"Insurance Unplugged," offers a candid look behind the scenes of the insurance industry. Host Lisa Wardlaw brings a wealth of experience from numerous C-suite roles, including CFO, COO, CSO, and Chief Digital Officer within the insurance sector. She interviews C-suite guests about the real #nohype practical matters in insurance from applying AI to cutting through the fog on developing trends for the insurance industry at large.
Summary
In this episode, Greg Purdy from Rival Insurance Technology joins Lisa Wardlaw to discuss how the insurance industry can leverage AI and modern architecture to transform operations, rethink workflows, and create a more adaptive, risk-aware future.
Keywords
insurance technology, AI in insurance, industry transformation, modern insurance architecture, risk management, digital insurance, insurance innovation
Key Topics
The evolution of insurance technology over 35 years
The impact of AI on insurance economics and workflows
The importance of asking 'why' to challenge old models
Designing flexible, scalable insurance architectures
The concept of persistent insurance and real-time risk monitoring
The risks of misusing AI and building inflexible systems
Strategies for migrating legacy systems during acquisitions
Sound Bites
"Let the content dictate the format."
"We've really tried to go back and look at how things have evolved."
"The underlying economics of operating a brokerage no longer work."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Greg Purdy's background
02:13 The evolution of insurance technology over 35 years
05:08 AI's role in transforming insurance economics
07:14 The importance of asking 'why' in innovation
11:16 Moving beyond paper workflows to AI-driven processes
16:24 Designing adaptable, future-proof systems
20:44 The concept of persistent insurance and real-time risk monitoring
25:07 Reevaluating traditional workflows and task management
30:08 Implications for acquisitions and system migrations
36:43 The future of insurance and industry transformation
7 Oct 2026
Kill The Workflow - Why Are Brokers Still Operating Like Human APIs?
Summary
In this episode, industry veterans Natalie and Bob discuss how AI and system orchestration can revolutionize insurance broker workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, and empower brokers to focus on client relationships and strategic growth.
Keywords
insurance, AI, broker workflows, system orchestration, efficiency, digital transformation, insurance technology, risk management, automation, innovation
Key Topics
The analogy of brokers as APIs and middleware in insurance systems
How AI can eliminate repetitive manual tasks
The importance of redesigning workflows for true efficiency
Challenges in adopting new technology and trust issues
The role of risk professionals in a digitally orchestrated environment
The concept of cognitive deloading and real-time data understanding
Strategies for successful change management and trust building
The future of broker capacity and strategic focus
Soundbites
"A broker is like a human API between systems"
"Manual data transposition erodes broker effectiveness"
"Success is enabling brokers to realize their potential"
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI's potential in insurance workflows
01:52 The analogy of brokers as APIs and middleware
03:56 Decades of experience and industry inflection points
06:09 The challenge of legacy systems and data transfer
08:49 Human effort versus customer value in tasks
12:12 Rethinking incremental improvements in workflows
12:54 Getting off the treadmill: focusing on effectiveness
15:59 Redesigning workflows for true automation
17:12 Overcoming trust hurdles in new technology adoption
19:53 Orchestration versus automation and risk management
23:06 The role of AI as sentinel and decision support
26:10 Building a system that understands the entire book of business
29:59 Cognitive deloading and effortless client experience
32:58 The broker's new role in a reimagined insurance landscape
35:58 Success metrics: empowering brokers and protecting independence
40:06 Change management and trust in AI-driven processes
43:59 Personal experience with AI and system integration
45:09 Final thoughts and future outlook
30 Sept 2026
If AI Works, What Happens to the People
Summary
In this episode, industry experts from Rival Insurance Technology explore the evolving role of AI in insurance, focusing on workforce transformation, client service, and operational redesign. They discuss how to foster a human-centric approach amidst rapid technological change and the importance of rethinking risk and oversight frameworks.
Keywords
AI in insurance, workforce transformation, client service, operational redesign, human in the loop, risk management, organizational change, AI ethics, insurance industry innovation
Key Topics
Impact of AI on insurance workforce and roles
Strategies for fostering a human-centric AI culture
Decoupling tasks for automation and human involvement
Redesigning risk and oversight frameworks for AI
Training and upskilling in an AI-enabled environment
Client service evolution with AI and automation
Building trust and managing human-AI interaction
Organizational change management in insurance
Guest Names
Ellen Quinn, Kristy Gray, Abdallah Moudarres
Soundbites
"Humans must have the authority to override AI when necessary."
"The recovery conversation is where trust is rebuilt after a failure."
"Embrace change and move quickly with AI advancements."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI's impact on insurance and guest introductions
04:02 Cognitive deloading and human moments in service
08:00 Building a culture of curiosity and trust around AI
09:51 Designing roles and tasks for AI integration
12:08 The importance of problem-solving and humanities in insurance
14:01 Decoupling tasks and rethinking operational workflows
15:47 Encouraging experimentation and embracing change
18:08 Identifying which tasks belong to humans versus machines
19:58 Redesigning workflows to eliminate unnecessary friction
22:01 Managing cognitive load and avoiding fatigue in automation
23:55 Balancing automation with human touch in client service
25:46 Training and developing judgment skills in an AI world
28:05 Ensuring human oversight and meaningful human in the loop
30:04 Reimagining risk and control frameworks for AI
32:11 The future role of humans in an AI-augmented insurance industry
34:06 Debating human oversight and decision-making in AI
36:05 Performance management and KPIs in an AI-driven environment
38:07 The importance of trust, transparency, and apology in service
40:03 The role of continuous learning and adaptation in AI integration
41:56 Final thoughts on embracing change and human-AI collaboration
guest links
LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/ellenquinn (https://linkedin.com/in/ellenquinn)
LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kristygray (https://linkedin.com/in/kristygray)
LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/abdallahmoudarres (https://linkedin.com/in/abdallahmoudarres)
Who has been a guest on Insurance Unplugged with Lisa Wardlaw
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Coley Perry
Drew Morse
Casey Kempton
Samantha Chow
Jay Gopalakrishnan
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.5 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
3.4 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
92
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
Contact Insurance Unplugged with Lisa Wardlaw
Guest appearances
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Questions about Insurance Unplugged with Lisa Wardlaw
Who hosts Insurance Unplugged with Lisa Wardlaw?
Lisa Wardlaw host the show. Published by Lisa Wardlaw.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Insurance Unplugged with Lisa Wardlaw take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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