Danilo Raponi, Group Head of Innovation at Generali, joins us to discuss how one of the world’s largest insurers structures and scales innovation. From venture investments and startup partnerships to AI, IoT, and climate-focused solutions, Danilo shares how Generali is evolving insurance from a reactive claims payer to a proactive partner in risk prevention.
Dr. Thomas Kuhnt discusses leading digital and AI transformation at HDI Global SE, emphasizing immediate experimentation with AI. He shares insights on his dual CIO/COO role, HDI Global's multinational operations, and how agentic AI is already improving input management and underwriting workflows. The conversation highlights the future of human-AI collaboration, the need for business-led transformation, and the importance of focusing on processes over just technology.
Amir Kabir, Founding & Managing Partner at Overlook Ventures, joins hosts James Benham and Rob Galbraith to reimagine risk in the age of AI — what the last decade of insurtech got wrong, where the next wave of opportunity actually lives, and why "liability is getting weird" is an understatement. Amir spent the first chapter of his career in Germany, building enterprise software at a Karlsruhe startup that was eventually acquired by a Silicon Valley company. In 2013 he immigrated to the US fo...
Vineet Bansal, Chief Information and Technology Officer at The Mutual Group, joins hosts James Benham and Rob Galbraith to explore how technology leadership, disciplined AI adoption, and a shared operating model are shaping the future of mutual insurance — from inside a two-year-old, Bain Capital-backed startup built to help community-based carriers compete and grow.Vineet brings over 20 years of financial services and insurance technology experience to the role — from engineering roots in Nagpu...
Holly O'Dell, CEO of Montana State Fund, details her unique background and experience in leading organizational transformation. She highlights building a culture of risk tolerance and strategic clarity to drive innovation, recounting how they significantly reduced policy cancellations and employee turnover. The discussion further explores fostering employee enthusiasm for AI, navigating integration challenges, and leveraging advanced technologies for predictive safety in workers' compensation.
Dan Bratshpis, CEO of INSHUR, shares his journey from Wall Street to building an insurtech company addressing the unique needs of gig and platform workers. He explains how traditional commercial auto insurance falls short and details INSHUR's embedded, usage-based insurance model, which leverages alternative data and an in-house claims system. The conversation also explores the company's pivots, including adapting to COVID-19 by focusing on delivery services, and anticipates the transformative impact of autonomous vehicles on the insurance landscape.
Reghan Brandt, Chief Digital Operations Officer at K2 Insurance Services, delves into modernizing insurance operations through digital strategy and operational transformation. She shares insights from her experience co-founding Columbia Pacific Finance and Loss Run Pro, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in building scalable systems and driving technology adoption. The discussion covers the evolution of InsurTech, the impact of AI, and the critical balance of aligning people, process, and technology for efficient, human-centered insurance.
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Dominique Roudaut from Dai-ichi Life Holdings, inc . Dominique joins us to discuss how his global experience across AIG, Chubb, Hannover Re, and now Dai-Ichi has shaped his perspective on the future of insurance. Drawing on deep expertise in underwriting, strategy, and innovation, Dominique shares insights on how insurers are responding to climate-driven risk, leveraging emerging technologies, and col...
James Benham and Rob Galbraith recap 2025 as a pivotal year for InsurTech, where AI transitioned from experimental labs to live production, particularly in core insurance functions like claims and underwriting. They discuss the increasing adoption of cloud-native and AI-native solutions, even by smaller carriers, while acknowledging ongoing challenges in data quality, user adoption, and regulatory concerns surrounding AI ethics. Looking to 2026, the discussion predicts the emergence of sophisticated omnimodel AI agents, continued cloud adoption, and a radical shift towards more customer-friendly software licensing and partnerships to address industry labor shortages.
This episode features Andrew Bate, co-founder of Safely and VelarisRe, who shares his journey in transforming hospitality insurance. He delves into how Safely pioneered embedded insurance for short-term rentals, tackling unique risks and guest behaviors. The discussion also covers COVID-19's profound impact on travel, the challenges for rental owners, and Bate's new venture, VelarisRe, focusing on industry specialization, MGA capabilities, and leveraging AI for better product development and distribution in the hospitality sector.
Host James Benham speaks with David Bell of ALPS, the leading lawyers' malpractice insurer, about their direct-to-consumer model and recent broker channel expansion. They explore ALPS's data-driven approach to customer experience and technology adoption, including API integration and A/B testing. The conversation also delves into the legal profession's evolving landscape, addressing issues like the billable hour, work-life balance, and the transformative yet challenging role of AI, particularly regarding malpractice risk.
Host James Benham is joined by Steve Kappel from Safety National. Steve takes us inside the CIO’s lens on data, AI, and industry change. Discover why innovation from within matters, how global strategy conversations shape technology leadership, and why educating the industry on AI and data has never been more important. James Benham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbenham Steve Kappel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevekappel/ Safety National: http://www.safetynational.com/ This Episode is sponsor...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Matt Crum from Frank Winston Crum Insurance . Matt shares his expertise leading with purpose in insurance. Discover how leaders can tackle industry challenges, strengthen workplace culture, leverage technology like AI, and prepare for the future of work. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Visit 👉 https://terra.insure to learn more ...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Stan Smith from Gradient AI . Stan shares his expertise in advancing workers’ comp through AI partnerships and predictive intelligence. Discover how Gradient’s partnership with Terra gives adjusters earlier insight into high-risk claims, reduces costs, and improves outcomes for injured workers. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Vis...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Dean Fadel from Ohio Insurance Institute . Dean shares his expertise in connecting policy, people, and progress in the insurance industry. Discover why he believes insurance is in everything, everywhere, all the time, and how that perspective should influence innovation, public understanding, and the role of policy in shaping the industry's future. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Gene...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Frank A. Schmid from Gen Re . Frank shares his expertise on the intuition behind generative AI. Discover how this emerging technology continues to reshape insurance decision-making, why narrative still matters, and what insurers can do to prepare for an AI-driven future. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Visit 👉 https://terra.insu...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Denise Olson from K2 Insurance Services, LLC . Denise shares her expertise on how analytics is rewriting underwriting. Discover how data is transforming risk evaluation, streamlining claims forecasting, and shaping the future role of the underwriter across diverse insurance programs. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Visit 👉 https...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Brett Fulmer from Newport Beach Insurance Center LLC and Skyway Underwriters . Brett shares his expertise on how tech is powering the modern agent in licensing, launching and leveling up. Discover how digital tools are helping accelerate early success and reshaping what it takes to break into the insurance industry today. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claim...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Chris Griffith from American Coastal and Skyway Underwriters . Chris shares his expertise on going from the help desk to the executives desk. Discover how strong execution, smart frameworks, and leadership drive innovation without compromising quality or compliance. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Visit 👉 https://...
Host James Benham is joined by Jason Gross from TruStage . Jason shares his expertise on rethinking enrollment from the strategy seat. Discover how emerging technologies are reducing friction in the enrollment process, and how those improvements connect to larger goals like access, equity, and long-term customer value. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Visit 👉 https://terra.insure to learn more F...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Preetha Sekharan from Unum . Preetha shares her expertise on why identifying the right pain points is key to AI success. Discover how to pinpoint the most impactful AI use cases, gain buy-in from stakeholders, and navigate the challenges of implementing AI in insurance. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Visit 👉 http...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Bobbie Collies from Coterie Insurance . Bobbie shares her expertise on intrapreneurship and disrupting insurance from within. Discover how to turn innovation into real change, leverage technology and data, and drive meaningful impact in the future of insurance. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Visit 👉 https://terra...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Matthew Monson from The Monson Law Firm, LLC . Matthew shares his expertise and insights on the unethical practices threatening insurance claims. Discover the emerging legal trends, regulatory challenges, and technological advancements shaping the future of fair claims handling. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Visi...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Dr. Daniel Carlin from JobSiteCare . Dr. Carlin shares his expertise and insights on telemedicine, technology, and the future of care. Discover how his innovative concierge telemedicine model is transforming workers’ compensation, improving injury outcomes, and shaping the future of workplace safety with cutting-edge technology. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next Generatio...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Ramona Tanabe from Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). Ramona shares his expertise and insights from the nation’s largest workers’ comp research database. Discover how WCRI’s innovative research is shaping the future of workers’ compensation, addressing key challenges, and driving data-informed decisions across the industry. This Episode is sponsored by Terra, the Next G...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Rohan Malhotra from Roadzen . Rohan shares his expertise and insights on building the next generation of auto insurance with AI. Learn how Roadzen is leveraging advanced AI to make auto insurance fairer, safer, and more accessible for all drivers. This Episode is sponsored by JBKnowledge, Technology Solutions for Insurance & Risk Management Find us on social media! We're on ...
In this Year-In-Review episode, hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith go back to everything discussed, learned and the most important innovations and insights discovered with our guests during 2024. This Episode is sponsored by Terra , the Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp. Find us on social media! We're on LinkedIn , Twitter , and Instagram ; or follow James ...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Porter Leslie from Ametros . Porter shares his expertise and insights on revolutionizing insurance fund management and the healthcare experience. Learn how innovative solutions are transforming post-settlement care, simplifying compliance, and improving outcomes for injured individuals and insurers alike. This Episode is sponsored by Terra , Next Generation Claims and Policy Software for Workers’ Comp Find us on social media! We're on Linke...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Josh Butler from CompScience . Josh shares his expertise and insights on identifying and predicting risks before they become claims with computer vision and data science. Learn how AI-driven workers’ comp can transform workplace safety, strengthen client relationships, and allow you to differentiate yourself in a competitive market. This Episode is sponsored by Terra , the Next...
Hosts James Benham & Rob Galbraith are joined by Greg Nichols from SPNet Clinical Solutions . Greg joins the podcast to dive on how technology helps drive better rehabilitation outcomes for injured workers. Learn how data-driven approaches and innovative service models are transforming the delivery of physical medicine and improving efficiency. This Episode is sponsored by JBKnowledge , Technology Solutions for Insurance & Risk Management. Find us on social media! We're on LinkedIn , Twi...
