In this Global Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, Petra Schmidt and Derry Pickford reframe inflation from a cost challenge to a leadership test — one that is shaping how organizations allocate capital, price risk and position for growth.

They move beyond nearterm pressures to examine inflation as a persistent force influencing strategic decisions across pricing, supply chains and investment. The conversation centers on how leading businesses are building the capabilities to act in real time — bringing together data, discipline and scenario-planning to make better decisions in an unpredictable environment.

Rather than reacting to shifting conditions, Petra and Derry outline what it takes to stay ahead: embedding flexibility into operations, strengthening analytical capabilities and making deliberate tradeoffs that protect margin while positioning for longterm opportunity.

Key Takeaways:   

Experts in this episode:    

Key Moments:   

(01:30) What is structurally different about today’s inflation environment — and why recent shocks may be less severe but more frequent

(03:40) How organizations are responding in practice, from dynamic pricing and cost control to supply chain redesign and advanced analytics

(11:30) Why resilience is now a core capability — not a one-time initiative — and how leading organizations are building for continuous change

Soundbites:   

Petra Schmidt:  

“In an inflationary environment, resilience is not a project, it's a capability. So, inflation and volatility are no longer short-term disruptions. Companies should design operations assuming uncertainty will continue. Success is not about perfectly forecasting costs. It comes from continuously adapting. What we're seeing winning companies doing.”

Derry Pickford:  

“The only thing I'd add is that economists are fallible and if there's one thing that we can be sure on is that forecasts will be wrong. So I really think it's completely essential that companies take the measures that you suggested so that they are as resilient as possible when we get those inevitable surprises.”

In this Industry Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, Aon leaders Liz Henderson and Susan Doering examine how climate risk is redefining decision-making across the food, agribusiness and beverage (FAB) sector — and what it takes to stay ahead.

Rather than viewing climate as a standalone exposure, the conversation frames it as a force shaping pricing stability, operational continuity and workforce strategy. Liz and Susan discuss how organizations can translate insight into action by strengthening data capabilities, aligning cross-functional priorities and deploying innovative risk transfer solutions. The focus is not only on managing disruption, but on unlocking greater certainty, protecting margin and positioning for long-term growth.

Key Takeaways:  

Experts in this episode:   

Key Moments:  

(02:00) Why climate risk is no longer a standalone issue — and how it is amplifying supply chain disruption, pricing volatility and workforce pressures across the FAB sector.

(07:30) A real-world example showing how climate shifts are already changing harvest timelines, crop quality and long-standing production practices.

(15:30) What leadership looks like in practice — investing in analytics, aligning long-term planning and adopting new risk transfer approaches to create stability and support growth.

Soundbites:  

Liz Henderson: 

“At Aon, we like to think about climate as a risk amplifier rather than a standalone thing that you have to manage independently. It is a thread across all of those risk categories. And yet there's so much of the industry that remains unprotected.”

Susan Doering: 

“I'd like to make sure that people are thinking about it, not just as like when we think about climate risk, we often think it's about just impacts to physical assets. But really what we're seeing now is real issues around pricing volatility, so lack of predictable ingredient prices and quality impacts for specialty crops.”

Key Resources:

2026 Climate and Catastrophe Insight report

In the first episode of a special On Aon mini-series on the 2026 Human Capital Trends study, Aon’s Human Capital leaders outline a clear leadership challenge: AI is scaling fast, but the value it delivers is determined by how effectively organizations prepare their people to use it. The discussion moves beyond adoption to focus on aligning AI to business priorities, redesigning work and equipping leaders to translate capability into sustained growth.

Key Takeaways: 

Experts in this episode:  

Key Resources:

2026 Human Capital Trends Study

Key Moments: 

(00:45) AI adoption has accelerated across organizations, but workforce readiness is lagging, creating a gap between deployment and impact

(04:20) Why moving too quickly on technology without building capability leads to stalled return on investment and slower adoption

(13:00) How AI is reshaping the future of work, driving more fluid, skills-based roles and integrated ways of working

Soundbites: 

Byron Beebe:

“I really think it's the people using AI to do jobs better or to enhance what they can accomplish for customers of a business. Those are the people that are going to win.”

Amanda Scott:

“AI is no longer a technology story; it's a people story.”

Marinus Van Driel:

“What we're seeing is most organizations are scaling their tools, but very few are redesigning their work. So, most of them are in that foundation or that developing stage. And then I think that the question that's emerging from all of this that I think all leaders will have to grapple with in the near future is we can have AI do this work, but should we have AI do this work.”

On Aon — Episode 116

Title: Navigating Cyber Risk, Regulation and the Reality of Fines

In this Risk Capital Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, Pablo Constenla, head of coverage and claims for cyber and financial lines in EMEA for Aon, is joined by Charlie Weston-Simons, partner at A&O Shearman, to examine how leaders can stay ahead as cyber risk, regulation and financial exposure converge.

As artificial intelligence accelerates the scale and sophistication of attacks and regulators expand enforcement, the discussion focuses on what it takes to translate uncertainty into action — from quantifying cyber-related fines to understanding where insurance comes into play. Drawing on Aon’s Cyber Fines Report and frontline experience across incidents and investigations, the episode highlights how organizations can align legal, risk and insurance strategies to make more confident decisions and strengthen resilience at pace.

Key Takeaways:

Experts in this episode: 

Key Resources:

The Insurability of Cyber Fines

Key Moments:

(01:40) How AI is reshaping cyber risk, from enhanced social engineering to the emergence of automated attacks and new vulnerabilities

(05:30) The growing complexity of regulation, including NIS2 implementation challenges and inconsistencies across jurisdictions

(12:10) Why cyber incidents are now viewed as existential crises and how organizations should rethink incident response and resilience

Soundbites:

Pablo Constenla:

“And the real challenge isn't just managing cyber risk, it's connecting the dots across legal, risk and insurance when a collective action is faced.”

Charlie Weston-Simons:

“I think from a legal and insurance perspective, the key issue becomes how do you manage a risk that is evolving faster than regulation and controls can adapt.”

In this Global Insight recap episode of the On Aon podcast, Aon leaders revisit some of the key conversations we’ve showcased in the first half of the year, exploring how geopolitical risk, capital flows and emerging financial infrastructure are reshaping the global business environment.

The discussions highlight how organizations are navigating increasing complexity — from the role of insurance in keeping global trade moving, to evolving payments infrastructure, shifts in private credit markets and the growing importance of resilience as a driver of decision-making and long-term performance.

Experts in this episode:

Featured topics:

In this Industry Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, our experts examine how aerospace and defense organizations are redefining workforce and risk strategy to support sustained growth. As demand accelerates and technology expectations rise, leadership priorities are shifting — from managing talent and risk challenges separately to an integrated competitive advantage.

Drawing on current industry data, the discussion highlights how forward‑looking organizations are aligning workforce strategy, cyber readiness and supply chain resilience to move faster, deploy capital with confidence and stay ahead of evolving demands.

Key Takeaways: 

Experts in this episode: 

Key moments: 

(02:27) The scale of the global aerospace and defense workforce — and why shifting demand is redefining the role of talent in enterprise strategy.

(04:32) Key human capital challenges, including skills gaps, evolving employee preferences and competition for technical talent.

(06:29) How leading organizations are connecting analytics, cyber insights and supply chain visibility to strengthen decision‑making and accelerate growth.

Soundbites: 

David Carlson:

“Today's geopolitical volatility is driving governments worldwide to demand innovation at scale and speed, particularly in technology solutions and advanced engineering. Yet many organizations still rely on legacy infrastructure, making the integration of cutting-edge technologies complex, costly and risky for operational stability.”

Randy Ramirez:

“In the US, the defense industrial base supports over 2.2 million direct workers with an additional 3.5 million in indirect supply chains. And because the industry is quickly changing, so are the dynamics around talent.”

On Aon — Episode 113

Title: Delivering Better Retirement Outcomes Through Scale and Strategy

In this Human Capital Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, Aon’s Human Capital leaders outline how employers are taking a more active role in shaping retirement outcomes. As defined contribution plans become the primary source of retirement income globally, the focus is shifting towards strategies that deliver measurable improvement at scale.

The conversation highlights how pooled and multi-employer solutions are redefining what leadership looks like in workforce retirement planning — combining institutional investment access with disciplined governance and plan design to help organizations move ahead with clarity and confidence. Rather than adding cost, leading organizations are sharpening strategy — using scale, insight and engagement to strengthen outcomes and support long-term financial wellbeing in retirement.

Key Takeaways:

Experts in this episode:

Key resources:

Employee Sentiment Study

Human Capital Trends Study

Key moments:

(02:45) How leaders are redesigning retirement strategies to deliver stronger, more consistent outcomes

(07:45) The role of scale and investment strategy in delivering stronger long term retirement portfolios and reducing costs.

(14:15) Why private markets are becoming an increasingly important component of DC plans and how they can enhance returns.

Soundbites:

Byron Beebe:

“Most people know that defined benefit plans used to be the main source of retirement income for employees around the world. And that's really changed quite a lot. Really, defined contribution plans are the main source of retirement income for employees around the world these days. And that means more of the responsibility for retirement savings is being pushed to the employees.”

Helen Hatt:

“Employers aren't necessarily wanting to throw more money at these plans to get better retirement outcomes. They just want the plans themselves to work in a better way. ”

Nigel Aston:

“But the two core elements which will give people better outcomes are these. And this is what employers are looking for. The first is to give members more money. That's down to investment. And then the second is to help those employees, the participants in the plan, make good decisions with that money.”

Brian Abshire:

“Specifically, to private markets, it's become polarized that we just want to get access to this because it's going to be a unique thing that sounds different or maybe it costs more and generates more revenue from investment managers. And I think it's incumbent upon us as an industry. To really pound the table and say, it's not access for access’ sake, it's access because it moves the needle and it truly gives a diversified return enhancing potential.”

In this Global Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, Aon transportation and marine leaders examine the evolving risk environment in the Strait of Hormuz — one of the most critical corridors for global energy and trade. The discussion focuses on how shifting conditions are impacting trade flows, how insurance markets are responding in real time and what capacity and pricing signals reveal. It also highlights the role insurance plays in enabling global trade and what organizations should be watching as they plan for continued disruption.

Key Takeaways: 

Experts in this episode: 

Key moments: 

(01:30) Why the Strait of Hormuz matters to global trade — and how its geography concentrates systemic risk.

(04:00) How insurance markets are responding, including the role of war cover, notice provisions and disciplined repricing.

(08:05) How insurance markets are responding in real time, including dynamic pricing, notice mechanisms and capital entering the market.

(13:00) What leaders should prioritize next to stay ahead, from contingency planning to preparing supply chains for extended disruption.

Soundbites: 

Philip Smaje:

“The strait remains one of the most strategically important corridors in the world, particularly for energy, shipping and supply chains. But what often gets overlooked in these situations is the role insurance plays in determining whether trade can continue at all.”

Lee Meyrick:

“I think what we're seeing now is that there's an increase in both frequency and severity of new risks. And whilst geopolitical risks, as in the case of the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz, isn't new, I think the frequency and severity of these incidents are putting pressure on the marine insurance industry.”

In this Risk Capital Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, Aon leaders examine what the upcoming U.S. hurricane season demands from today’s decision-makers — and how organizations can convert risk insight into decisive action. Rather than relying on historical assumptions, the discussion emphasizes how leaders use current data, analytics and planning discipline to protect people, capital and operations. The episode highlights how organizations that prepare early, communicate clearly and act in real-time are better positioned to safeguard value when it matters most.

Key Takeaways:

Experts in this episode:

Key moments:

(01:42) Why recent, quieter, hurricane seasons can create a false sense of confidence and what recent claims trends signal about insurer expectations and preparedness.

(04:26) How evolving storm behavior and secondary impacts are widening the protection gap — and why current risk insight is essential for informed decisions.

(13:10) Practical actions organizations can take now to strengthen readiness, including governance, communication planning and claims preparedness.

Soundbites:

Dan Hartung:

Jill Dalton:

“Communication and information is critical and to understand that claims when they happen, there are a series of expectations that need to be managed. Different stakeholders will want different information at different times.”

John Dickson:

“First of all, you're thinking about readiness and preparation. The time to think about these things is when the sun is shining, not when storm clouds are brewing. You need to act now.”

Key Resources:
Be Prepared: Natural Catastrophe Resources and Response

In this Industry Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, Aon construction leaders explore the scale, complexity and opportunity shaping the global construction sector. The discussion examines how construction is driving global economic growth, with spending projected to rise sharply through 2030, while also creating new Risk Capital and Human Capital considerations.

The conversation focuses on how construction organizations can manage increasing costs, supply‑chain pressures and insurance complexity, while also addressing persistent talent shortages, technological change and safety challenges.

Key Takeaways:

Experts in this episode:

Key Moments:

(04:55) A look at the main risk pressures facing construction leaders — rising costs, ongoing supplychain disruption and increasing insurance and project complexity.

(08:50) How construction leaders are using data, analytics and scenario analysis to understand projectlevel exposure to natural catastrophes and climate risk — moving beyond portfoliolevel views to inform smarter decisions on individual sites.

(12:42) How construction organizations are responding to Human Capital challenges, including labor shortages, skills gaps, safety and the growing role of technology on job sites.

Soundbites:

James MacNeal:

Tariq Taherbhai: