Leader's Edge

In this podcast sponsored by finance automation platform Ascend, we talk with Andrew Wynn, Ascend co-founder and CEO. In between conversations about digitization, integration and what good looks like, we discuss the nature of relationships, community and the thread between his time in the Peace Corps and insurance.

What kind of knowledge and benefits does a past minor league pitcher wish he had? Slade Smith, Employee Benefits Specialist at Cobbs Allen shares stories about the early days of his career as a professional baseball player, drafted by the Detroit Tigers, and how he pivoted to working in the insurance industry after an injury. The 33-year-old also shares his thoughts on what major trends the employee benefits space could see in the near future.

Will Democrats or Republicans flip or flop The House and Senate? The Council’s SVP and VP of government affairs Joel Kopperud and Blaire Bartlett kicks off their Legislative Summit with a run down of today's hotbed of political issues. They talk flipping the house and senate, regulatory issues in the healthcare space, reauthorizing tax cuts, PBM transparency and cannabis.

Keith Schuler, CEO of InterWest Insurance Services shares his background and brokerage history, industry issues, as well as his new focus as Council Board Chair.

art of our AXA XL sponsored podcast series, we talk with Lucy Pilko, CEO, Insurance in the Americas for AXA XL. Just a couple months into the role, Pilko talks about beginning the process of executing AXAL XL’s long and short term strategic visions. She discusses market opportunities and areas of challenge, and learning how to really use the data and technology we now have access to.

Wick shares what he learned from his short comings in brokerage relationships, and how that prompted him to start his own firm. He additionally talks about the importance of vulnerability, the process of change, being a community focused agency and acquisition strategy.

In this podcast sponsored by AXIS, we talk with Jay Hamilton, Global Head of Accident and Health Insurance at AXIS. He discusses the eclectic mix of product lines in accident and health, current lines of interest including employee benefits, pet insurance, and travel, among others. He also discusses market headwinds, the outlook for 2024, and aligning with market and client needs.

In this special podcast episode, the Leader’s Edge art team dissects work created by AI art generator Dall-E. Using our October cover story on artificial intelligence as the basis for our own AI experiment, we gave the same exact instructions to a human illustrator and the AI art generator tool, then compared the results and chose one for our October cover. This conversation is our post-mortem on the process. Contributors include Leader’s Edge creative director Brad Latham, associate art directors Raeanne Hytone and Ted Lopez, content specialist/AV producer Zach Ewell, editor in chief Sandy Laycox, and publisher Susan Rushford.

The Council’s SVP of government affairs Joel Kopperud interviews Congressman Pat Ryan (D-NY). Son of an insurance agent, Rep. Ryan discusses his relationship with the insurance industry, the important issues impacting his constituents and global ramifications of national security. Additionally, the team shares exciting news on PBM reform.

A conversation with Steve Sublett, Senior Director of Employee Experience and Engagement, CBIZ, San Diego, California. Sublett shares what it was like growing up on the grounds of an Illinois juvenile state penitentiary where his father was the warden, and how that experience shaped his life. He also discusses what lead him to the insurance industry.

In this episode of our partner podcast series with global insurer AXA XL, we talk Steven Bauman, Global Programs & Captives Director, for the Americas for AXA XL. The conversation covers the unprecedented growth in captives in recent years, new lines forming captives that haven’t before, and how captives play a role in risk management and transfer for systemic risk.

In this episode, The Council’s VP of government affairs Blaire Bartlett is joined by guest host Charlie Daniels, SVP of NFP. The two interview Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY). Their discussion touches on Molinaro’s history of service, farm policy, the importance of inclusion in the workforce and legislation on the hill post Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s reign as House Speaker.

In this podcast sponsored by Nationwide, Mark Berven, president and chief operating officer of Nationwide Property and Casualty, shares his thoughts on range of topics. The conversation incudes uncertainty and inflationary pressures in the casualty market, continued pressure from weather in property, building and pricing for resiliency, and how carriers can improve transparency amid these factors so brokers can work proactively with clients on managing risk.

A conversation with Olga Collins, CEO, Worldwide Broker Network, Atlanta Georgia. Collins discusses her international background, love for languages, food and travel, and how she became interested in risk management.

In this podcast sponsored by AXIS, Ann Haugh, CEO of Axis Re, digs into current trends in the reinsurance market. She discusses headwinds in the property and casualty markets, as well as areas of opportunity. Also on the agenda are emerging risk and reflections on one year into her role.

In this installment of Politics & Risk, Council SVP of government affairs Joel Kopperud talks with Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL). They discuss the tumultuous path to electing a new House Speaker, clean energy and impacts of the the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The Council’s SVP and VP of government affairs Joel Kopperud and Blaire Bartlett, respectively, discuss how a breakdown in negotiations in Congress have led to a pending government shutdown. How will House Speaker McCarthy move forward? How is he working across the aisle while negotiating within his own party? The team also discusses news on the pharmacy benefit manager front and shares exciting updates for the Insurance Leadership Forum.

Since the pandemic, experts have cautioned that the office building market is poised for collapse. In this podcast, we hear directly from Ryan Flanagan, executive vice president and real estate practice leader at Heffernan Insurance Brokers, on how his office clients are coping with post-pandemic workforce changes. He also discusses crime as a growing factor in property rates, along with persistent natural catastrophe losses, and how the overall economic environment is affecting property owners.

In this episode of Falling Into It, we chat with Mara Blagojevich, a Senior Marine Risk Consultant at Allianz Commercial. Blagojevich attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point New York where she later served in the U.S. Coast Guard early on in her career. The 29-year-old shares how serving during Hurricane Harvey became one of the most momentous challenges of her career, what it was like changing careers and working in insurance, and the most topical risk trends she foresees impacting shipping for the next decade.

A conversation with Kira Kimball, Chief Diversity Officer, Marsh McLennan Agency , Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Kira Kimball shares innovations within DE&I and what has kept her in the insurance space, all while sharing pride for her home state of South Dakota.

As our podcast series with global insurer AXA XL continues, we host Rose Hall, senior vice president and head of innovation for the Americas, and Billy Volz, Southwest property underwriting leader and ecosystem ambassador for AXA XL. The intersection of their two roles is at the heart of the conversation as we discuss technological innovation in risk management, the rate of client adoption and how that factors into policy terms and conditions.

The Council’s SVP and VP of government affairs Joel Kopperud and Blaire Bartlett bring the latest from Capitol Hill and around the country as states make legislative moves regarding non-compete agreements and legal defense costs. Plus, Heather Steinmiller, executive partner, general counsel and national claim advocacy and consulting leader for brokerage Conner Strong & Buckelew joins Joel Kopperud for a conversation with Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA), who represents Steinmiller’s hometown.

Aaron Davidson, CEO of Relay, has a long history in insurance, starting with Aon nearly 20 years ago as it was being investigated by Eliot Spitzer. His path to now leading the multi-carrier insurance platform has evolved along with his theories on digitization. He discusses where the industry is in its digital evolution, which markets are saturated, which are underdeveloped, and how complexity of risk translates into complexity of process. Plus, a deep dive on cyber markets.

Church Mutual Insurance CEO Alan Ogilvie talks current risk trends in purpose-driven organizations. With a policyholder base that includes youth camps, schools, religious institutions, senior living facilities and several non-profits, Church Mutual Insurance has a wide range of risks to cover.

“Listen to your instincts. Having the confidence to trust your gut is so important.”

In this episode of our new government affairs podcast, Council VP of government affairs Blaire Bartlett talks with Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN). A member of both the House Financial Services and Education and Workforce committees, Houchin is entrenched in multiple issues crucial to the insurance industry, including healthcare costs, flood insurance, and support for small businesses. She has always been driven to public service, and her story is one of local involvement, working parents, and a “won’t take no for an answer” attitude.

An adjunct professor at Columbia University, Masia discusses healthcare issues including Medicare price negotiations, the 340B drug pricing program and how current economic headwinds are impacting the healthcare landscape.

A conversation with Debra Martinez, Chief Human Resources Officer, Alera Group.

Bob Peretti, chief distribution officer, Americas, for AXA XL, discusses capacity in the property market, hidden costs reflected in underwriting, and how clients are leaning into risk management.

In this episode we pick the brain of Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA). Having worked with Liberty Mutual and a cyber startup, Rep. Auchincloss brings insurance acumen to Capitol Hill. He shares his thoughts on debt limit issues, housing costs, gun violence and the astonishing amount of legislation that actually has been passed by Congress in recent years. Plus, Joel Kopperud, The Council’s SVP of government affairs, and Blaire Bartlett, The Council’s VP of government affairs, give an update on PBM legislation.

Personal Lines with Riva Dumeny by A Council Platform - 868329

Q&A with Lori Goltermann, Chief Client Officer and CEO, Enterprise Clients, Aon

Our second installment in our Capitol Hill Chatter series brings Council president Joel Wood and SVP of government affairs Joel Kopperud to the mike, joined by special guest Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH).

Personal Lines with Andrew Neary by A Council Platform - 868329

Rep. Jason Smith plus The Council's government affairs team on Congressional priorities this year.

A discussion on litigation, D&O, board diversity and more.

“Relentless” is how Bob Klonk describes the work ethic that was born from a childhood of scrimping and settling and has driven him to strive to outwork everyone for more than 45 years. As The Council’s 2023 board chair, he joined Leader’s Edge for a conversation on the changes he has seen in the employee benefits industry, Oswald’s 2020 merger with Maryland-based RCM&D, leading through a pandemic, and his role in the greater Cleveland community.

A graduate of the University of San Diego, Bellanca studied accounting. We discuss how he got his start in insurance, what advice he would give to his younger self, and how a positive daily routine keeps him happy, healthy and motivated.

The personal and professional journey of Travelers executive Patrick Kinney.

Leader’s Edge caught up with Amrit David, managing director at Barclays, to discuss today’s market dynamics and how some macroeconomic conditions are impacting brokerage M&A going into the new year.

Bradley Plummer, senior vice president of employee benefits at Cottingham & Butler, shares how he went from an on-campus recruit to a long time insurance executive, and what it's like to have two sons play Division I college football.

Digging deeper into the concepts of inclusion and psychological safety, humanocracy, and the dangers of power, Farzad and Wright give leaders at all levels useful advice in this new age of humanness.

John Nelson, co-CEO of Warner Pacific, shares what inspired him to work in the insurance industry, the valuable lessons he has learned from historical figures, and the hobbies that help take his mind off work.

In our latest episode of the Leader’s Edge podcast, we speak with Dave Miles founding partner of ManchesterStory, an Iowa-based startup investor in the insurtech, fintech and health tech sectors. We talk with Miles about access to funding for diverse founders, what funding rounds might look like in the next year or so, and how Des Moines is a major insurance center with opportunities for numerous partnerships, including ManchesterStory's work with BrokerTech Ventures.

In this episode of Falling Into It, we meet Chris Senkbile, founder and CEO of Project Ferro, a client-first insurtech platform that uses data to create a digitally enabled customer experience.

An insightful, mixed-bag conversation with the former presidential candidate. Leader's Edge recently sat down with him to talk about the 2020 presidential election, big tech's role in disinformation, corporate social responsibility, climate change, the opioid crisis, and his plans for the future.

Vinnie Hager, president of JGS Insurance in Holmdel, New Jersey, talks about how his experience as an intern on Wall Street helped him realize a better life for himself in insurance. Hager also shares his love for sports and what inspired him to become a licensed charter boat captain.

Kacie Conroy, director of IT at M3 Insurance, has played a major role in the development of BrokerTech Ventures and the broker focused agenda at the major insurtech conference, InsureTech Connect (ITC). She shares her thoughts on tech development in the industry, how to reach future female talent at the start of their professional journey, and offers some sneak peeks from the upcoming BrokerTech Connect agenda at ITC.

Nolan Steenberg, solutions engineer at FIRST Insurance Funding, shares new developments in the digitization of premium financing, the importance of integrated systems, managing compliance and more.

Bill Johnson, founder, chairman and CEO of The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, shares how he was able to combine his knowledge of risk assessment and passion for film to pave a unique career path.