June 25, 2026
45 minutes
The unfiltered benefits playbook: cost, ROI, and hard calls at scale
Key takeaways
- Learn how a seasoned executive approached cost containment at massive scale, and what that means for today's environment
- Understand why ROI expectations have fundamentally shifted and what CFOs now consider meaningful proof
- Hear real-world scenarios, including how to respond when GLP-1 costs spike, when a vendor isn't delivering, or when leadership demands consolidation
- Walk away with first-90-day priorities and the habits that separate great benefits leaders from average ones
Healthcare budgets are under more scrutiny than they've been in a decade. CFOs are demanding flat trend. ROI windows are shrinking. And benefits leaders are being asked to innovate while taking on less risk.
Candace Jodice spent 26 years at CVS Health, eventually serving as VP of Benefits and overseeing more than $3 billion in healthcare spend for over 300,000 employees. Few people in the industry have sat in that seat at that scale.
In this candid conversation moderated by Jeannette Abbott, Candace shares the decisions she made, the lessons she's learned, and what she'd prioritize if she were stepping into a benefits leadership role today. Alongside her perspective, you'll hear themes from Sword's Customer Advisory Boards and employer community conversations, reflecting what benefits leaders across the country are navigating right now.
If you're managing benefits in a pressure-filled environment, this is the conversation you've been waiting for.
Hosts
Meet your hosts
Join Candace and Jeannette for an unfiltered look at what it really takes to lead benefits at scale. Candace will draw on 26 years at CVS Health, more than $3 billion in healthcare spend, and her current role as Head of Benefits Strategy at Sword Health to share the decisions she'd make, the mistakes she'd avoid, and what she'd prioritize if she were sitting in your chair today.
Jeannette Abbott
Head of Ecosystem Relationships
Candace Jodice
Head of Benefit Strategy
