IN-the-Know

James Lawrence, better known as The Iron Cowboy, is a world-renowned keynote speaker, bestselling author, and endurance athlete who redefined human potential by completing 50 Ironmans in 50 days across all 50 states — and then doing the unthinkable — 100 full-distance triathlons in 100 consecutive days. Before becoming the greatest endurance athlete in history, James was a successful entrepreneur, running a thriving mortgage company and helping hundreds of clients build wealth through homeownership and strategic refinancing. That same relentless mindset that powered him through thousands of miles now fuels his ventures in multi-family real estate and ownership of Crumbl Cookie franchises. He's been named one of Sports Illustrated's "Fittest 50," featured in two acclaimed documentaries, and honored alongside icons like LeBron James and Conor McGregor. But James's story isn't just about athletic records — it's about purpose, resilience, and refusing to settle for average. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and James examine the importance of risk-taking in any successful career, techniques for transferring fear to excitement, and the possibilities that are available to those who are brave enough to tackle the unknown.

James will be the closing keynote and conferment speaker at this year's In2Risk event, taking place November 3‒5 in New Orleans. For more information and to register, visit In2Risk.org. Register by Sept. 5 to take advantage of early bird rates.

Key Takeaways

• James's pivot from the mortgage industry to extreme sports.

• The importance of risk-taking in any successful career.

• Calculating which risks bring the greatest rewards.

• The suffering is worth it when you show up prepared.

• The future is filled with possibilities for those who are willing to take risks.

• AI leverage has the potential to bring greater joy to the workforce.

• Techniques for transferring fear to excitement.

• Breaking monumental accomplishments down into manageable tasks.

• Personal development and risk-taking.

• Staying healthy while achieving incredible goals.

• What to expect from James's keynote presentation at In2Risk.

• A five-year look at the rapidly changing future.

• James's encouraging advice to his early career self.

In the Know podcast theme music written and performed by James Jones, CPCU, and Kole Shuda of the band If-Then.

To learn more about the CPCU Society, its membership, and educational offerings, tools, and programs, please visit CPCUSociety.org.

Follow the CPCU Society on social media:

X (Twitter): @CPCUSociety

Facebook: @CPCUSociety

LinkedIn: @The Institutes CPCU Society

Instagram: @the_cpcu_society

Quotes

• "Sometimes hitting rock bottom can be the greatest gift."

• "What is the risk that I have to take? And what is the benefit to myself, my family, my community?"

• "The suffering is always worth it if you show up prepared."

• "For people who understand and leverage AI, it's going to bring a lot of joy and happiness in their lives."

• "Am I going to allow fear to dictate my decisions, or am I going to continue to chase my dreams?"

• "Taking risks and personal development go hand in hand."

Heather H. Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of CLARA Analytics, has more than a decade of executive experience in data, analytics, and artificial intelligence, including Global Head of Innovation and Advanced Technology at Kaiser Permanente and Chief Data Officer of AIG. While at AIG, she was named Insurance Woman of the Year by the Insurance Technology Association for her data innovation work. Wilson has been a steady supporter of diversity. She launched the Kaiser Permanente Women in Technology group, focused on mentorship and retention for women in math, technology, and science. At AIG, she launched Global Women in Technology and served as Executive Sponsor of Girls Who Code. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Heather explore the work she has done to empower women in coding and STEM, AI technology advancements, and strategies for addressing talent challenges in today's fast-evolving insurance industry.

Key Takeaways

• Heather's career unfolded in three chapters.

• The current state and application of analytics in today's insurance industry.

• A look into the future of large language model (LLM) technology.

• The application of agentic AI in the claims sector.

• Integrating new and legacy technology platforms.

• Heather's experiences as a female leader in the insurance industry.

• Industry disruption, talent recruitment, and navigating the silver tsunami.

• Data analysts and the insurance industry.

• A five-year look to changing agent and adjuster responsibilities.

• Heather's strategic risk advice to her early career self.

In the Know podcast theme music written and performed by James Jones, CPCU, and Kole Shuda of the band If-Then.

To learn more about the CPCU Society, its membership, and educational offerings, tools, and programs, please visit CPCUSociety.org.

Follow the CPCU Society on social media:

X (Twitter): @CPCUSociety

Facebook: @CPCUSociety

LinkedIn: @The Institutes CPCU Society

Instagram: @the_cpcu_society

Quotes

• "At the end of the day, there is an outcome that we're trying to drive for the claimant and for the insurer."

• "AI is helping us take the surprises and get in front of them to handle cases differently."

• "Whether it's a risk or claims system, they really have the opportunity to lead the insurance industry on agentic AI."

• "Data is still king, and so is the orchestration of that data."

• "For super complex cases, people still need to have that human-in-the-loop touch."

Bhaskar serves as a Principal Technology Evangelist on Guidewire's Global Technology Alliances and Marketplace team. In his role, he works with solution, technology, and systems integration partners to develop technical integration strategies and promote Guidewire's cloud platform. He's also a passionate supporter of the Guidewire Insurtech Vanguard program, which helps insurers discover innovative InsurTechs. Bhaskar brings a unique blend of P&C insurance domain expertise, technical background, and deep knowledge of the Guidewire ecosystem. His experience spans enterprise software development, technology consulting, product management, and implementation projects. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Bhaskar dive into all things insurtech and its impact on the insurance industry, strategies for approaching legacy technology challenges, the possibilities of AI, and what the transformed future of the insurance industry could look like.

Key Takeaways

• Bhaskar's decision to marry the industry and date the technology.

• At Guidewire, Bhaskar's work impacts the entire industry ecosystem.

• The current state and impact of insurtech.

• Strategies for approaching legacy technology challenges.

• The state of acceptance of cloud technology.

• Addressing integration concerns for optimal upgrade success.

• Short- and long-term impacts of AI in the insurance industry.

• A look at the entirely transformed five-year future of the industry.

• Bhaskar's broader-thinking advice to his early career self.

Special thank you to Guidewire, one of the CPCU Society's annual partners, for their generous support and for sponsoring this episode of In the Know.

In the Know podcast theme music written and performed by James Jones, CPCU, and Kole Shuda of the band If-Then.

To learn more about the CPCU Society, its membership, and educational offerings, tools, and programs, please visit CPCUSociety.org.

Follow the CPCU Society on social media:

X (Twitter): @CPCUSociety

Facebook: @CPCUSociety

LinkedIn: @The Institutes CPCU Society

Instagram: @the_cpcu_society

Quotes

• "I made the decision to marry the industry and date the technology."

• "We have a responsibility to lead, but we also have a responsibility to lift."

• "Insurtech has changed the insurance world, but not in the way that everyone thought previously."

• "Insurtech is more of a maturing system than a disruptor."

• "The insurtech space has transformed the industry's digital transformation."

• "If you want to easily upgrade, embrace cloud."

• "AI is going to fundamentally change the insurance model."

Ranesha Dean is a branch manager for Caribbean Alliance Insurance Company, a regional general insurance company in the Eastern Caribbean, and is responsible for the Bahamas operations. Her career in the general insurance industry began in 2009, and she has worked in various roles over the years, including sales, underwriting, claims, and compliance. She holds a BA in economics and finance from The University of The Bahamas (formerly College of The Bahamas) and several designations with The Institutes, including the CPCU designation (2022). Ranesha is an avid insurance learner eager to dive into new insurance topics as an aspiring insurance writer. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Ranesha explore the unique challenges of the Caribbean insurance market, the impact of climate change on business, and the impact that her CPCU designation has had on her career.

Key Takeaways

• Ranesha's journey into the insurance market led to branch manager.

• Unique challenges of insurance in the Caribbean.

• Capacity crunch and climate change impacts.

• The response of the insurance industry in the wake of 2019's Hurricane Dorian.

• Technology and IT advances in the Caribbean.

• Ranesha's message to anyone considering joining the insurance industry.

• The impact of the CPCU designation on Ranesha's career.

• Attracting new talent to the industry in the Caribbean.

• Surprises that Ranesha has discovered in her career.

• A five-year look at the future of the Caribbean insurance market.

• Ranesha's CPCU Society advice to her early career self.

In the Know podcast theme music written and performed by James Jones, CPCU, and Kole Shuda of the band If-Then.

To learn more about the CPCU Society, its membership, and educational offerings, tools, and programs, please visit CPCUSociety.org.

Follow the CPCU Society on social media:

X (Twitter): @CPCUSociety

Facebook: @CPCUSociety

LinkedIn: @The Institutes CPCU Society

Instagram: @the_cpcu_society

Jim Jones is the co-creator of the new In The Know podcast music and has been the Executive Director of the Katie School of Insurance & Financial Services at Illinois State University since 2001. The Katie School supports over 500 students majoring in Risk Management and Insurance (RMI), actuarial science, and other majors, who are interested in careers in insurance. Jones works with ISU faculty, staff, administration, and industry executives in helping to develop talent for industry and educate students at the velocity of change. He holds an MBA in International Business from Saint Louis University, a BSBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business, and CPCU, AIC, ARM, and AIS. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Jim discuss microinsurance in developing countries, the next generation of talent, what Gen Z is looking for in a career, and tactics for successfully addressing the talent gap in the insurance industry.

Key Takeaways

• Jim's current role in the insurance industry focuses on the next generation of risk management professionals.

• As the Director of Claims Education, Jim taught 20,000 students each year.

• Jim's research in creating inclusive insurance in developing countries.

• In The Know's new theme song was written while Jim was in Kathmandu.

• Expanding the reach of microinsurance to underserved populations.

• A portrait of today's recently graduated insurance professional.

• Tactics for addressing the talent gap in the insurance industry.

• Characteristics of companies that successfully hire recent graduates.

• Jim's stand-apart advice to his early career self.

In the Know podcast theme music written and performed by James Jones, CPCU, and Kole Shuda of the band If-Then.

To learn more about the CPCU Society, its membership and educational offerings, tools, and programs, please visit CPCUSociety.org.

Follow the CPCU Society on social media:

X (Twitter): @CPCUSociety

Facebook: @CPCUSociety

LinkedIn: @The Institutes CPCU Society

Instagram: @the_cpcu_society

Tim Fletcher is Gen Re's VP, Senior Emerging Issues Specialist, and an avid contributor to Gen Re's blog, and he edits the UM/UIM Liability Laws Survey. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (Bachelor of Arts, Journalism) and the Michell-Hamline School of Law (Juris Doctor), and currently serves on CPCU's Reinsurance, Excess & Surplus Lines Interest Group and as chapter governor for the Upper South Region. He is a founding member of the Atlanta Insurance Coalition for Change and a guest lecturer on Risk Management and Insurance at Georgia State University and many industry organizations. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Tim explore emerging issues and exposures in the insurance industry, including AI, forever chemicals, social inflation, and medical advancements.

Key Takeaways

• Tim's journey from journalism to the insurance industry.

• The current state of the industry in the face of climate change.

• Messaging ways to reduce premiums with improved building processes.

• AI's impact on the present and future state of the insurance industry.

• Trends to be aware of in the AI space.

• Forever chemicals and microplastics as critical exposures that impact insurance.

• Social inflation and nuclear verdicts now and in the future.

• Growth and implications of autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots.

• Evolving technologies in the medical field.

• Addressing the talent gap in the insurance industry.

• A first look at the next generation of insurance agents.

• A five-year look at the technology-enhanced insurance industry.

• Tim's adventurous advice to his early-career self.

Quotes

• "There are opportunities for the insurance industry to better communicate its message."

• "We're on the dawn of something significant that's going to be very interesting and exciting."

• "I don't think there's any other profession that has a greater misunderstanding from what the public thinks it is to what it really is than the insurance industry."

• "Your CPCU designation gives you a nice exposure to all facets of the insurance industry."

• "Don't just put your CPCU designation on the shelf. Get active!"

Lori Hurkin is the Director of Casualty Claims at Nationwide Insurance. Lori has over 31 years of experience and has worked for State Farm and Nationwide. Lori spent six years honing her leadership skills and facilitating effective communication within teams as a development trainer. She has 24 years of experience in auto claims and has navigated every stage of the claim life cycle in multiple leadership roles. Lori achieved her CPCU certification in 2003 and has remained involved with the Iowa chapter and the Ethics Committee at the national level. Lori holds several prestigious designations, including CLU, CFC, SCLA, and CIC. She is a certified facilitator for both the Vital Smarts Influencer program and Corporate Coach U's Coaching Clinic. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Lori discuss ethics, the past, present, and future of claims, and Lori's approach to leadership training.

Key Takeaways

• Lori's customer service background led her into the insurance industry.

• In technical claims, Lori works to implement enhanced claims automation.

• The current state of claims automation.

• AI's role in the evolution of automation is encouraging but still limited.

• Insights into the threat actor space.

• The importance of ethics and insurance is highlighted in the CPCU space.

• Examples of ethical dilemmas in insurance.

• Solid leadership development in the next generation of the insurance industry.

• Lori's message to anyone considering a career in claims.

• The benefits of the CPCU designation.

• A five-year look at the future of the insurance industry.

• Lori's encouraging advice to her early career self.

Quotes

• "There are a lot of companies that are looking to capitalize automation, not only for the company but for the customer."

• "Doing the right thing may not always be the simple answer in insurance."

• "We need to make sure that we are creating and developing professionals in our baseline associates."

• "Creating that world-class underwriter mindset is very important."

Ryan White serves as Assistant Vice President and Director of Ceded Reinsurance at UFG Insurance. He has held the roles of associate, commercial, and senior underwriter, underwriting supervisor, and the first underwriting manager of UFG Online. In 2021 he was named Assistant Vice President and recently transitioned into the newly created role of Director of Ceded Reinsurance. White holds extensive reinsurance experience, a BBA in Finance, and an MBA from the University of Iowa. He also holds the CPCU, ARe, AU-M, AU, and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) professional designations. He has served on the board of the Cedar Valley CPCU Chapter since 2020, and recently joined the CPCU Reinsurance and Excess Surplus Lines Interest Group in 2023, serving as Vice Chair for the 2024 term. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Ryan discuss launching an online platform in the reinsurance sector, ceded risk and reinsurance, and the career benefits of earning the CPCU designation.

Key Takeaways

• Unlike so many, Ryan entered the insurance industry intentionally.

• Reinsurance or primary insurance? Ryan weighs in.

• Details of the ceded reinsurance marketplace.

• Essential skill sets that aided Ryan's rise from associate to management.

• The highs and lows of launching an online digital platform.

• The impact of the pandemic on Ryan's work.

• Lessons learned while transitioning from the small business digital platform to the reinsurance arena.

• A tailored approach to meeting the ceded reinsurance needs of each client.

• An overview of the breadth of ceded reinsurance coverage.

• Ryan's motivation behind his involvement in the CPCU Society.

• Reinsurance & Excess Surplus Lines Symposium 2025.

• Iowa as a global insurance hub.

• Ryan's perspective on earning both the MBA and the CPCU.

• Ryan's message to anyone considering the reinsurance sector.

• A five-year look to the future of the insurance industry and AI.

• Advice from current Ryan to his early career self.

Quotes

• "Launching an online digital platform was a really exciting time in my career and in the company."

• "No matter what part of the industry you're in, it's all about relationships."

• "The opportunities that are in front of you in the reinsurance industry are unlimited."

Marisol Schulte, CPCU, AIC, is a Senior Consultant of Personal Lines Strategic Planning and Insurance at TransUnion. Marisol supports in developing and executing TransUnion's product strategy for the personal lines property and casualty markets. She has over 18 years of property and casualty insurance experience, beginning in claims, with additional positions in R&D and Product Management for State Farm, CSAA, and Farmers. Schulte attained her CPCU in 2017 and graduated cum laude from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a bachelor's and master's degree in Mathematics. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Marisol examine the current conditions in Southern California in the wake of the January 2025 wildfires and discuss her journey in the insurance industry.

Key Takeaways

• Marisol's humble upbringing underscored the importance of education.

• From claim rep to actuarial work to the vendor side, Marisol has found there is always something new to learn in the insurance industry.

• You don't need to have a family member in the industry to succeed in your insurance career.

• The importance of networking in a successful career.

• The impact of the Southern California wildfires on insurance ratings and carrier approvals.

• Increasing insurance premiums are creating unique challenges for vendors.

• Long-term solutions for insurance in California.

• The pros and cons of moving from claims to strategy.

• CPCU courses provide insights into every aspect of the insurance industry.

• Marisol's decision to move from the carrier to the vendor side.

• Insurtech aims to address the unicorns of the technology industry.

• Marisol's decision to earn her CPCU designation stemmed from the example of her mentors.

• Insights into what's coming next in the insurance industry, the market, and the economy as a whole.

• A five-year look at the future role of insurance in the constantly changing environment.

• Strategies for fostering a more welcoming insurance industry.

• Marisol's bold advice to her early career self.

Quotes

• "If you are willing to network, there will be someone willing to help."

• "Beyond just insurance, there has to be something more that someone comes up with that helps with the new climate that we're in."

• "Going through the CPCU courses allowed me to see what else is out there."

• "In CPCU courses, I was having deeper and more meaningful conversations with different folks within the insurance industry."

• "Everything is changing, and we have to keep abreast on how we can provide solutions in this changing environment."

In2Leadership keynote speaker Dale Porfilio, FCAS, MAAA, is the Chief Insurance Officer for the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and President of the Insurance Research Council (IRC). In these roles, he leads the research and education activities of both organizations, working closely with Triple-I and IRC subject-matter experts to develop data-driven industry insights and analyses. Dale previously worked at Genworth Financial, Kemper, and Allstate for a total of 29 years. Dale is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA). In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Dale discuss climate change, legal system abuse, and some of the topics that Dale will be addressing as the keynote speaker at April's In2Leadership conference.

Key Takeaways

• Dale grew up knowing that insurance was always a career option.

• Actuarial sciences allowed Dale to apply his strengths to insurance organizations.

• The 2025 insurance industry is in a dynamic state.

• The outstanding response of the insurance industry to climate change.

• Risk-based pricing is a critical consideration for carriers' actuarial goals.

• The importance of allowing market competition and less regulatory restrictions.

• The name "legal system abuse" does matter.

• Developments in the legal system abuse sphere.

• The impact of third-party litigation funding on the commercial sector.

• Strategies for improving the practice of third-party litigation funding.

• Dale's pragmatic take on the five-year future of the insurance industry.

• Embracing technology in ways that are helpful to the future of insurance.

Quotes

• "For me, I always knew that insurance was an option."

• "The 2025 insurance industry is in quite a dynamic state."

• "Allowing market competition and less regulatory restrictions is helpful overall."

• "How can we make the practice of third-party litigation funding as healthy as possible?"

• "Insurance companies are here to make people whole. We don't always need to have attorneys involved at the level they are today."