Rachel Perry is the chief innovation officer for Aon's North America Commercial Risk Solutions. In this role, she leads risk innovation and works closely with key external and internal stakeholders to meet unmet client needs and growth. Together with Chris Hampshire, she offers a look at the future of innovation and technology in risk management, including increased diversity and inclusion, attracting the next generation of talent, and the many areas where the industry is working to innovate and improve.

Key Takeaways

• Success for Rachel began as a first-generation college graduate.

• Rachel's motivation behind going to college and the support she found there.

• Diversity in risk management and insurance through the University of Georgia.

• The impact of an MBA and CPCU on Rachel's career trajectory.

• Rachel's experience as a woman of color and executive in the insurance industry.

• Ideas for industry efforts to improve inclusiveness and attract diverse talent.

• The importance of mentorship in bringing up the industry's next generation.

• Improving the message that the risk management industry sends to the world.

• The current state of innovation and technology in today's insurance industry.

• A 3‒5 year look to the future of focused areas of improvement, including climate risk, intellectual property, and digital assets.

• Additional areas of focus in the industry that are not yet at capacity.

• Major improvements that are coming to the risk management industry in the next five years.

• Rachel's advice to her early-career self.

Quotes

• "Having my MBA, my CPCU, and my Risk Management degree have all been instrumental in my career, no question."

• "Our industry is making progress, and there is a lot more work to be done."

• "If there is a talent we want to invest in, then there need to be sponsors to help do so."

• "At Aon, we are working to do a better job of closing the relevance gap."

• "We are focusing on new innovations to help meet the needs that we think are out there for our clients."

• "There is a heightened awareness within our industry that we need to innovate more."

• "Clients have started thinking about their risks differently, and how we can help them manage their risks."