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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

Ballot Barometers Heading Into 2024

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.

Dec 14, 202322 min

Personal Lines with Steve Sublett

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.

Nov 29, 202319 min

Captives Captivating the Market

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.

Nov 27, 202315 min

From America’s Youngest Mayor to Current Congressman

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.

Nov 14, 202329 min

Resilience Amid P/C Headwinds

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.

Nov 08, 202320 min

Personal Lines with Olga Collins

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.

Nov 01, 202312 min

Reinsurance: Obstacles and Opportunities

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.

Oct 25, 202322 min

Party Political Paralysis

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).

Oct 24, 202336 min

Government Shutdown?

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.

Sep 29, 20238 min

Environment Adjustment: A Deep Dive into Commercial Real Estate

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.

Sep 28, 202316 min

From Coast Guard to Consultant

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 fores...

Sep 26, 202322 min

Personal Lines with Kira Kimball

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.

Aug 28, 202321 min

An Ecosystem of Innovation

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.

Aug 22, 202326 min

Steeped in Legislative Service

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.

Aug 02, 202326 min

Digitizing Complex Risk

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.

Jul 25, 202333 min

A View Inside Our Communities

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.

Jul 18, 202327 min

"Don't Tell Me No, Tell Me How Or Why."

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...

May 30, 202333 min

Economic Healthcare Headwinds

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.

May 25, 202324 min

Billion Dollar Normal?

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.

Apr 24, 202322 min

Congress Is Working, Just Under the Radar

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 l...

Apr 11, 202328 min

Bipartisan Bridges

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

Feb 13, 202328 min

"I’m Never Going To Settle"

“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.

Jan 13, 202319 min

Industry Advice From an Old Rookie

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.

Dec 08, 202220 min
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