July 23, 2025

The DigitaLab: COUNTRY Financial® Turns Talent Into Team Members

At COUNTRY, the future isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we build, semester after semester. For the past eight years, COUNTRY has partnered with the University of Illinois to sponsor the DigitaLab. Alongside our corporate internship program, the DigitaLab plays a vital role in developing early career talent and fostering innovation at COUNTRY.

Under the direction of Julia Hart, the DigitaLab brings together 20 students each semester, from freshmen to Ph.D. candidates, to form interdisciplinary teams that tackle real business challenges using AI, cloud computing, automation, and more.

 “DigitaLab interns develop prototypes, solve real problems, and create production-ready technology,” said Hart. “But what makes this partnership special is the company’s commitment to mentorship, professional growth, and long-term investment in talent.”

That investment is more than symbolic. Since the fall of 2019, 30 former DigitaLab interns have joined COUNTRY as full-time employees—a powerful indicator of how COUNTRY grows its own talent pipeline and delivers on our strategic priority of investing in people and teams.

From intern to impact

Sada Egenriether was a DigitaLab intern in 2020, working on everything from actuarial modeling to deploying cloud-native apps. Today, she’s a Senior Data Scientist on the Applied Analytics team leading enterprise-wide initiatives and helping train the next generation of data professionals.

“My time in the DigitaLab connected me to different parts of the organization and helped me build a strong professional network,” Egenriether said. “That exposure opened the door to begin my career at COUNTRY.”

For Sneha Thakur, who joined COUNTRY as a full-time Software Developer after her 2023–2024 DigitaLab experience, the value came from the breadth of responsibility she was able to take on.

“I wore many hats—project manager, data scientist, and more,” said Thakur. “It taught me how to think strategically, solve problems creatively, and manage stakeholders effectively.”

Now in her full-time role, Thakur credits the company’s culture for making the transition seamless. “The leadership is invested in growth, and there’s an emphasis on mentorship and learning,” she said. “You’re encouraged to explore beyond your role, and that makes COUNTRY a great place to thrive.”

Creating a culture of support

That sense of support resonated with Tom Curcio as well. As a 2022 intern, he helped update a reinsurance billing API. Today, he works as a Data Scientist in Property/Casualty Actuarial Research, building predictive models and pricing tools for Farm products.

“My internship taught me to ask questions and reach out for help,” said Curcio. “The collaborative culture at COUNTRY makes it easy. No matter your role or level, people are approachable and genuinely want to help.”

A pipeline of potential

The DigitaLab program isn’t just about filling roles—it’s about cultivating potential. By bringing students into meaningful work early in their careers, COUNTRY is shaping a workforce that’s curious, capable, and ready to lead.

By turning interns into employees, COUNTRY continues to strengthen its teams—and its future—one semester at a time.

Media contact

news@countryfinancial.com