Digital Transformation in the Insurance Industry with Paul Roderick

Paul Roderick is a digital product owner and operations manager at Midwest Employers Casualty (a WRB company), where he’s deeply involved in digital transformation and process improvement initiatives, as well as bringing technical and business colleagues together. Previously, he led a public entity risk management and insurance program, using a technology-forward approach to streamline operations. He is a current member of the CPCU Society’s Technology and Innovation Committee. In this episode of the In The Know podcast, Chris Hampshire and Paul discuss the current state of the carrier side of the insurance industry, Paul’s experience with working for a public entity, and what he sees happening in the future of risk management.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Working in a family business gave Paul early exposure to a wide variety of aspects of business.

• Key differences in Paul’s transition from the public entity sector to the carrier sector.

• The wide variety of skill sets required in insurance is what keeps him engaged in the industry.

• Paul’s approach to the need for digital transformation systems in the insurance sector.

• Tactics for recruiting new talent to the technology facet of the industry.

• Overcoming common stumbling blocks when leading a digital transformation project in insurance.

• The benefits of increasing involvement in the insurance community beyond just in your workplace.

• Paul’s experience expanding his knowledge and helping others in the CPCU society.

• The potential future impact of the digital side of the carrier transformation.

• Paul’s time with a public entity helped to prepare him for his role at a carrier.

• A look at changes in the future of the insurance industry as a result of AI, coverage and claims, and blockchain offerings.

• Paul’s encouraging advice for his early career self.

 

Quotes

 

• “In the carrier space, we like processes, we have procedures, but it’s another level in the public entity. You have to satisfy the process before you can do anything else.”

• “I don’t think there are many industries that offer such an opportunity to exercise such a variety of skills on a day-to-day basis.”

• “When you work in the insurance industry, you’re enabling daily life.”

• “Change management is a huge stumbling block that we as an industry don’t pay enough attention to.”

• “I don’t think it’s possible to remain competitive in a lot of areas of this industry if you don’t successfully adopt technology into all aspects of your operating model.”

• “It was absolutely critical to my success to make relationships with other individuals and not just make it about an analytical or numbers approach.”

• “Anytime you can bring in trust and efficiency, everybody’s happier.”