After a few years away myself, I was excited to head back to InsureTech Connect (ITC) in Las Vegas last month along with some fellow Bindable team members. Without a doubt, this year’s event was one of the biggest and most enthusiastic groups of insurance leaders and innovators I’ve been a part of. There was a lot to learn and talk about, especially when it came to product innovation. 

Recently we spoke with Brett Conley, Area Vice President at Gallagher, to learn more about his company, his role, and his experience working with the Bindable team.

When deciding what career path to embark on, insurance isn’t usually the first industry that comes to most people’s minds. Instead, many current insurance employees have the shared experience of falling into a role within the industry, rather than seeking it out directly. 

“Thank you for making this easy!” This is my favorite thing to hear from a client. After a decade in project management, this type of feedback after a successful launch never gets old. And yet, I also have also been challenged many times with the question: "Do we really need a project manager?"

Amazon. eBay. Salesforce. Twenty years ago, these companies were some of the first to launch their own APIs and thus made history, enabling businesses to run more efficiently by way of the internet and interconnected systems. Since then, they all have continued to shape and evolve the world of APIs as we know it today. While APIs have come a long way in the last two decades, there is one thing that remains true: those that evolve and transform simultaneously will win the API game, and thanks to the groundwork laid out by these big names, industries such as insurance can lead not only the conversation, but the innovation that comes with leverage such technology.

What do insurance business leaders need to know about Insurance-as-a-Service?

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the 2022 Rising Insurance Star Executives (RISE) Leadership Summit and Award Gala. The room was filled with leaders and mentors who are paving the way for the next generation of insurance professionals. I gained a wealth of knowledge about the various skills one needs to be an effective leader. And, humble brag, I was grateful and honored to be named a Rising Star alongside an impressive group of other young professionals in the space during the event’s awards ceremony! 

As we all know, the world is continuing to change and grow at a rapid pace, and as consumer behavior keeps evolving, so do the methods to meet their demands. While the pandemic pushed for more digitized solutions and experiences across insurance, we still have many milestones ahead of us.