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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Sep 28, 2026 · 17:13
In this episode of the Leader's Edge Podcast, reporter Russ Banham discusses his October cover story on cyber-enabled cargo theft. From the container ship that blocked the Suez…
Sep 21, 2026 · 15:08
In this episode of our personal lines podcast series, associate editor Chris Hann sits down with Walid Nehme, Chairman at Associated Alliance. Nehme shares what it was like…
Sep 14, 2026 · 16:40
A string of high-profile art heists in France, as recently as early September, highlights the unique risks in holding these pricey pieces. Tyler Najeer, who specializes in fine…
Aug 31, 2026 · 16:45
In this episode, Leader's Edge speaks with Lance Malcolm, president of U.S. network solutions at Crawford & Co., about wildfire resilience in Europe and the United States. With…
Aug 24, 2026 · 13:46
In this episode of our personal lines podcast series, associate editor Chris Hann interviews Jennifer Hill, Vice President and Operations Director at Harmon Dennis Bradshaw, a…
Aug 10, 2026 · 23:23
The new chair of The Council of Employee Benefits Executives (CEBE), Kenneth Olson, joined The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers Vice President of Government Affairs Audra…
Aug 3, 2026 · 20:21
Talking with Leader’s Edge at the 2026 Employee Benefits Leadership Forum, Dennis Gushue, ThreeFlow’s senior vice president of sales, discusses why he sees increased desire among…
Jul 27, 2026 · 15:27
In this episode recorded live at The Council's Employee Benefits Leadership Forum, Leader's Edge Podcast Producer Zach Ewell sits down with Isabelle Moins of APRIL International…
Jul 20, 2026 · 19:47
Construction continues to reshape America's landscape, with demand growing for more efficient airports, improved hospitals, and larger sports complexes across the country. In…
Jul 13, 2026 · 20:42
John Butler, cyber product lead for E-Risk, a Nationwide company, explores supply chain vulnerabilities, AI powered threat actors, and more. From expanded attack surfaces and…
Jul 6, 2026 · 12:41
In this episode of our personal lines podcast series, associate editor Chris Hann interviews Jack Butcher, Chairman and CEO of Vantage Insurance Partners. Butcher shares personal…
Jun 29, 2026 · 16:51
During the 2026 Employee Benefits Leadership Forum in May, the outgoing chair of The Council of Employee Benefits Executives (CEBE), Lisa Hawker, sat down with Kerry Finnegan,…
Jun 22, 2026 · 18:22
Eric Rentsch, Zywave’s chief product officer and head of emerging markets, talks with Leader’s Edge onsite at the 2026 Employee Benefits Leadership Forum. The conversation…
Jun 10, 2026 · 19:21
Speaking with Leader’s Edge onsite at the 2026 Employee Benefits Leadership Forum, Jon Trevisan, vice president and head of distribution for group insurance at Prudential, shares…
Jun 8, 2026 · 19:21
Recorded live at The Council's Employee Benefits Leadership Forum, Leader's Edge Podcast Producer Zach Ewell sits down with Massimo Nini, SVP of Consulting, Underwriting, and…
May 25, 2026 · 20:01
A conversation with Dan Kueter, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual. One of the most crucial topics discussed in healthcare coverage today is the challenge of…
May 21, 2026 · 23:10
Q&A with the Jessica Jung, President of Oswald.
May 18, 2026 · 25:02
As life grows increasingly complex, exemplified today by the risk and promise of artificial intelligence, it can be easy to become frozen with overthinking about the next steps,…
May 11, 2026 · 21:49
In this episode, Leader’s Edge Editor in Chief Sandy Laycox sits down with David Glasgow, a leading legal expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion, to unpack the rapidly…
May 4, 2026 · 9:49
A conversation with the President of Risk and Broking at WTW.
Apr 27, 2026 · 23:39
A candid conversation on influence, memes, and insurance with the admin behind The Hard Market. The Hard Market jokingly describes itself as a safe place for insurance…
Apr 13, 2026 · 21:55
With the Artemis II crew completing the first crewed lunar flyby in 50 years, space is back in the spotlight, and so is the complex world of risk that surrounds it. In this…
Apr 6, 2026 · 19:00
In this episode of the Leader's Edge podcast John Jackovin, executive director of the BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator, shares what he's seeing on the front lines of insurance…
Mar 30, 2026 · 25:55
After years as a leading independent acquirer, the Leavitt Group recently sold a 21% stake in its business, but it has remained near the top of the list of active buyers.…
Mar 23, 2026 · 12:13
Part two of our conversation with Chris Sparro, CEO of North America for Sompo Commercial P&C Insurance. In in this episode of the Leader's Edge podcast, Chris Sparro, CEO of…
Mar 16, 2026 · 9:17
In this episode of the Leader's Edge podcast, Chris Sparro, CEO of North America for Sampo Commercial P&C Insurance, discusses talent and training in today's insurance industry.…
Mar 2, 2026 · 14:33
In this episode, Associate Editor Chris Hann sits down with Patrick Kinney, CEO of Keystone Agency Partners, for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey in the insurance…
Feb 23, 2026 · 17:39
Against a backdrop of music, laughter, and clashing steel, Renaissance fairs create an atmosphere where history and imagination blur together. From their unconventional origins…
Feb 16, 2026 · 9:00
From the Today show to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and beyond, Meredith Vieira's career spans decades and many famous television brands. In this discussion moderated by Council…
Feb 2, 2026 · 11:31
Michele Sansone, chief underwriting officer of property and head of multinational solutions for the Americas for AXA XL, joins the Leader's Edge podcast to share key focus areas…
Jan 29, 2026 · 13:30
Journalist and author David Brooks sat down with Leader's Edge during the 2025 Insurance Leadership Forum. Having recently written his book, How to Know a Person, Brooks…
Jan 26, 2026 · 15:22
In this episode of our personal lines podcast series, Andy Barker, CEO of Houchens Insurance Group, pulls back the curtain on what leadership looks like at his business.…
Jan 19, 2026 · 35:37
In this episode of The Politics & Risk Podcast, The Council’s senior vice president of government affairs, Joel Kopperud, and Audra Jackson, director of government affairs, are…
Jan 12, 2026 · 26:07
In this episode of The Politics & Risk Podcast, Republican Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District shares how his background as a McDonald’s franchisee owner…
Dec 29, 2025 · 14:59
Joseph Schauer, President and CEO of Schauer Group, joins our personal lines podcast to share the 106-year history of his family's firm and discuss what gives him his competitive…
Dec 22, 2025 · 32:08
Having previously served as chief futurist at Deloitte, global innovation director at Accenture, a venture capital co-founder, and an inventor, Mike Bechtel has more than 25…
Dec 19, 2025 · 26:37
In this episode of The Politics & Risk Podcast, Democratic Rep. Linda Sánchez of California’s 38th Congressional District discusses the impacts of the upcoming expiration of…
Dec 15, 2025 · 20:53
Bars and other alcohol-serving establishments have been rocked by high premium increases and liabilities, which have resulted in business closures and job losses across America.…
Dec 10, 2025 · 17:32
Trucordia’s COO Michael Moran open up about the process of integrating acquired companies. Being a substantial brokerage acquirer in recent years, Trucordia is undergoing the…
Dec 3, 2025 · 11:36
During the 2025 Insurance Leadership Forum, Paul Kottler, president of U.S. Loss Adjusting for Crawford, discusses how claims adjusting has changed in recent years given the…
Nov 24, 2025 · 13:26
In this episode of the Leader's Edge podcast, recorded live at The Council’s 2025 Insurance Leadership Forum, Dan Fortin, president of specialty insurance at QBE North America,…
Nov 17, 2025 · 19:30
At last month’s Insurance Leadership Forum, Leader’s Edge podcast host Zach Ewell sat down with Jochen Körner, CEO of Ecclesia Group, and Warren Downey, Group Chief Executive…
Nov 10, 2025 · 12:03
In this episode of our personal lines podcast series, Eric Diamond, President and CEO of Marshall+Sterling, shares how joining the military helped bring structure to his life,…
Nov 3, 2025 · 24:09
Talking with Leader’s Edge onsite at the 2025 Insurance Leadership Forum, Darren Tasker, Head of Construction and Tom Houlihan, Head of Alternative risk transfer at Allianz…
Oct 28, 2025 · 15:21
London & International Insurance Brokers' Association Chief Executive Chris Croft sat down with the Leader's Edge podcast during the latest Insurance Leadership Forum to share…
Oct 15, 2025 · 23:20
In this episode, Cyber Product Lead for E-Risk Services John Butler talks third-party risk, AI exposure, and more middle market cyber risk. The conversation covers the overall…
Oct 10, 2025 · 27:21
In this episode of The Politics & Risk Podcast, Democratic Representative Adam Gray of California’s 13th Congressional District shares how the ongoing government shutdown is…
Oct 7, 2025 · 17:18
With the last day of the conference buzzing around us, the Leader’s Edge podcast caught up with Rob Newbold, president of extreme event solutions at Verisk. He shared takeaways…
Oct 6, 2025 · 18:29
Speaking with the Leader’s Edge podcast at the Insurance Leadership Forum, Julie Wood, CEO of QBE North America, discusses the culture of dialogue, thoughtful listening, and…
Oct 5, 2025 · 21:22
Sitting down with Leader’s Edge during at the Insurance Leadership Forum, Mike Victorson, CEO of M3 Insurance and co-CEO of BrokerTech Ventures, takes us back to his first real…
Sep 29, 2025 · 17:41
In this episode of the Personal Lines podcast, Chad King, CEO of King Risk Partners, shares how his career pursuits led him from professional baseball to insurance, what its like…
Sep 16, 2025 · 16:37
Every October, millions of Americans flock to haunted house attractions, or "haunts" as they are also called, to be entertained. From theme parks to mom-and-pop operations, over…
Sep 9, 2025 · 18:40
In this episode of the Personal Lines podcast, Curtis Barton, CEO of ALKEME, shares why he chose a career in insurance, what it was like building a business alongside his father,…
Aug 31, 2025 · 27:38
Nationwide’s John Anthony, SVP, Contract P&C and Excess, E&S Wholesale, discusses advanced data use in E&S underwriting. In this episode, we dive deep into advancements in data…
Aug 26, 2025 · 13:57
AXA XL’s Head of Wholesale Solutions in the Americas Tim Whisler discusses growth, goals, and getting there. In our latest conversation with AXA XL, we discuss their focus on…
Aug 20, 2025 · 25:36
Lisa Hawker, Regional COO of people solutions at Lockton, and the current chair of the Council of Employee Benefits Executives, and Jenn Walsh, Founder and CEO of Genuine Shift,…
Aug 12, 2025 · 32:09
Tom O’Neal's career has spanned over half a century. He made an early name for himself during the 1960s and ’70s, with photographs gracing the album covers of rock legends such…
Jul 29, 2025 · 23:44
In this episode of the Personal Lines podcast, Ed Cha shares how his career path led to the insurance industry, says why he finds learning a reward for his job, and dives deep…
Jul 22, 2025 · 17:57
In this episode, Leader's Edge hosts its third conversation at The Council's Employee Benefits Leadership Forum, with Ahmed Marmoush, co-founder and CEO of Handl Health, an AI…
Jul 15, 2025 · 9:39
In this episode, FIRST Insurance Funding Vice President of Business Solutions Nolan Steenberg goes deep on agency payment processing system integration. Steenberg dives into…
Jul 8, 2025 · 12:30
In this episode, Leader's Edge hosts its second conversation at The Council's Employee Benefits Leadership Forum, with Jochen Körner, CEO of Ecclesia Group, a Germany-based…
Jun 30, 2025 · 22:21
“Nobody wins when the insurance company can’t afford to sell insurance and the homeowners can’t afford to buy insurance.” In this episode of the Politics & Risk podcast, House…
Jun 24, 2025 · 14:47
In this episode, Leader's Edge hosts a conversation at The Council's Employee Benefits Leadership Forum with Jonathan Hsieh, CEO of Pacific Prime Americas. Hsieh shares how his…
Jun 16, 2025 · 25:05
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…
Jun 2, 2025 · 18:52
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…
May 21, 2025 · 18:35
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…
May 15, 2025 · 19:20
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…
May 6, 2025 · 20:04
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…
Apr 29, 2025 · 17:53
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…
Apr 24, 2025 · 21:23
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…
Apr 9, 2025 · 16:21
The BrokerTech Ventures 2025 Accelerator startups are putting artificial intelligence to work in new ways, rethinking back-office processes from telephony support to employee…
Mar 31, 2025 · 15:49
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…
Mar 25, 2025 · 24:04
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.…
Mar 9, 2025 · 20:32
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…
Feb 26, 2025 · 29:11
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…
Feb 23, 2025 · 21:32
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…
Feb 4, 2025 · 23:48
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…
Jan 28, 2025 · 21:42
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…
Jan 20, 2025 · 24:52
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…
Jan 13, 2025 · 27:49
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…
Jan 13, 2025 · 11:11
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…
Jan 8, 2025 · 24:03
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…
Dec 16, 2024 · 18:03
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…
Dec 11, 2024 · 17:17
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…
Dec 7, 2024 · 20:24
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…
Nov 19, 2024 · 16:36
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…
Nov 8, 2024 · 22:15
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…
Nov 5, 2024 · 17:27
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…
Oct 28, 2024 · 31:12
Personal Lines with Dottie Chalmers Cutter by A Council Platform - 868329
Oct 3, 2024 · 19:01
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…
Oct 2, 2024 · 18:19
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…
Sep 30, 2024 · 19:28
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,…
Sep 27, 2024 · 24:23
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…
Sep 23, 2024 · 17:51
For hundreds of years the insurance market known as Lloyd's of London has played a notorious role in the world of risk and finance. To understand how this market started, podcast…
Sep 17, 2024 · 12:56
One year into the newly created role of head of North America, AXIS' Mike McKenna joins the Leader’s Edge podcast to discuss how he plans to execute on opportunities in the…
Sep 3, 2024 · 15:47
As Fall conference season gears up, BrokerTech Ventures’ John Jackovin, Executive Director of the BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator, shares some insight into the upcoming…
Aug 12, 2024 · 35:55
Can we fix the polarization that has engulfed our politics and government? According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, public trust in government has edged near all-time lows…
Aug 5, 2024 · 19:52
In this edition of our AXA XL podcast series, chief client and distribution officer Matt O’Malley sits down with Leader’s Edge after taking on this newly created role for the…
Jul 31, 2024 · 23:06
In this episode of Politics & Risk from The Council’s government affairs team, SVP Joel Kopperud interviews Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney, who represents Connecticut's 2nd…
Jul 22, 2024 · 13:17
For over 34 years Mike St. Lawrence traveled the United States selling alien abduction insurance on local TV news and radio shows. With nearly 7,000 coverages sold at a $24.95…
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