The Leadership in Insurance Podcast - Insurtech & Innovation

What does the future of underwriting look like and how close are we to getting there?In the latest episode of The Leadership in Insurance Podcast, host Alex Bond sits down with Alex Schmelkin, Founder & CEO of Sixfold, to explore how AI is fundamentally reshaping the underwriting landscape.Alex Schmelkin shares how Sixfold has evolved from building a helpful assistant for underwriters into developing end-to-end underwriting agents, capable of producing quotes as polished as those from senior underwriters, straight from a broker submission.The results speak for themselves. One customer cut quote turnaround time by half and increased bind rates by 18% - not by replacing their underwriters, but by freeing them up to do what humans do best: build better relationships and find better risks.On what's driving Sixfold's success, Schmelkin is clear:"You can't be all things to all people in this AI world. Develop your killer product and bring it to your customers."Alex and Alex also dig into the wider market landscape: why so many insurers are stuck in pilot purgatory with multiple AI solutions, and what it actually takes to find best-in-class capabilities that scale globally.A fascinating conversation for anyone navigating the intersection of AI and insurance#InsurancePodcast #LeadershipInInsurance #AIUnderwriting #InsurTech #Sixfold #Insurance

What does real AI transformation in insurance actually look like and how is it different from just speeding up the same old processes?In the latest episode, host Alex Bond sits down with Mark Twigg (CEO) and Rob Agnew (Chief Strategy Officer) of Agentiv-X — an AI decision co-pilot built specifically for complex risk markets.They cover a lot of ground:🔹 Why Lloyd's Blueprint 2 fell short and what the market still needs to fix 🔹 The difference between optimising legacy processes and transforming them 🔹 How Agentiv-X captures the rationale behind expert decisions to create a genuine AI trust layer 🔹 Their three-step approach combining large language models, senior practitioner input, and a proprietary decision science algorithm developed with the University of Manchester 🔹 The ongoing conversation with the FCA about AI regulation and why explainability isn't just a compliance tick-box, it's a competitive advantage 🔹 What the next two years could look like for transparency and consistency in underwritingIf you work in broking, underwriting, or anywhere in the London market, this one is well worth your time.

In the latest episode of the Leadership in Insurance podcast, host Alex Bond sits down with Michael Streit, President of Applied Systems Carrier Business, for a fascinating conversation about the future of commercial insurance and the technology driving it forward.Michael shares how Applied, a company with over 40 years of institutional knowledge, is tackling one of the industry's most persistent challenges: friction in the commercial risk submission process.He explores how the recent acquisition of Cytora is enabling carriers to digitise unstructured insurance data using AI and large language models, all without forcing standardisation or compromising each carrier's unique view of risk.The conversation covers three distinct phases of digitisation maturity (from basic document processing, through workflow orchestration, to full connectivity between agencies and carriers), and what it actually takes for carriers to become front of mind for brokers writing commercial risk.Michael also reflects on the cultural challenge of sustaining innovation within a large, established organisation, and why the independent agent channel remains central to the insurance ecosystem.Whether you're a carrier, broker, or insurtech enthusiast, this episode is packed with practical insights on where agency-carrier connectivity is heading — and how quickly it's getting there.🎧 Listen now | [Link in comments]#LeadershipInInsurance #InsurTech #CommercialInsurance #AppliedSystems #AI #DigitalTransformation #Insurance

What does it take to transform the insurance broker industry from the inside out?In the latest episode, host Alex Bond sits down with Will Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO of Gyde, to explore how his company is reimagining what it means to be an insurance broker in the age of AI.Will shares how Gyde is on a mission to empower brokers to become true, comprehensive guides for their clients - providing the technological infrastructure, automation tools, and operational support to help them go far beyond a single line of business.The conversation covers:🔹 Why brokers are the most underleveraged, but critical entry point into the US healthcare and insurance system🔹 How Gyde's M&A strategy is built around finding partner-aligned agencies, not just financial deals🔹 The role of automation in solving the labour-intensive renewal process during periods like AEP🔹 What building a culture of empathy and intellectual rigour looks like at an early-stage insurtech🔹 Gyde's roadmap: from completing their leadership team to accelerating their AI platform (GydeOS & Gia)Will brings a rare insider perspective, including experience at Oscar, and beyond — and it shows in how Gyde is speaking the language of the brokers they're building for.If you work in insurance, healthtech, or benefits distribution, this one is worth your time.#LeadershipInInsurance #InsurTech #Insurance #HealthInsurance #Brokers #AI #Podcast #FutureOfInsurance

In this week’s episode, host Alex Bond sits down with Andrew Doran, CEO of UnderwriteMe, to explore what it really takes to bring AI into one of the most regulated corners of financial services — life and health insurance.Andrew shares how UnderwriteMe operates a dual business model: a distribution platform powering up to a quarter of the UK's advisor protection market, and a B2B automation platform for underwriting and claims — two sides that constantly inform each other.The conversation covers:🔹 Why AI adoption looks like a "quiet evolution" in mature markets like the UK and Australia but a "grand revolution" in emerging ones like India🔹 The danger of waiting for perfection and why incremental progress beats standing still🔹 What the future really holds for human underwriters in an AI-driven world (spoiler: the role evolves, it doesn't disappear)🔹 How to bring risk and compliance teams along early rather than treating them as a blockerAndrew's take on navigating innovation inside a regulated industry is both pragmatic and refreshing. A must-listen for anyone working at the intersection of insurance, technology, and change.

The next episode of the Leadership in Insurance Podcast is here  - and it's one not to miss.Host Alex Bond sits down with Abbie Day, reporter at Insurance Insider and one of the  industry's most informed voices on AI, to explore what AI really means for the future of insurance.Abbie brings a uniquely informed perspective: her interest in AI dates back to her Masters dissertation on editorial responses to the technology back in 2018, and she has since authored a widely-read six-part AI series for Insurance Insider. In this conversation, she and Alex go beyond the hype to have an honest discussion about where the industry actually is on its AI journey.They cover a lot of ground, including:🔹 How AI is reshaping claims, underwriting and broking  - and what that means for the people doing those jobs 🔹 The tension between efficiency gains and the human relationships that insurance has always been built on 🔹 The question every insurer is wrestling with: build in-house or buy in? 🔹 The concept of "ethical debt"  -  and why getting AI implementation right from the start matters more than speed 🔹 What future insurance leaders will actually need to succeed in an AI-augmented world 🔹 Why the industry is shifting from talking about AI to doing something about it  - and what the early results look likeWhether you're a leader navigating AI adoption, a professional thinking about what these changes mean for your career, or simply someone trying to make sense of where insurance is heading — this episode is for you.

Insurance"In the latest episode of the Leadership in Insurance podcast, host Alex Bond sits down with Sharon Rodriguez, Co-Founder and CEO of Nevado AI, for a fascinating conversation about the future of artificial intelligence in the insurance industry.With 20 years of insurance experience under her belt, Sharon shares how Nevado AI is using an agentic workforce to help insurers cut through operational inefficiency and regulatory complexity — without the friction of traditional outsourcing models.The conversation explores some of the most pressing questions facing insurance leaders today:🔹 What does it actually mean to be AI-native — and how do you build that infrastructure? 🔹 How should organisations rethink roles, training, and incentive structures in an AI-driven world? 🔹 What kind of leadership does successful AI integration demand?Sharon and Alex also discuss the cultural shift required for companies to treat AI not just as a tool, but as a genuine part of the workforce — and why empathy and creativity are now non-negotiable leadership traits.Whether you're an insurance executive, an ops leader, or simply curious about where AI is taking the industry, this is a conversation worth your time.

In this episode, host Alex Bond sits down with Georgie Simister, Commercial Partnerships Lead at Artificial Labs, to explore her fascinating journey from broker distribution into the world of InsurTech software sales.Georgie opens up about the challenges of adapting to longer sales cycles, learning new industry terminology, and what it really means to sell technology that automates decisions and transforms broker and carrier processes.Beyond the day-to-day, Georgie shares how Artificial is navigating one of the trickiest challenges for any growing business — scaling culture. From the weekly 'Artificial Hour' calls to monthly company breakfasts, she explains how a shared passion for the industry keeps the team united as they grow from a 'family to a village.'The conversation also touches on Georgie's involvement in the Future First Insurance Network, her own podcast “Insurance Technology: Fact or Fiction”, and — with Insurtech Week in London just around the corner — why in-person events still play a vital role in the industry.

This week's episode features Dan Grimwood-Bird, Head of Insurance at Nauto, an AI company at the forefront of commercial auto safety technology. This conversation covers everything from cutting-edge AI to the deeply human side of our industry.Dan shares how Nauto's AI-powered device is transforming fleet safety by tackling the root cause of the problem: with 70% of collisions caused by driver distraction or inattention, Nauto's windscreen-mounted system identifies risks in real time, alerts drivers, and provides critical video evidence for claims. The results? Significantly lower collision rates across commercial fleets.The conversation goes much deeper than technology. Dan and host Alex explore:🚗 The road to autonomy — how Nauto is bridging the gap between human-driven and fully autonomous vehicles, and why CEO Stefan Heck has called AI the biggest leap in motor safety since the seatbelt — a vision now accelerated by Nauto's recent partnership with Qualcomm🤝 The broker opportunity — why the most forward-thinking brokers are moving beyond renewals and actively managing risk for clients and insurers alike🎙️ "Humanizing Insurance" — Dan shares the story behind his own podcast, sparked by a dinner with Ema Roloff that ignited a passion for storytelling and a mission to showcase the genuine intentions and diverse backgrounds of insurance professionals💡 First mover advantage — why understanding emerging technologies early is non-negotiable, and why there is simply no second mover advantage in today's landscape❤️ The human connections that define our industry — Dan reflects on why sharing real, personal experiences matters more than ever, and how the relationships built within insurance are among its greatest, most underappreciated strengths