Brian Schmidt is a senior insurance executive with more than two decades of experience across primary insurance, reinsurance, data and analytics, and consulting. At Xceedance, Brian leads the Strategic Accounts division as Senior Vice President and Business Leader, overseeing global teams that deliver operational excellence across the insurance policy lifecycle. Brian holds several industry designations, including CPCU, CIC, and ASLI, and earned both his BBA in Marketing and MBA from the University of Cincinnati's Lindner College of Business. Brian has served as Chair of the Underwriting Interest Group for The Institutes CPCU Society and as University Liaison for the Cincinnati CPCU Society Chapter. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Brian explore the offerings of a strategic operations support firm, the effective use of data analytics in day-to-day operations, and the value of a CPCU designation in his career.

Key Takeaways

• Brian's professional journey from restaurants to insurance.

• Xceedance offerings as a strategic operations support firm.

• The benefits of transitioning into a partnership with Xceedance.

• The Pros and cons of operations support partnership.

• The state of AI advancements in today's insurance industry.

• Effective use of data analytics in day-to-day operations.

• Brian's decision to pursue additional training and certifications.

• Tools in Brian's toolbox that have added to his success.

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

• Brian's message to early-career professionals.

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

• "Understanding why you're bringing in the support can help guide the decision."

• "Regardless of where AI progresses to, we're still going to need the art of underwriters well into the future."

• "Earning my CPCU designation has been pivotal in my insurance career."

• "No matter what skill set you have, there is a place for you in the insurance industry."