Alliance NOW! Risk & Insurance Podcast Series

On this episode of Streamlining Insurance, we sit down with Sara Phillips, Head of Strategic Partnerships & Investments, Innovation Strategy at Great American Insurance Group. Sara brings a wealth of experience in M&A and innovation strategy, having led efforts to leverage acquisitions and partnerships as tools for growth, talent, and technological advancement. We discuss how carriers evaluate insurtech opportunities, the balance between building versus buying, and what it takes for startups to become attractive partners. For startups, carriers, and investors alike, this conversation provides a front-row view into how strategic investments and partnerships are reshaping insurance — from data analytics to distribution — and why collaboration is at the heart of digital transformation. Unlock how M&A, strategic investments, and AI innovation are redefining insurance. #Insurance #Insurtech #AIinInsurance #InsuranceInnovation #StreamliningInsurance #RiskEducation #GreatAmericanInsurance #Underwriting #MergersAndAcquisitions Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

In this episode of Alliance Insights, we’re excited to spotlight CISR High School Program graduate Katy Knapp - a rising insurance professional who is already charting her career path just one year out of high school. Thanks to early exposure, effective industry engagement, and internship opportunities, Katy has fast-tracked her journey into insurance and is already giving back by sharing practical, actionable advice for both students and employers. The Academy’s Sharla Floyd sits down with Katy to explore how the CISR High School Program shaped her trajectory, what she learned from hands-on experience, and how the industry can better support emerging talent. Katy’s story is a powerful testament to the impact of early engagement, and a reminder that investing in young professionals truly transforms futures. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

In this episode of Alliance Insights, Jack Elliott, Regional VP of Operations with Alera Group and Risk & Insurance Research Academy Board Chair, shares how a high school internship changed the course of his life. The Academy's Sharla Floyd talks with Jack about his path from the classroom to the C-suite and why he is so passionate about creating opportunities for today’s students through initiatives like the CISR High School Program. Jack’s story is a powerful reminder of how early exposure and industry engagement can truly change lives, and why giving back to the next generation matters now more than ever. Watch now and be inspired to help build the future of our industry. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

In this episode of Alliance Insights talks with Krista Glenn, EVP and Chief Claims Officer at Westfield Specialty, to explore how ethics and trust shape the business of risk. Together, they discuss why honesty, transparency, and accountability are essential to restoring confidence in an often-misunderstood industry. From real-world claims examples to the emerging role of AI in decision-making, Noelle and Krista share practical insights on how insurance professionals can create cultures of integrity—where doing the right thing isn’t just policy, it’s practice. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

On this episode of Streamlining Insurance, Darren Bloomfield sits down with Charles Merritt, CEO and co-founder of Buddy, an insurtech firm pioneering embedded insurance solutions. With their flagship ION™ engine, Buddy makes it easier than ever for businesses to integrate insurance directly into digital platforms. Charles shares his insights on how embedded insurance is reshaping customer experiences, the role of APIs in modernizing distribution, and what the next wave of innovation looks like in insurance technology. Whether you’re an insurer, broker, or technologist, this conversation will spark ideas on how to unlock new channels and streamline operations in today’s digital-first world. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

In this episode of Alliance Insights, Marsha Linton, National Casualty Analytics Practice Leader at USI Insurance Services, and Tim Wander, CRM faculty member, break down how to understand and apply actuarial reports to drive smarter business decisions. Learn how loss development triangles, projection methods, and ultimate loss selections can help your organization reduce costs, manage reserves, and strengthen communication between actuaries, auditors, and claims teams. Whether you’re a seasoned risk manager or new to analytics, this conversation will help you turn complex data into actionable insight—boosting accuracy, transparency, and long-term financial stability. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

In this episode of Streamlining Insurance, Darren speaks with Zhiyu Frank Quan, Ph.D. and Panyi Dong, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who recently co-authored “Automated Machine Learning in Insurance.” Together, they explore how automation and machine learning are reshaping actuarial science, underwriting, and risk management. We’ll also connect the dots to practical implementation—how insurers can move from academic theory to real-world tools that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enable better decision-making. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

In this episode of Alliance Insights, Dr. Claire Musselman dives into the human side of workers’ compensation. From the history of the system to modern challenges, she explains why empathy, communication, and dignity matter in every claim—and how they lead to better outcomes for employees and organizations alike. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

CyberCube is delivering the world’s leading cyber risk modeling and analytics. With best-in-class data access and advanced multi-disciplinary analytics, the company’s cloud-based platform helps insurance organizations quantify cyber risk to facilitate placing insurance, underwriting cyber risk and managing cyber risk aggregation. CyberCube’s enterprise intelligence layer provides insights on millions of companies globally and includes modeling on thousands of points of technology failure. The CyberCube platform was established in 2015 within Symantec and now operates as a standalone company exclusively focused on the insurance industry, with access to an unparalleled ecosystem of data partners. It is backed by Morgan Stanley Tactical Value, Forgepoint Capital, HSCM Bermuda, MTech Capital, individuals from Stone Point Capital and Scott G. Stephenson. For more information, please visit www.cybcube.com or email info@cybcube.com. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

In this episode of Alliance Insights, Jonathan Peters (JP) shares his journey into the insurance industry—from his start in finance and music to building a successful career as a producer at South Point Risk. He talks about the impact of earning his CIC designation, the importance of education, building client trust, and how persistence pays off in a hard market. Whether you’re new to insurance or a seasoned professional, JP’s story offers valuable lessons on growth, relationships, and the power of continuous learning. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Explore the Dynamics Series—a proven program designed to help insurance professionals shift from price-driven conversations to meaningful, value-based sales. Whether you're building a new approach or refining your team's strategy, the Dynamics Series gives you the tools, techniques, and confidence to sell smarter.Start changing your sales culture today—one conversation at a time Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Ready to transform your sales culture and lead with value? Explore the Dynamics Series—a proven program designed to help insurance professionals shift from price-driven conversations to meaningful, value-based sales. Whether you're building a new approach or refining your team's strategy, the Dynamics Series gives you the tools, techniques, and confidence to sell smarter.Start changing your sales culture today—browse the Dynamics Course Schedule. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

n this episode of Alliance Insights, Noelle Codispoti interviews Dale Randol, President and CEO of IBC Insurance, about how one agency is transforming the insurance industry — one high school student at a time. Learn how Dale’s team partnered with Laredo ISD to launch a CISR High School Program, offered guaranteed internships, and created real-world opportunities for students to start careers in insurance. If you're passionate about solving the insurance talent gap or curious how your agency can get involved, this conversation is packed with real success stories, practical strategies, and inspiration for building the future of our industry. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Become Restaurant RiskPRO CertifiedRegister today and earn your badge in this fast-growing niche.Learn more and sign up now.  https://www.riskeducation.org/restaurant-riskpro/ Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

In this episode, Darren Bloomfield sits down with Shannon Spies, Technology Alliance Manager at Guidewire Software, to explore how Guidewire is reshaping the global P&C insurance ecosystem through strategic partnerships, digital transformation, and AI innovation. Shannon shares insights into the Insurtech Vanguard program—an incubator for startups driving real change in the industry—and explains how Guidewire connects carriers with validated, scalable solutions that reduce manual processes and accelerate underwriting and claims workflows. From tips for startups entering the space to the evolving role of AI, IoT, and telematics, this episode dives into what it takes to innovate in a risk-averse industry—and why collaboration is key. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Both Connor and Angela emphasized the importance of attending the 2025 Houston Marine & Energy Insurance Conference, being held September 21-23 at the Westin Galleria Houston.  The conference provides an opportunity to expand professional networks, earn CE credit, and learn more about marine and energy insurance.  For more information, see  www.houstonmeic.com. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Interested in contributing to future reports?SambaSafety is currently gathering input from commercial insurers, brokers and fleets on telematics adoption. Take our survey through July 17th to contribute to the next telematics report - your voice matters! Take the Survey: https://sambasafety.surveymonkey.com/r/MRBLH96 Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

On this episode of Streamlining Insurance, I sit down with Rahul Daryanani, CFA—an investor with deep experience across venture capital and insurance—to unpack how AI and automation are transforming the industry from the inside out.We dive into:Where VCs are still excited to invest in insurtechThe real-world impact of AI on underwriting, claims, and distributionHow startups should approach building for legacy industriesWhat’s hype vs. what’s real in the automation revolutionWhether you're a founder, operator, or insurance veteran, this episode offers a sharp look into what’s next for the future of insurance. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Protect what matters most.Gain confidence in commercial property coverage by enrolling in the CIC Commercial Property course. Identify exposures, apply the latest forms, and deliver smarter coverage solutions. Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

We go beyond the surface to talk:How AI and automation are actually transforming insurance workflowsWhat it takes to launch and scale a successful insurance innovation eventWhy Ohio became an unexpected hub for insurtech collaborationThe art of matchmaking the right vendor to the right buyerHow to tap into sponsorships and corporate support without losing authenticityWhether you’re trying to enter the insurtech space, plan a high-impact event, or simply keep up with what’s next in AI and digital transformation—this episode is packed with practical insights.Listen to more Streamlining Insurance Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.