Risk Management: Brick by Brick

Bill Brower, Senior VP at Solera North America Claims, shares insights from his 35-year career in insurance. He discusses the transformative power of AI in the claims process, emphasizing its potential for instant payouts and customer-friendly experiences. Bill highlights the cultural barriers to technology adoption, advocating for a test-and-learn mindset. He predicts that by 2030, most claims will be handled virtually, dramatically reducing response times. A must-listen for those navigating the future of claims automation!

Ashish Srivastava, Head of North America Insurance & Risk Management for Blackstone Real Estate, discusses transforming insurance with InsurTech and AI. He highlights the crucial gap between customer needs and market offerings. Ashish emphasizes that innovative tech should top brand loyalty when selecting partners. He shares practical AI use cases, like sensors for loss prevention, and introduces an AI team model to reshape how carriers operate. His insights on leadership commitment and fostering curiosity provide a roadmap for risk managers navigating the evolving landscape.

In this limited series of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, host Jason Reichl sits down with Marci De Vries, CEO of Fraud Sniffr, for Episode 4 of ‘Documentation & Organization’ for a fascinating conversation about the intersection of social media, AI, and insurance fraud investigations. As a serial entrepreneur and investigative expert, Marci shares how her company ties investigative data to tangible reductions in claims awards and timelines, turning investigation from a "waste of money" into a clear ROI.Discover how fraudsters are becoming more "analog" to avoid digital detection, why generative AI cannot be trusted for official reports but is invaluable as an investigative tool, and the alarming rise of social media communities that coach people on how to get bigger settlements. Learn why ethical investigators must remain neutral and what advice Marci gives her clients for positioning themselves for the next set of fraud—investigate everyone.To find out how TrustLayer manages risk so that people can build the physical world around us, head to TrustLayer.io.Podcast Host: Jason ReichlExecutive Producer: Don HalliwellEpisode Highlights:00:00 - Intro: Welcome to Risk Management Brick by Brick00:38 - Marci's Journey: From Novelist to CEO of Fraud Sniffr02:58 - The Business Model: Tying Investigation Data to Revenue 05:00 - The Evolving Fraudster: Why Analog Methods are Trending 06:33 - Accidental vs. Intentional Fraudsters and Their Cover-Ups 08:16 - The AI Problem: Why Carriers Don't Want Generative AI in Reporting 10:59 - Crime Rings: Using Data Mining to Find Connected Claims 12:21 - The Social Media Communities That Coach Fraud 14:52 - Ethics of Investigation: Our Heart is in Truth, Not Sides 17:39 - Preparing for the Next Fraud: Investigate Every Player 19:31 - Risky or Too Risky: Al, Profiling, and Whistleblowers27:20 - Final Thoughts: The Best Career Advice Is to Trust YourselfEpisode Resources:Marci DeVries’s LinkedInFraud SniffrTrustLayerIf you enjoyed this episode, please (with a cherry on top):Subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple PodcastsFollow TRS on SpotifyTell a friend!Risk Management: Brick by Brick is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.soPrevious guests include: Seth Hausman of Kraus-Anderson Insurance, Matthew Meyer of The Horton Group, Diana Rich of Foundation Building Materials, Christy McHenry of Suffolk Construction, Mark Rieder of NFP, and Cory Mangum of Primoris Services Corporation. Check out the three most downloaded episodes: Managing Your Risk Portfolio with Seth HausmanFocusing on Specialization with Matthew MeyerRisk Management is Everywhere with Diana RichIf you are interested in being a guest on Risk Management: Brick by Brick, please complete this form: fame.so/trs-guest

Sai Kothapalli, Technical Program Manager at Accenture, brings over eight years of expertise in implementing AI for construction risk management. He discusses how AI shifts the industry from reactive to predictive strategies, enhancing project accuracy to 94% versus 78% with manual methods. Sai emphasizes overcoming cultural resistance and the urgency for companies to adopt AI to avoid existential risk. He also highlights the role of computer vision in real-time safety alerts and the need for new hybrid roles as construction evolves.

In this new, limited series of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, host Jason Reichl sits down with Keith Stouder, Vice President of Privacy and AI Governance at ACT for Episode 2 of ‘Documentation & Organization,’ for a fascinating conversation about building AI governance frameworks that enable innovation while managing risk responsibly. With nearly 30 years in IT spanning automotive, government, healthcare, and education, Keith brings a unique perspective on how organizations can embrace AI transformation without compromising data privacy or ethical standards.Discover how ACT manages one of the largest educational data stores while leveraging AI for student assessment and policy development, why Keith's team chose a "green light until red" approach rather than starting with restrictions, and how to quantify AI risk using the same frameworks applied to traditional operational risks. Learn practical strategies for executive buy-in, employee enablement, and building governance committees that actually keep pace with rapid technological change.To find out how TrustLayer manages risk so that people can build the physical world around us, head to TrustLayer.io.Podcast Host: Jason ReichlExecutive Producer: Don HalliwellEpisode Highlights:00:00 - Intro: Welcome to Risk Management Brick by Brick00:37 - Keith's Journey: From IT Infrastructure to AI Governance Leadership02:13 - The Natural Evolution: Why AI Governance Fits Within Privacy Teams03:53 - ACT's Data Challenge: Managing Hundreds of Millions of Educational Records06:27 - The Two-Tier Approach: Browser Copilot vs. Secured Enclave Strategy08:27 - Driving Adoption: AI Governance Websites and Mandatory Training09:41 - Real-World Application: AI as Human Reader for Exam Scoring11:35 - Defining Responsible AI: Quality Assurance and Ethical Testing13:10 - Starting From Scratch: Executive Buy-In and Proof of Concept13:47 - Quantifying AI Risk: Moving Beyond High-Medium-Low Categories16:14 - Risk Management's Elevation: From Cost Center to Executive Committee18:38 - Vendor Responsibility: The Liability Challenge in AI Contracts19:53 - The Insurance Question: Will AI Exposure Become Its Own Line?20:45 - Risky or Too Risky: Keith's Rapid-Fire Risk Assessment22:19 - Keeping Governance Current: Teams Channels and Knowledge Sharing24:15 - Final Thoughts: Science Fiction Becoming Nonfiction Episode Resources:ACTTrustLayerIf you enjoyed this episode, please (with a cherry on top):Subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple PodcastsFollow TRS on SpotifyTell a friend! Risk Management: Brick by Brick is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.soPrevious guests include: Seth Hausman of Kraus-Anderson Insurance, Matthew Meyer of The Horton Group, Diana Rich of Foundation Building Materials, Christy McHenry of Suffolk Construction, Mark Rieder of NFP, and Cory Mangum of Primoris Services Corporation. Check out the three most downloaded episodes: Managing Your Risk Portfolio with Seth HausmanFocusing on Specialization with Matthew MeyerRisk Management is Everywhere with Diana RichIf you are interested in being a guest on Risk Management: Brick by Brick, please complete this form: fame.so/trs-guest

Van Carlson, Founder and CEO of 831B Admin, draws on his 30 years of risk management experience to introduce innovative strategies for small businesses. He explains 831B captive insurance as a tool to move beyond traditional insurance, likening it to a health savings account for businesses. Van discusses tackling non-transferable risks, such as supply chain disruptions and brand protection. He also highlights the innovative 'halo coverage' that fills gaps left by traditional policies, urging business owners to adopt holistic risk strategies for growth.

Reijo Pold, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of ValueSpace, shares his expertise in satellite-based analytics for infrastructure monitoring. He discusses the transformation of satellite technology from defense use to a vital tool for assessing climate risk. Pold highlights the urgent need for modern infrastructure solutions amidst aging systems and extreme weather. He explains how real-time data can drastically cut costs in repairs and enhances partnerships, like ValueSpace's collaboration with the UN, to elevate global safety standards.

Will Mulé, the Global Solutions Practice Leader at Hub, shares insights from his diverse experiences in Argentina, the UK, and the U.S. He discusses the 'Protect and Swerve' approach to evolving global risks, highlighting how traditional insurance models are struggling. Will explains the rising influence of AI on liability issues and emphasizes the need for cultural intelligence when managing risks across different countries. Learn why knowing your team's locations is crucial and how to effectively navigate local market requirements.

We're coming to you LIVE from Riskworld 2025! In this episode of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, host Jason Reichl sits down with Sridhar Manyem, Senior Director and Head of Industry Research at AM Best, for a deep dive into the Directors & Officers insurance market. As the thought leadership arm of the world's oldest insurance credit rating agency, Sridhar reveals the hidden shifts happening in D&O coverage that could impact every organization with a board of directors.Discover why market complacency might be setting companies up for costly surprises, how COVID-era court backlogs are creating latent risks, and why the current soft market conditions might not reflect true risk levels. Learn about emerging threats like litigation funding, social inflation, and the critical factors every organization should consider when structuring their D&O coverage.To find out how TrustLayer manages risk so that people can build the physical world around us, head to TrustLayer.io.Podcast Host: Jason ReichlExecutive Producer: Don HalliwellEpisode Highlights:[00:00] - Intro: Meet Sridhar Manyem from AM Best[02:10] - Market Reality Check: The Biggest D&O Shift in Years[04:47] - The Complacency Problem: Why Steep Price Declines Are Concerning [07:18] - Claims-Made Policies: The Extended Risk Timeline Most Miss[08:07] - Emerging Threats: Litigation Funding and Social Inflation[11:10] - Coverage Strategy: Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Approaches [16:08] - Risky or Too Risky: D&O Decision-Making Game[17:50] - Industry Advice: Building Relationships in a Close-Knit MarketEpisode Resources:Sridhar Manyem’s LinkedInAM BestTrustLayerIf you enjoyed this episode, please (with a cherry on top):Subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple PodcastsFollow TRS on SpotifyTell a friend! Risk Management: Brick by Brick is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.soPrevious guests include: Seth Hausman of Kraus-Anderson Insurance, Matthew Meyer of The Horton Group, Diana Rich of Foundation Building Materials, Christy McHenry of Suffolk Construction, Mark Rieder of NFP, and Cory Mangum of Primoris Services Corporation. Check out the three most downloaded episodes: Managing Your Risk Portfolio with Seth HausmanFocusing on Specialization with Matthew MeyerRisk Management is Everywhere with Diana RichIf you are interested in being a guest on Risk Management: Brick by Brick, please complete this form: fame.so/trs-guest

In this discussion, Amy Barnes, Head of Climate and Sustainability Strategy at Marsh, shares her journey from environmental consultant to a leader in climate strategy. She emphasizes the crucial role of curiosity in adapting insurance to climate change. Amy reveals how tools like the tariff simulator enhance supply chain resilience and stresses that climate considerations should permeate business decisions. She also addresses the evolving role of risk managers from mere safety departments to strategic partners driving organizational growth.