Brannigan Thompson on networking
From The Network Journal 40 Under Forty Honoree Brannigan C Thompson · · The Network Journal (The Network Journal)
“Networking has been extremely important to my career, but I look at networking a little differently — I've been blessed to be a blessing, so I try to build networks with individuals that I can actually give something back to, not just something I can get from.”
On , Brannigan Thompson, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at VOYA FINANCIAL INC, spoke about networking during The Network Journal 40 Under Forty Honoree Brannigan C Thompson on The Network Journal (The Network Journal).
About Brannigan Thompson
Brannigan Thompson, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Voya Financial, discussed the company's talent strategy in a December 2025 podcast. He said Voya is designing its organization and success profiles for where the business will be in three to five years, rather than around current talent. Thompson noted that the company is implementing AI agents in HR functions such as interview scheduling and development planning. He stated that Voya aims to help customers "not just getting to retirement but through retirement" and emphasized the importance of good governance and controls in financial services. Thompson has previously described his early career move to Amsterdam as a defining moment, saying he learned "the power of vulnerability" and how to embrace it for transformative change. He has said he approaches networking as an opportunity to give back to others rather than only receiving. Thompson has also stated that he tries to "do things that are recognizable" rather than seeking recognition, and that having influence on the organization is more important to him than his title.