My job is to make sure we're thinking ahead of the curve. My team builds technology for receiving sensitive information from brokers and suppliers that's critical to our ability to process life insurance policies. We have to deliver low-cost, flexible, highly secure solutions – and deliver 100% of the data 100% of the time as well.

Last year we built the back-end applications with Six Sigma methodologies to make sure it was viable from the customer's point of view. This year, we're focusing on building front-end tools that will make it even easier for customers to do business with us.

This technology is applicable to any business, any industry, as the need to exchange secure and accurate information grows. When the door to patent protection opened to financial institutions in 1999, it provided us an opportunity to patent our technology. In fact, we've filed for seven patents to protect this intellectual property – innovation that sets GE apart from the competition.