Welcome to a special end-of-the-year series on Making Risk Flow as we count down the weeks to the end of 2025. The series is a collection of our top episodes from this year based on views, downloads, and overall engagement. Each Tuesday, we will re-release one standout episode as we build up to releasing our top fan favourite on the last Tuesday.

In this episode, host Juan de Castro sits down with Marcus Ryu, former CEO and current strategic adviser at Guidewire Software. Marcus shares his journey from management consulting to co-founding one of the leading software providers for the property and casualty insurance industry. He offers candid insights into the trials and triumphs of entrepreneurship, including pivotal moments such as navigating a competitive lawsuit and transitioning to the public markets.

A central aspect of Marcus's story is Guidewire’s contrarian belief in the power of vertical solutions. By developing mission-critical software tailored to the specific needs of the P&C insurance sector, Guidewire revolutionized how insurers manage claims, policies, and billing. Now a partner at Battery Ventures, Marcus discusses how his experiences at Guidewire inform his approach to investing in the next generation of startups. From the importance of customer-centricity to leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for founders and industry professionals alike.

Whether you're revisiting the episode or viewing it for the first time,  this episode offers tactical guidance for actionable insights for founders and industry professionals alike.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

Welcome to a special end-of-the-year series on Making Risk Flow as we count down the weeks to the end of 2025. Each Tuesday, we will re-release one standout episode as we build up to releasing our top fan favourite on the last Tuesday. 

In this episode, Juan de Castro is joined by his colleagues, Rich Lewis, Cytora's Sales Director, and Zaheer Hooda, Head of North America, for a deep dive into what makes proof-of-concept (POC) initiatives in risk digitisation succeed or fail.

Drawing on firsthand experience from working with leading carriers, they break down five essential capabilities insurers need to get right when implementing digitisation initiatives, from extraction accuracy and full-spectrum intake handling to scalable deployment and human-in-the-loop exception management.

They also provide a practical, inside look at how insurers structure effective proof of concept processes, including live workshops, data preparation, success metrics, and how to align POC design with measurable business outcomes.

Whether you're revisiting the episode or viewing it for the first time,  this episode offers tactical guidance to ensure your technology investments deliver meaningful impact.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Jake Harding speaks with Matthew Grant, founder and CEO of Instech and a veteran of 33 years in catastrophe modelling. Matthew unpacks why insurance’s cautious approach to AI is more strategic than sceptical. Together, they explore how carriers can align technology adoption with real business problems, build trust in new data sources, and drive operational efficiency without disrupting core workflows. 

Matthew explains why consistency in user interfaces can mask major capability leaps, how to focus on outcomes rather than perfection in data quality, and why the industry’s measured pace reflects deep risk intelligence. The conversation offers insurers a clear roadmap on how a purposeful adoption of AI and cultural innovation can drive a durable competitive advantage.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this special compilation episode of Making Risk Flow, host Juan de Castro revisits conversations with the industry leaders who shaped Season 7. Join Allison Thornicroft, Yaemish Rughoo, Mark Allan, Greg Hendrick, Bilge Mert, Jean-Jacques Henchoz, and Lambros Lambrou to explore why speed and efficiency matter in commercial insurance, how AI and technology are reshaping underwriting workflows, and the key strategies insurers are using to standardize processes and drive real value for clients. 

Discover how top carriers are accelerating quote-to-bind cycles, modernizing underwriting workflows, and redefining the insurance operating model for real impact.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Jake Harding speaks with Ross Wirth, Head of Strategic Tech Ecosystem at CyberCube, about why cyber insurance requires a new playbook for risk assessment. Ross explains how traditional underwriting struggles to keep pace with dynamic security environments, and why real-time data visibility is now essential for identifying concentration risk, single points of failure, and systemic exposures like cloud outages. 

The conversation explores shifting from static applications to continuous monitoring, balancing AI-driven insights with human judgment, and designing underwriting strategies that prioritise prevention over post-incident repair. Whether you're an underwriter, broker, or cyber risk leader, this episode offers practical guidance on using data intelligently while preserving the relationship-driven core of insurance.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, Juan de Castro sits down with Mark Allan, CEO of Ki Insurance, to explore how a digital-first, data-led approach is transforming underwriting in the London market. Mark shares how Ki combines algorithmic precision with human expertise to underwrite individual risks at unprecedented speed, while maintaining portfolio-level oversight.

This episode explores Ki’s mission-driven culture, the challenges of blending technology and insurance talent, and how partnerships with brokers and carriers are amplifying the impact of their platform. From building a billion-dollar business to enabling a more seamless, data-driven flow of risk, Mark explains how Ki is reshaping the ecosystem and setting a new standard for efficiency, collaboration, and innovation in insurance.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

Welcome to a new episode of Making Risk Flow: Exploring the Ecosystem. Our host Jake Harding welcomes Alan Ringvald, CEO and co-founder of Relativity6, to unpack how AI and multi-source data are redefining underwriting. Together, they explore why insurers must move beyond generic AI tools toward workflow-specific solutions that integrate seamlessly into real underwriting environments.

Alan shares how intelligent data aggregation can empower underwriters with trusted, actionable insights, without adding complexity, and why automation is now essential to handle rising submission volumes profitably. 

The conversation highlights a future where AI enhances, rather than replaces, human judgment, creating a true partnership between people and machines. Discover how early adopters of intelligent automation will lead the next era of efficient, insight-driven insurance.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Juan de Castro welcomes Lambros Lambrou, Chief Strategy Officer at Aon, to explore how one of the world’s largest insurance brokers is transforming risk management through data, AI, and innovation. They discuss how global megatrends, trade, technology, weather, and workforce are reshaping the insurance landscape and why a shift from traditional risk protection to enabling upside growth is crucial. 

Lambrou explains how Aon’s “One Data Lake,” Risk Analyzers, and Broker Copilot tools provide real-time, predictive insights that help clients make smarter decisions across property, casualty, cyber, and health insurance. The conversation highlights the importance of breaking down silos, aligning teams around client outcomes, and leveraging technology to deliver integrated, intelligent risk solutions worldwide.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Juan de Castro welcomes Graham Blackwell, President of Applied Systems, to explore the transformative power of technology in insurance. They discuss how Applied Systems and Cytora are joining forces to streamline workflows, reduce manual processes, and enhance collaboration between brokers and carriers. From reimagining commercial submissions to maximising “hero work,” Graham shares insights on leveraging AI to create a seamless, efficient, and connected insurance ecosystem. 

Discover how Applied Systems evolved into a market leader, the role of AI in eliminating mundane tasks, and the strategic vision for integrating agency workflows, carrier connectivity, and automation to accelerate insurance processes and empower professionals across the industry.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this special compilation episode of Making Risk Flow, host Juan de Castro revisits our conversations with industry leaders Carl Bach, Johan Slabbert, Bettina Dietsche, Cassandra Vukorep, and others to explore how digital transformation and AI are revolutionising the commercial insurance sector. This episode provides a discussion on efficient operating models, integrating external and historical data for better risk assessment, and balancing automation with human expertise. Our featured guests share insights on scaling AI adoption, building future-ready teams, and tackling the complexities of data standardisation. 

With a focus on practical implementation and change leadership, this episode offers valuable guidance for insurance professionals navigating the evolving landscape of risk, technology, and human capital.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's