A conversation onsite at The Council’s Employee Benefits Leadership Forum with Prudential’s John Trevisan, Head of Distribution for Group Insurance, and Mark Devine, Vice President, Head of Life, Absence & Disability Product. Having recently surveyed employers and employees about modern benefits, Prudential gathered data on the disconnects between the two groups. In addition to discussing the survey results, the conversation covers benefits-related technology, opportunities for growth, new p...
Jun 16, 2025•25 min
In this podcast, Scott Goodreau CEO of Brightstone Specialty Group, shares childhood stories of waking up at 3 a.m. to help his dad's canteen truck business, and how that informed his entrepreneurial nature. Goodreau also dives into why higher education changed his life and how he started his company.
Jun 02, 2025•19 min
In this edition of our AXA XL podcast series, head of large commercial Donna Nadeau sits down with Leader’s Edge to talk about the latest on large-business risk. Nadeau discusses how clients are dealing with the impacts of tariffs, potential supply chain disruptions, AI algorithm bias, and much more.
May 21, 2025•19 min
It’s been nearly five years since Leader's Edge began the Falling Into It podcast. Our purpose is to interview up-and-coming insurance talent to find out why they chose this industry. These professionals have pivoted to insurance from careers on the fields of Major League Baseball and sailing the seas for the U.S. Coast Guard, to name just two. In this episode, we’re going back to school. We meet two former teachers who went from education to employee benefits. First up is Casey Allsbrooks, an e...
May 15, 2025•19 min
In this episode, Kristina Talkowski, head of commercial lines, middle market for Nationwide, shares takeaways from a recent survey of small and medium sized businesses. Among the range of risk management issues covered are economic concerns, supply chain disruptions, cyber threats and regulatory compliance issues. She also discusses gaps in risk preparedness for middle market businesses, industry opportunities, and more.
May 06, 2025•20 min
A conversation with the president of McGohan Brabender. A native of Ashland, Ohio, Beth Ferrin shares how growing up in Amish country shaped her formative years, what it's like being the first female president of her firm, and the importance of advocacy in her role.
Apr 29, 2025•18 min
In this episode Leader's Edge talks with Matthew Scally and Grier Dienstag from McKinsey. Both authors of “Investing in insurance: The value imperative,” discuss recent private investment trends in insurance. They also evaluate what made 2024 M&A unique, and share why they expect increased deal activity this year.
Apr 24, 2025•21 min
The BrokerTech Ventures 2025 Accelerator startups are putting artificial intelligence to work in new ways, rethinking back-office processes from telephony support to employee offboarding, says Accelerator Executive Director John Jackovin. Talking to Leader’s Edge on the eve of the multiday, in-person BTV Mania, Jackovin shares insights on new areas of startup focus, investment trends, and what BTV startups and partners have to look forward to when they gather this week.
Apr 09, 2025•16 min
A conversation with Ryan Specialty’s chief compliance and privacy officer and head of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this episode, Michael Blackshear discusses how growing up in New York City shaped him, how his consistent pursuit of education informs his role, and finding out that his father was an undercover detective.
Mar 31, 2025•16 min
At the start of 2025 the AI industry and stock market were both blindsided. By the end of Monday, Jan. 27, nearly $1 trillion in value had been wiped off the Nasdaq 100. U.S. tech companies that had invested billions of dollars in AI now faced new competition from DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup. Supposedly only costing $6 million to develop, and as intelligent as OpenAI’s reasoning models, the open-source application became the most downloaded free app for iPhone when released. For Brandon Nutta...
Mar 25, 2025•24 min
In an interview conducted on-site at The Council's Insurance Leadership Forum last Fall, Leader's Edge spoke with Mike Krzyzewski, former head coach for Duke University men's basketball and the Team USA Olympics team. Krzyzewski shares stories of leadership, talent, and rivalries with Editor-in-Chief Sandy Laycox, who attended the University of North Carolina, Duke’s primary rival. Although Krzyzewski is retired, the rivalry burns strong.
Mar 09, 2025•21 min
A conversation with the president of The Partners Group. In this episode, Sarah Friend shares how and why she started her own podcast, the importance of community in retaining young professionals, and her philosophy on leadership.
Feb 26, 2025•29 min
While on assignment to cover the disproportionate impact of natural catastrophes on low-income families and small businesses, journalist Russ Banham was evacuated from his own Los Angeles home. A Los Angeles County native, Banham himself was forced to evacuate his home with his family as the Eaton Fire edged toward his neighborhood in January. After the fire was contained, Russ was able to return to his neighborhood and house, still intact. He shares his personal experience and details from his ...
Feb 23, 2025•22 min
In this episode, Council VP of Health Policy & Strategy Katie King sits down with Dave Kerrigan, founder and CEO of benefits solution aggregator BenefitPitch, to get his take on the trends driving brokers and employers to prioritize solutions that thread the needle on controlling costs and retaining employees. From AI in benefits to the growth of individual coverage HRAs, Kerrigan discusses which solutions are top of mind, which are falling out of favor, and where we might see the most trend...
Feb 04, 2025•24 min
In this episode we meet Benjamin Verlingue, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Adelaide Group. Verlingue shares his story of becoming the 4th generation to run his family’s insurance business. He discusses what changes he wants to see during his time of leadership, and differences and misconceptions between U.S. and France.
Jan 28, 2025•22 min
In this podcast episode, we discuss women’s health and healthcare with chief medical officer Dr. Janet Choi and chief development officer Julie Stadlbauer from Progyny, a fertility, family building and women’s health benefits provider. From the history of exclusion in medical research, to the fragmented system and myriad point solutions now available, women’s healthcare requires expertise and navigation, the experts say. And it’s an opportunity for employers to better serve this crucial populati...
Jan 20, 2025•25 min
In the second interview conducted on-site at The Council's Insurance Leadership Forum in October, Leader's Edge spoke with Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Goodwin offers insights on the political strife, past and present, that has challenged numerous generations of Americans. She also offers anecdotes concerning the history of the presidency, a message on the importance of young people bringing change to the world, and leadership lessons applicable to all.
Jan 13, 2025•28 min
In this episode, Matt Waters, head of US Middle Market for AXA XL, shares what it has taken for his team to build out its business over the past couple of years. Waters also discusses what characteristics impact the middle market and what industry segments the company is focused on.
Jan 13, 2025•11 min
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the 2024 Insurance Leadership Forum, Leader's Edge held open mic hours in the magazine's podcast booth where conference guests could sit down and share thoughts on any topic. First to join in conversation was Kevin Davis, president of Kevin Davis Insurance Services, who shared how he uses his own podcast to help his business. Next, Leader’s Edge’s book reviewer Scott Naugle discussed the similarities between recommending a book and an insurance policy.
Jan 08, 2025•24 min
A Christmas miracle on Capitol Hill keeps the federal government funded through March 14, 2025. In this year-end episode of Politics & Risk, The Council’s senior vice president and vice president of government affairs, Joel Kopperud and Blaire Bartlett, discuss the turmoil in Washington, D.C., as Congress struggles to keep the government open through the new year. Additionally, Bartlett interviews Republican Rep. David Joyce, of Ohio’s 14th Congressional District. The congressman offers his ...
Dec 16, 2024•18 min
Mark Siebold, SVP and head of workplace solutions at Wintrust Workplace Solutions, offers a comprehensive overview of health savings accounts (HSAs) and the benefits to both employers and employees.
Dec 11, 2024•17 min
Soldiers engaging in combat with native tribes in post-Civil War America. The free press waging a war of words on companies in the Wild West. A massive parade celebrating the tricentennial of the Massachusetts colony. These are all scenes that shaped the way American’s think about risk, from author Katherine Hempstead’s new book Uncovered: The Story of Insurance in America. The book shares how the American insurance industry developed over a period of centuries. In this discussion, Hempstead tak...
Dec 07, 2024•20 min
Lívia Albuquerque Bisoni has had a fascinating life. After working in Brazil’s fashion industry and then pivoting to insurance and moving to Portugal, the 33-year-old today is head of international and institutional relations for MDS Group. Fresh off her team’s win in the Global Broker Smackdown at the 2024 Insurance Leadership Forum, Bisoni shares with Leader’s Edge how she was able to switch careers, the importance of international business etiquette, and what risk trends she foresees impactin...
Nov 19, 2024•17 min
Given his background working with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and medical insurers, as well as working with individuals to fill their prescriptions, Dr. Simon Leung, Vice President, Head of Pharmacy, Conner Strong & Buckelew has in some ways seen it all. Leung’s experience has shaped his approach to pharmacy benefit consulting and his view on transparency with respect to drug costs. He discusses where all the different industry players disagree, which cost-saving levers employers have a...
Nov 08, 2024•22 min
Leader's Edge was on-site at The Council's Insurance Leadership Forum in October to capture the conversations and energy that always accompany this key industry gathering. In the first of three special interviews conducted at ILF, retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis, former NATO supreme allied commander Europe and a current board member of global broker Aon, discusses what risks American companies face from abroad, what trends he foresees impacting the world, and what U.S. citizens can do ...
Nov 05, 2024•17 min
Personal Lines with Dottie Chalmers Cutter by A Council Platform - 868329
Oct 28, 2024•31 min
Everyone in the insurance value chain wins when the broker is equipped with better data, says Jeff Cohen, senior vice president at Zywave. Cohen paints a vivid picture of what a fully optimized digital industry could look like, but cautions that we’re not there yet. He discusses where the industry is on this journey, why digital evolution is moving at the pace that it is, and what we can do about it. He also digs into the differences between manual and digital processes, how to bring out useful ...
Oct 03, 2024•19 min
Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers executive chairman Ken Crerar sits down for a candid conversation on leading The Council through 30 years of growth, change, disruption, and success.
Oct 02, 2024•18 min
Being a bank-owned premium financing company means that the economic environment, especially changes in banking, is a major factor in the business landscape, says Ben Rubin, chief risk officer for FIRST Insurance Funding & Wintrust Life Finance. In this podcast, sponsored by First Insurance Funding, Rubin discusses the particulars of the current financial services environment and how brokers can position premium financing in their conversations with clients. He also explains the different op...
Sep 30, 2024•19 min
In this episode we meet Ryan L. Smith, Executive Vice President of Atlanta Life Insurance. Smith shares how his childhood entrepreneurial mindset led him to working with NBA legend Magic Johnson. He also discusses his perspective on life insurance, and why its vital for a family member to have.
Sep 27, 2024•24 min
