#OwnYourCareer: Reimagining skill development with Gigs

In this session, Kristen will share how Sun Life is activating the future of work now; pioneering on-the-job skill development through a new gig program that allows employees to enhance skills and capabilities through meaningful work that supports business needs, while remaining in their regular role. A core element of Sun Life’s reskilling and redeployment strategy, internal gigs are creating brand new development pathways while creating cross-functional exposure and access to skills and talent across the organization.

Learn how Sun Life experimented with and grew an internal talent marketplace for gigs, and hear first-hand from a gig host about the process, benefits, and challenges of finding and working with giggers.

Speaker Biography

Kristen Cross is Director of Talent Acquisition and Development at Sun Life. Building on her early career in learning & development, Kristen made the move to bridging talent acquisition and development in late 2019. At the intersection of these two worlds, she brings her wealth of learning and development expertise, creativity, and a dedication to building strong global and inter-departmental partnerships to bring the Sun Life talent story to life through talent branding. She enjoys complex creative challenges and facilitating breakthrough changes for her team and in the organization. Her team also supports the Sun Life talent acquisition and development team in achieving their objectives through fresh insights, new partnerships, and strategic advisory services.

Prior to joining Sun Life, Kristen learned the art of experiential learning at Eagle’s Flight, created global leadership development solutions at Research in Motion (BlackBerry), and led Broker, technical and core employee and leadership development at Economical Insurance.

When not working, Kristen can be found building Lego with her two young kids, practicing guitar, binge-watching Netflix, or out exploring a new trail with Oakley, the family dog.