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Leader's Edge

A Council Platform - 868329www.leadersedge.com
Established in 2004, Leader’s Edge is the award-winning content platform for The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, covering legal and legislative issues, international business and regulation, management trends and best practices, technology, and more. Leader’s Edge is written and recorded for large and mid-sized commercial insurance and employee benefit executives around the globe.
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Episodes

A Broker’s DNA

Moving from the broker side to the carrier side of the industry gave this AXA XL exec a unique view. June Dwyer, senior vice president and Americas broker relationship leader for AXA XL, shares her journey from broker to carrier, and how that helps align her perspective with broker clients. She also discusses the crucial role brokers play in product development, DE&I progress in the industry, and AXA XL’s commitment to addressing climate change on all fronts.

Dec 03, 202113 min

From Small Business to Big Brokerage

In this episode of Falling Into It, we meet Eyad Kabbani, a 26-year-old assistant vice president who works in the Cyber and E&O Center of Excellence at Marsh. A graduate of the Fox School of Business and Management at Temple University, Kabbani studied risk management and insurance and earned a Council Foundation scholarship after his internship at Johnson, Kendall & Johnson in 2017. We discuss what attracted him to the industry, how his internship helped solidify his decision to pursue ...

Nov 22, 202112 min

Cyber, 20 Years Past and Present

In this episode we talk with Lori Bailey, Chief Insurance Office at Corvus. With over 20 years of experience in cyber liability, Bailey shares her thoughts on the evolution of cyber risk and whether coverage has kept up. We also talk about the lack of historical data for cyber underwriting and how that's being addressed, as well as where the market is headed.

Oct 26, 202122 min

Hit Hard at Harvest: COVID-19 is Altering Risk Within Agriculture

As one may suspect, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the labor-intensive agriculture industry particularly hard. But as Denise Brown and Rick Harrison from InterWest Insurance Services explain, how your Ag clients fare during coronavirus, and how they handle risk, will depend on many factors.

Oct 14, 202124 min

The Evolution of the Threat Actor

In this episode of our podcast series with U.S.-based insurer, Nationwide, we meet the company’s vice president of cyber insurance, Catherine Rudow, and its senior vice president and chief information security officer, Todd Lukens. Together, we explore the dynamics of ransomware, cyber entry points that businesses of all sizes should be aware of, the evolution of the threat actor, and how the public and private sectors can come together to improve the nation's cybersecurity. Rudow and Lukens war...

Oct 14, 202123 min

IPOs, SPACs, and More Brokerage Transactions

Amrit David works with management teams, private equity firms and alternative capital providers across a variety of transactions in the insurance brokerage space. We check in with him periodically on M&A and sat down recently to discuss brokerage IPOs, the use of SPACs, and other recent trends in brokerage transactions. Click for the podcast.

Oct 01, 202125 min

The Future of Car Culture

Hagerty, a global automotive enthusiast brand and classic car insurer, recently announced plans to merge with SPAC, Aldel Financial. The deal, which is valued at $3.13 billion, according to reports, will allow Hagerty to go public and trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HGTY. We spoke with Fred Turcotte, Hagerty CFO, to discuss the recent merger, where Hagerty plans to grow, automotive trends, and, of course, the classic car market.

Oct 01, 202119 min

Payer to Partner

AXA XL’s Bob Peretti, Chief Distribution Officer, Americas, shares how his team is approaching broker relationships in the face of multifaceted risk, a constantly changing M&A landscape, and the ongoing pandemic

Sep 21, 202118 min

Pandemic Work/Life Balance

In this episode of Falling Into It, we meet Eleanor Ko, a 29-year-old account manager at Woodruff Sawyer. A graduate from Seattle University with a degree in business administration and management, Ko shares what she wished she had learned in college about the insurance industry, her passion for learning new skills, and what it’s like juggling her professional and personal life, while working from home.

Sep 10, 202110 min

Continuity Planning: Is Your Business Prepared?

This episode marks the beginning of a series of interviews with subject matter experts from U.S.-based insurer Nationwide. In this episode we meet Ben Davis, a loss control manager with Nationwide’s loss control services team. Davis helps us better understand business continuity plan development (including the important difference between business continuity planning, disaster recovery, and contingency planning, and how they work together) and the critical importance of having plans in place for...

Aug 25, 202126 min

Raising the Bar

Tune in to hear Gabby Taveras, co-founder of Equal Pay Group, a D&I consulting firm, on why now is the time to close the wage gap. Taveras also shares how to educate organizations on integrating inclusivity and equity into business decisions, hiring practices and retention strategies.

Jul 21, 202117 min

Tackling Healthcare Disparities

We discuss what UnitedHealthcare is doing to address healthcare disparities and access to care, as well as the effectiveness of wellness programs and the future of telehealth.

Jul 21, 202119 min

What Do Employers Want in Healthcare Reform?

Business leaders are looking for answers to what they see as unsustainable practices in our healthcare system. Shawn Gremminger, director of health policy at the Purchaser Business Group on Health, which supports public and private purchasers of healthcare, discusses the issues critical to their members. These include market consolidation of health systems, drug pricing reform, value-based payment in employer plans, and how a public option would mingle with ESI.

Jul 21, 202129 min

Sustaining global business amid COVID losses, climate effects

This is part 2 of our conversation with AXA XL’s Maria Duhart, Head of the Commercial Bonds, Political Risk, and Credit & Bond Practice, and Stuart Barrowcliff, Vice President & Senior Underwriter of AXA XL’s Political Risk, Credit & Bond team in the Americas. Here we turn to Covid-19 and the effects on the political risk and commercial bond markets. And we talk about AXA XL’s work in sustainability and climate change.

Jul 16, 202127 min

Work, Love, Play: Influencing Change Through ERGs

In this episode of Falling Into It, we meet Ilana Shackelford, a 32-year-old account coordinator on the executive risk team at ABD, who hopes to manage her own book of business one day, while continuing to effect change in the industry.

Jul 12, 202117 min

Investing in a Volatile World

This episode marks the beginning of a series of interviews with subject matter experts from global insurer and reinsurer AXA XL. In this episode we meet Maria Duhart, head of the company’s commercial bonds, political risk and credit and bond practice. Joining her is Stuart Barrowcliff, vice president and senior underwriter of AXA XL’s political risk credit and bond division. They discuss the impact of political volatility on global investments in resilience and economic infrastructure as well as...

Jun 29, 202119 min

The Athlete Mindset of Becoming a Broker

In this episode of Falling Into It, we meet Isaac Lintz, a 28-year-old new to the brokerage scene whose pursuit of a career in insurance was fueled by his experience as a college athlete. Lintz, who played wide receiver for the University of Northern Iowa, spent several years in sales oriented roles following graduation, only to find his true passion in insurance brokerage in December 2019. Here, he discusses how being a college athlete helped him adjust to the pressures of starting fresh in a n...

Jun 03, 202113 min

Private Equity Infusion

Ramnath Balasubramanian is a senior partner at McKinsey focused on insurance and private equity. He works extensively with insurers, brokerages, private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on a range of topics including strategy, digital and analytics transformations, and distribution. Matthew Scally is a McKinsey partner serving private equity clients on engagements including the development of funds, diligence efforts and supporting portfolio companies after acquisition. He also works with...

Apr 20, 202134 min

From Broker to Techie

Q&A with Andy Mathisen, Co-Founder and CMO, GloveBox. The 31-year-old talks about the company he co-founded, jumping into the commercial insurance space and what it was like growing up in a family full of insurance agents. Falling Into It is a new, limited-series podcast focused on young professionals in the insurance and risk management industries.

Mar 08, 202117 min

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner and a current Pfizer board member, shares his thoughts on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and supply successes and challenges, potential drug pricing legislation, and the future of the ACA. At the center of the conversation? The employer role.

Feb 01, 202118 min

Budding Broker

Falling Into It: Drew Taylor talks about his passion for insurance and shares what factors he believes will impact the future of the brokerage cannabis industry. Falling Into It is a new, limited-series podcast focused on young professionals in the insurance and risk management industries.

Jan 22, 202113 min

Young Talent Speaks

Falling Into It: Young Talent Speaks A 26 year old underwriter shares how she started off in insurance.

Jan 05, 202121 min

Kabuki Theater, Crazy Lawsuits, Insane Tweets: Our Conversation with Mike Murphy

The Council’s Joel Wood and Republican political consultant Mike Murphy reconnect post-election to discuss presidential politics (“I got my differences on issues, but this is a competent team”), the Georgia runoffs (“it'd be a sign of divine intervention if they (Ds) ever win this thing”), prospects of a COVID relief package (“we're fighting World War II cost-wise right now, with a massive deficit to begin with”) and potential new stars in the Republican Party (“Trump will have a powerful voice,...

Dec 21, 202028 min

On the Mic with David Axelrod

In a follow up to their conversation during this year’s (virtual) Insurance Leadership Forum, Joel Wood, The Council’s SVP of Government Affairs, and national political analyst David Axelrod, discuss the incoming administration, what may come of the ACA, prospects of a public option, Medicare, prescription drug costs and more.

Dec 15, 202022 min

When Uncertainty Meets Data

Where is the first place to start when planning for 2021? According to Penny Moore, chief commercial officer of Springbuk: employee healthcare data. It’s there that brokers and employers can identify gaps in care, coverage and education. Listen in as Moore gives her take on the role of data analytics during a national health crisis that’s forced employers to pivot their companies and their employee benefits offerings. For more on the downstream effects of COVID-19, take a look at Springbuk’s lat...

Oct 19, 202024 min

Psychological PPE

: Hospitals contain a mix of employees, doctors, patients and caregivers, creating a challenging environment in which to manage risks. Cindy Van Asten, Partner, Director of Employee Benefits – Green Bay Market, and Chris Halverson, Risk Management Sales Director / Director of Disaster Response and Recovery at M3 Insurance sat down with Chris Woleske, President & CEO at Bellin Health to break down the way health systems have pivoted during this pandemic to remain afloat. They discuss everythi...

Sep 11, 202018 min

A Look at the Carrier Perspective on Manufacturing Risk and COVID-19

The manufacturing industry has been humming along, albeit at lower capacity, throughout much of the Pandemic. Kevin Clary, VP of Risk Management at Amerisure, helps us understand the risks, best practices, and lasting impact of the crises that manufacturers have to consider when thinking about insurance as Covid-19 lingers through the near future.

Sep 09, 202038 min
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