Leader's Edge

A Council Platform

4.6 (11)
BUSINESS
UPDATED MONTHLY

Established in 2004, Leader’s Edge is the award-winning content platform for The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, covering legal and legislative issues, international business and regulation, management trends and best practices, technology, and more. Leader’s Edge is written and recorded for large and mid-sized commercial insurance and employee benefit executives around the globe.

6D AGO

Primary Focus on Secondary Perils

Michele Sansone, chief underwriting officer of property and head of multinational solutions for the Americas for AXA XL, joins the Leader's Edge podcast to share key focus areas for 2026. Data centers continue to pop up across America. Their massive power needs and building requirements are impacting policyholders and the property market as a whole. Meanwhile, the industry is reevaluating the impacts of secondary perils such as wildfires and storms that occurred in 2025.

12 min
JAN 29

Introduction to Humanity with David Brooks

Journalist and author David Brooks sat down with Leader's Edge during the 2025 Insurance Leadership Forum. Having recently written his book, How to Know a Person, Brooks discusses why he set out to better understand others around him and what he gained from the experience, how leaders today can better support new graduates, and more.

14 min
JAN 26

Personal Lines with Andy Barker

In this episode of our personal lines podcast series, Andy Barker, CEO of Houchens Insurance Group, pulls back the curtain on what leadership looks like at his business. Additionally he shares why giving back to the Bowling Green Kentucky community is central to his mission, and what drives him to start every day at 4:40 a.m.

15 min
JAN 19

Politics and Risk Special Edition: Stories From White House Alumni Matt Kirk and Audra Jackson

In this episode of The Politics & Risk Podcast, The Council’s senior vice president of government affairs, Joel Kopperud, and Audra Jackson, director of government affairs, are joined by Matt Kirk, head of North American retail placement at Acrisure. Jackson and Kirk both served in White House Office of Legislative Affairs, respectively during the Biden and George W. Bush administrations. They share unique stories from the White House spanning from Sept. 11 to the passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act to Jan. 6.

36 min
JAN 12

Politics and Risk with Rep. Kevin Hern

In this episode of The Politics & Risk Podcast, Republican Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District shares how his background as a McDonald’s franchisee owner influenced his outlook on employer-sponsored healthcare, expresses his support for individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements, and discuses changes he wants to see to third-party litigation funding. Council Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Joel Kopperud and Vice President of Government and Political Affairs Blaire Bartlett also discuss the issues they are focused on in the new year and if we are headed for another federal government shutdown at the end of January.

26 min
12/29/2025

Personal Lines with Joseph Schauer

Joseph Schauer, President and CEO of Schauer Group, joins our personal lines podcast to share the 106-year history of his family's firm and discuss what gives him his competitive edge in business. He also touches upon how his hometown of Canton, Ohio, was vital to shaping his life.

15 min
12/22/2025

What’s Now, What’s New, What’s Next in Tech

Having previously served as chief futurist at Deloitte, global innovation director at Accenture, a venture capital co-founder, and an inventor, Mike Bechtel has more than 25 years of experience with technology and innovation. Starting with the basic tools developed by ancient ancestors, Mike explains how to view today’s advanced technology with the right perspective. Data centers, AI, and quantum computing are all on the agenda.

32 min
12/19/2025

Politics and Risk with Rep. Linda Sánchez

In this episode of The Politics & Risk Podcast, Democratic Rep. Linda Sánchez of California’s 38th Congressional District discusses the impacts of the upcoming expiration of Affordable Care Act enhanced premium subsidies and issues of affordability in America, and offers her thoughts on President Donald Trump's leadership. Council Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Joel Kopperud and Vice President of Government and Political Affairs Blaire Bartlett also join for a conversation on what to expect from Washington in 2026.

27 min

4.6

out of 5

11 Ratings

Established in 2004, Leader’s Edge is the award-winning content platform for The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, covering legal and legislative issues, international business and regulation, management trends and best practices, technology, and more. Leader’s Edge is written and recorded for large and mid-sized commercial insurance and employee benefit executives around the globe.

Creator

A Council Platform
Years Active

2016 - 2026
Episodes

232
Rating

Clean
Copyright

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Leader's Edge