutions accessible to all.

In a recent episode of the HR business marketing podcast, A Better HR Business show, Ben spoke with Brandy Burch, CEO and founder of Benefitbay, a groundbreaking company that’s revolutionizing employee health benefits.

Through a modern healthcare approach known as ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements), Benefitbay allows employees to purchase individual health plans while still reaping the tax advantages typically associated with group insurance policies.

Brandy Burch’s pathway into the HR tech space came from an unconventional angle. With a robust background in accounting, she scaled the professional ladder quickly from staff accountant to controller. However, her practical involvement in the HR components of various businesses sparked an interest that couldn’t be ignored.

Upon pursuing her master’s degree, Brandy supplemented her financial expertise with formal HR training, earning SHRM certifications that cemented her skill set in both domains. This powerful combination of accounting accuracy and HR empathy provided her with unique insights into the shortcomings of traditional health benefits systems, spurring the creation of Benefitbay.

ICHRA, a healthcare model implemented since 2020, forms the backbone of Benefitbay’s offerings. This model allows employers to allocate a defined contribution towards employee health plans, ensuring fairness, compliance, and financial efficiency. The problem was that navigating the maze of individual health plans and maintaining compliance with ERISA and other regulatory mandates was a daunting challenge for many organizations. Benefitbay steps in to resolve these complexities, providing seamless integration and administration while empowering employees with choice.

One of the core advantages of ICHRA, as implemented through Benefitbay, is its ability to save both employers and employees significant sums of money. By pricing health insurance on an individual basis considering variables like age and location, rather than a general population standard, Benefitbay can offer more competitive rates. Additionally, it tackles the inherent inefficiency in traditional group plans, where one-size-fits-all solutions often result in overprice premiums without meeting individual needs.

Benefitbay operates exclusively through the broker channel, seeing brokers as essential partners rather than competition. This strategy ensures that brokers are equipped with the tools they need to efficiently quote ICRA plans, while also minimizing administrative burdens. Unlike competitors that often sideline brokers or create administrative headaches, Benefitbay offers brokers a seamless, integrated platform to better serve their clients.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Brandy and Ben talked about: