In(surtech) Vogue: Rory Pyke

Rory Pyke didn’t plan to work in insurance.

He studied graphic design, interned at Vogue, built a custom trainer business (complete with a Dragons’ Den application), bought property in St Helens, and was on the verge of opening a wine bar before COVID changed everything.

Today, he’s VP Global Partnerships at Insurtech Insights, sitting at the centre of the global insurtech ecosystem and helping shape the conversations that bring insurers, founders, and technologists together.

In this episode of Humanizing Insurance, Rory shares what that journey looked like, and what it’s taught him.

We talk about:

• being an “extroverted introvert” and learning to step onto big stages
• handling imposter syndrome when interviewing senior industry leaders
• why the best conversations balance insight and inspiration
• what startups and insurers often misunderstand about each other
• the story behind the Insurtech Run Club and healthier ways to network

We also get into something more personal: the reality of walking into a room full of strangers, the temptation to leave, and how community and shared experiences can make the industry feel a little more human.

Because behind the conferences, the panels, and the partnerships, this is still an industry built on people.

Humanizing Insurance is bought to you by Daniel Grimwood-Bird. It's a passion project, driven by the evergreen phrase 'Insurance is a people industry'.

Through each conversation, we explore the stories, experiences, and ideas that make our world of insurance more human - from the pioneers and innovators shaping its future to the quiet leaders who hold its traditions together.

This podcast exists to remind us that behind every policy, premium, and claim is a person, someone making decisions, taking risks, and protecting what matters most.

If these stories resonate with you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a colleague or friend who still believes in the people side of this business.

You can also connect with Daniel on LinkedIn to continue the conversation, recommend guests, or request a topic that you'd like to know more about.

Humanizing Insurance — one conversation at a time.