Episodes

  • Medical Inflation and Tariffs Hit International Firms

    Medical Inflation and Tariffs Hit International Firms
    Jun 24 2025
    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 background in law helped him break into insurance industry, how medical inflation and tariffs are impacting his clients, and what trends he’s watching in the benefits market.
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    15 mins
  • Modern Benefits: Design, Delivery, and Disconnects

    Modern Benefits: Design, Delivery, and Disconnects
    Jun 16 2025
    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 product development, better client service, and the 150-year history that provides the foundation for Prudential today.
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    25 mins
  • Personal Lines with Scott Goodreau

    Personal Lines with Scott Goodreau
    Jun 2 2025
    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.
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    19 mins
  • Creative Solutions in Large Commercial

    Creative Solutions in Large Commercial
    May 21 2025
    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.
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    19 mins
  • From Classroom to Clients: Teachers Pivoting to Insurance

    From Classroom to Clients: Teachers Pivoting to Insurance
    May 15 2025
    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 elementary school teacher and librarian for 29 years who recently jumped to working as an account manager at the Marsh McLennan Agency. Next, we meet Julia Lacoste, who taught middle school for two years before pivoting to insurance, where she works as an account manager at CBIZ. Both women share why they moved to the industry of risk. Their stories are a part of a larger narrative insurers may want to pay attention to: past educators being a great source of talent for the industry.
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    19 mins
  • Risk Management in the Middle Market

    Risk Management in the Middle Market
    May 6 2025
    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.
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    20 mins
  • Personal Lines with Beth Ferrin

    Personal Lines with Beth Ferrin
    Apr 29 2025
    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.
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    18 mins
  • Private Equity Investment Appetites Maturing

    Private Equity Investment Appetites Maturing
    Apr 24 2025
    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.
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    21 mins