4-minute read
What if learning at work wasn’t something you did alone, but something you built together?
At MetLife, we believe learning is most powerful when it’s shared. MyPath, MetLife’s internal development platform, supports that belief by connecting employees to stretch projects and learning opportunities that build new skills and connections across the company. It’s a space to try new things and build confidence while learning alongside one another.
Jake’s story offers a glimpse into what that kind of growth looks like in action and how our value of Win Together comes to life every day.
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When Jake Walters, a senior specialist at MetLife, joined the company, he brought with him experience in Ansible, an automation tool MetLife was beginning to adopt more broadly. He knew his background could be useful, but he didn’t expect it to lead to a cross-team learning opportunity or a new way to help colleagues grow.
As teams across the company began transitioning to the tool, many needed help getting up to speed. Jake, who had used it in a previous role, was asked to lend a hand.
“I was happy to help,” Jake said.
“I’ve been a proponent of Ansible since I joined MetLife and realized that we didn’t have a tool that worked the same or was as versatile.”
What started as informal support quickly grew. As more colleagues reached out to learn the tool, Jake began to see a bigger opportunity. He decided to turn the work into a MyPath project, creating a more formal way to support learning across teams.
Empowering others to grow
Initially, Jake thought the MyPath project would be straightforward. But as it evolved, he realized that long-term success wasn’t just about stepping in to help. It was about enabling others to grow confident in their skills and to feel empowered to write code in the future. He began guiding colleagues, sharing best practices, and helping teams learn how to build and maintain their own solutions.
That approach made a meaningful difference for colleagues like Alex Cotton, who worked closely with Jake as he learned Ansible.
“Jake was an excellent mentor who consistently took the time to thoroughly explain concepts and break down complex tasks,” Alex said. “After I shared my goals and what I was hoping to achieve, he provided guidance and support that helped me move efficiently toward completion.”
Alex also shared how Jake adapted his approach to meet individual learning needs.
“When I mentioned that I am a visual learner and benefit from actively working through tasks while discussing them, Jake adapted his approach to better align with my learning style,” he said.
“By breaking down how Ansible works and explaining concepts such as playbooks and the differences between various templates and best-practice implementation methods, Jake significantly increased both my understanding and confidence with the tools. I was able to better understand not just how to use the tool, but why certain approaches were recommended.”
For Jake, the experience was just as impactful.
“It was a great experience,” Jake said.
“I had the opportunity to help others gain the confidence they needed to write code, and I learned a lot myself. Each team had different needs, and it pushed me to grow and improve my own skills.”
What began as one person helping a few colleagues quickly grew into a shared capability that benefited teams well beyond a single project.
Learning that lasts
Jake’s story is just one example of how MetLife’s collaborative culture comes to life every day. Here, mentorship and knowledge-sharing aren’t just encouraged, they’re also part of how we work.
While MyPath is just one part of our broader commitment to learning, it reflects our belief that when people are empowered to grow, everyone benefits.
If you’re looking for a collaborative place to grow your skills and feel supported, MetLife might be the right place for you. Join us, and discover how far we can go together.
Explore our open roles or join our talent community to stay in touch.
