The Voices of Risk Management

Join the insightful discussion with Sarah Sherman as she delves into risk management in the fusion industry. From client collaboration to industry knowledge requirements, she highlights the value of clear communication and honesty. Discover Sarah's journey, her pivotal role in The Wattles Fellowship, and her unique position at Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

Scott Addis, Founder of Beyond Insurance, shares his multifaceted journey from sports psychology to risk management. He discusses his five-step risk management process, importance of active listening, and becoming 'rejection-proof'. He emphasizes the significance of employee interviews for understanding client needs. Scott also highlights the strategies to manage risk and the power of building a global network of risk management professionals.

Christopher Holmes, co-founder of RiskVersity, brings over 15 years of risk management expertise to the forefront of the insurance industry. In this episode, Christopher shares his journey from being an intern at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. to becoming the CEO of RiskVersity, a company dedicated to changing the insurance landscape by creating opportunities for minorities. He discusses the unique challenges and progress in diversity within the industry, his commitment to fostering an inclusive environment, and his vision for the future.   Key Takeaways: A little bit about Chris and his role at RiskVersity. How did Chris come up with the name RiskVersity? How did Chris get into insurance? It certainly wasn’t on his vision board! Chris recently went through a physical transformation and shares some of his secrets to keeping fit. Chris’s motivation to stay healthy stems from his son as well as his father, whom he lost when he was 13. When Chris got his start as an intern at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., what was that experience like? Chris didn’t want to make a bunch of money and just be miserable in his position. He needed joy and passion in whatever career field he was in. How did Chris transition to Wells Fargo? Chris was the Vice President of the Corporate Diversity board at Wells Fargo. Chris shares the type of conversations they were having back then. There’s been a lot of progress that’s been made in the last 15 years, and Chris educates his son on how much work and how far so many minorities have come. Chris gives an example that he heard about a lynching in 2002 near his hometown in South Carolina. There’s progress, but there’s still deep racism and we can’t forget that. Have things gotten better in the insurance industry when it comes to diversity and making it more friendly for future generations? It’s so hard to be yourself when you’re the only one in the room. You are very conscious about avoiding becoming a “beacon” of a certain stereotype. Chris is also a marriage counselor, what made him pursue this certification? If you really love your partner, you have to go to the gym to maintain a happy and healthy relationship. So many of us, though, don’t even know what types of weights to lift to achieve that. Chris talks about Legacy Investment Funds, an initiative that helps African Americans discover and pool their capital to reach better investment opportunities.   Mentioned in This Episode: Riskversity.com Chris on LinkedIn  

Jeff Gurtcheff is the Chief Claims Officer at CorVel and brings a unique blend of passion, collaboration, and extensive experience in worker’s compensation, liability, and property claims. In this episode, Jeff shares his insights on the evolving role of insurance adjusters, the importance of mentorship, and the art of reading policies and people. Jeff also discusses how his experiences in team sports have enriched his professional life in insurance.   Key Takeaways: A little bit about Jeff and his role at CorVel. Jeff had no clue what an insurance adjuster did. He had to go to the library to look it up. Knowing what Jeff knows now, he shares what he’d do slightly differently before joining insurance. Prior to joining insurance, Jeff was a baseball player in college. Jeff feels so fortunate that he had great mentors during his diverse career in insurance. Although reading insurance policies is a big part of what an insurance adjuster does, the other side is the ability to read people. Through the lessons Jeff’s learned in baseball and team dynamics, it’s helped his career greatly in insurance and working with a wide range of people. Jeff has noticed common myths about the insurance industry are (thankfully) disappearing. In insurance, we really want to take care of our customers and the people we serve. How is Jeff thinking about AI and incorporating it into what he does today? Where can people go to learn more about AI? The world changes and so does technology. We shouldn’t be quick to discard something that’s up and coming. What kind of challenges or adversity has Jeff had to face, thus far? What advice would Jeff give to others looking to create a career in insurance? Jeff gives a shout-out to one of his mentors, Dave Kelly. What a wonderful and patient teacher!   Mentioned in This Episode: Corvel.com Jeff on LinkedIn    

Milton Stark is a seasoned professional with an impressive 52-year career spanning industrial, government, and commercial sectors. His expertise lies in a broad range of areas including management, operations, and safety. In this episode, Milton dives into his extensive career in nuclear energy and risk management, discussing the evolution of safety protocols since the 1970s and addressing public misconceptions, including the current concerns over tritium in drinking water.   Key Takeaways: A little bit about Milton and his very extensive career in the nuclear energy space! How did Milton find his way through risk management? There’s almost no industry in the world that’s safer than nuclear power because it’s always on everyone’s top-of-mind. Milton had a great plan for his life, but as his grandmother used to say, “Life is what happens when you’re planning your life.” How has the approach to risk management changed in the nuclear space from when Milton started in the ’70s to now? Milton was born in ’47 and remembers a time when he and his classmates had to do nuclear war drills. He believes the nuclear industry could have done a better job in educating the public on its safety protocols. Milton shares a real-time example of how nuclear misinformation has caused panic and unnecessary evacuations. There are a lot of protests happening right now regarding tritium being mixed in drinking water. Milton explains the half-life of tritium and its true dangers. People forget that sunlight also has radiation. What’s one thing Milton wishes he’d learned sooner in his life?   Mentioned in This Episode: Miltonstark.com Milton on LinkedIn  

Richard Vinhais is the Chief Executive Officer at WAX, an insurance company that protects rare collectible items. Richard shares how you can insure half of a collectible item, what he looks forward to in the expansion of the business, and why it really takes an “insider” to truly understand the pain points collectors go through when it comes to insuring some of these precious items. Key Takeaways: A little bit about Richard and what he does for WAX. WAX is a much-needed service in the collector space because the everyday insurer doesn’t understand the true value of some of these unique collector items. Richard shares why some of these collectible items are so important for people like himself. How did Richard discover risk and insurance? Richard shares what it was like working at EY and why the experience was so diverse. A lot of times, Richard would work on a project for a few months before moving on to the next project. He loves the variety and being able to experience different industries during those 15 years. Did you know ticket stubs are very rare and collectible? Why did Richard take a chance and get into entrepreneurship? Richard wanted to push himself and try something new, exciting, and scary. How does Richard think about insurance within this collectible industry? Richard conducts focus groups to better understand what people truly care about. In Richard’s spare time, he likes creating art and giving it away to friends. What are some hot collectible items on the market right now?   Mentioned in This Episode: Wax.insure Richard on LinkedIn  

Sharon Fox, Risk Management and Insurance Leader with more than 14 years of experience, talks about her transition from mining to technology, the importance of diverse experiences in leadership, and the challenges of implementing blockchain in insurance. She also discusses the impact of industries like mining on local communities and the need for digitization in the insurance industry. Throughout the podcast, Sharon shares personal anecdotes and valuable advice for young professionals.

James Martin, Global Enterprise Director and Head of Brokers at AXA Group, shares insights on embracing failure, trying different perspectives within the industry, and the importance of giving back. He also discusses the art of underwriting, his encounter with the Queen, and advice for his younger self.

Lori Seidenberg is a Director and Global Head of Infrastructure and Real Estate Insurance Risk Management for BlackRock, Inc. She has over 30 years of diversified experience in risk management and insurance. She also serves as a member of the board of directors at Spencer Educational Foundation, a project she is very passionate about. In this episode, your hosts and Lori sit down at the RIMS RISKWORLD conference in Atlanta to catch up and discuss what the future of the New York RIMS chapter looks like and Lori’s work with the younger generation at the Spencer Educational Foundation.   Key Takeaways: We are reported “live” from RIMS RISKWORLD.  It’s so nice to see everyone live and in person this year. The turnout is a lot greater than it was last year. Lori talks about her work and impact as a board member of the Spencer Educational Foundation. The new hires aren’t able to make deep connections within the organization because they simply haven’t been in the office. Lori has noticed that young professionals have grown up behind their computers, which means their in-person communication skills still have a bit of refining and improvement to go. RIMS is a volunteer society and Lori’s very proud of the Heart of RIMS Award that she won last year. As New York RIMS Chapter President, Lori gives a quick update on what’s happening in this chapter. Lori has noticed that the younger generation doesn’t always know what kinds of questions they should be asking or how to properly articulate them. It’s important to have new professionals feel comfortable enough to pull you aside and ask those messy questions. Staff budgets are being cut. Lori shares her predictions of what’s going to happen in the industry because of this. Lori understands that many insurance professionals are not good at selling their own unique value. Lori shares her final thoughts before she goes onto what trends she’s witnessing happen on the broker side of insurance.   Mentioned in This Episode: RISKWORLD 2023 Lori on LinkedIn  

Michael Kolodner is the Global Renewable Energy Leader at Marsh, where he leads an integrated team of more than 250 renewable energy specialists around the world. In this episode, he shares some exciting things that are happening within the renewable energy space, and why you have to assess risk differently in this industry. He also shares some stories of when he was living in a submarine while serving in the Navy.   Key Takeaways: A little bit about Mike. What is renewable energy and what kind of risks does it have? Revenue models throughout the renewable energy space are a very diverse landscape that doesn’t fit a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Mike has joined Marsh three times. He explains why he had a shift in careers and the “gaps” in his Marsh career track. Fun fact: Mike is a fifth-generation broker! When Mike was in the Navy, he lived in a submarine. What was that experience like? What was the toughest part about being in a submarine for long periods? Mike shares the shift he had to make between working for the military vs. going into the civilian world. When Mike left Marsh to work for clients, what did he learn from the “outside world” that he was able to take back and incorporate back into Marsh? Risk management isn’t just about buying insurance. The biggest lesson Mike learned as an underwriter was how we think about the market: It’s very difficult and intermediaries tend to underestimate the complexities of this role. Nuclear energy is a very scary concept for a lot of people. There’s still a lot of distrust, but we need to lean into it if we want to make the environment a healthier place. Mike shares a bit of nuclear energy history and how the United States has been able to capitalize fully and become a powerful world leader because of it. What are some of Mike’s big goals right now within his role? Mike shares some exciting new things and objectives that are coming up at Marsh.   Mentioned in This Episode: Marsh.com Mike on LinkedIn