The Underwriting Intelligence Podcast

Amrit Santhirasenan

Hosted by Amrit Santhirasenan, Co-founder and CEO of hyperexponential, this bi-weekly, 30-minute podcast offers sharp, strategic insights at the intersection of AI, innovation, and insurance. Each episode features industry leaders and technology pioneers exploring how emerging technologies reshape risk, reimagine business models, and redefine the future of insurance. Designed for forward-thinking executives, the show cuts through the noise with clear insights, real-world perspectives, and candid discussions you won’t hear anywhere else- helping you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving insurance landscape.

  1. How AI is transforming the way insurers work

    May 28

    How AI is transforming the way insurers work

    In this episode of The Underwriting Intelligence Podcast, Amrit sits down with Kevin Hicks, AI Transformation and Service Delivery Executive at Capgemini and former AI leader at AIG, to explore how artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping insurance operations, technology strategy, and enterprise decision-making. Drawing on decades of experience leading large-scale technology transformation inside some of the world’s biggest insurance organizations, Kevin shares a practical and deeply insightful perspective on where AI is already delivering value today and where the industry is still underestimating the scale of change ahead. From workflow acceleration and legacy modernization to AI agents, organizational redesign, and the future of outsourcing, the conversation dives deep into how insurers can move from experimentation to real operational transformation. In this episode, Amrit and Kevin dive into: Why AI is becoming a “work capacity creator” for insurance organizationsHow workflow acceleration and cycle-time optimization are changing enterprise operationsWhy legacy modernization is actually in sight for the first timeHow insurers should rethink outsourcing, partnerships, and internal capabilities in an AI-driven worldWhy successful AI adoption requires both top-down leadership and bottom-up experimentation Whether you’re an insurer, technology executive, founder, or transformation leader, this episode offers a sharp and highly practical look at how AI is redefining the operating model of insurance and what organizations must do now to stay ahead.

    32 min
  2. Re-underwriting speed: Data moats, AI, and the future of insurtech

    May 14

    Re-underwriting speed: Data moats, AI, and the future of insurtech

    In this episode of The Underwriting Intelligence Podcast, Amrit sits down with Scott Stephenson, former Chairman, President and CEO of Verisk, and currently Chairman to One Inc. to explore what it really takes to build enduring data and analytics businesses in insurance and why the rules of competitive advantage are rapidly changing in the age of AI. Drawing on more than two decades leading one of the world’s most influential insurance data companies, Scott shares a masterclass on data moats, trust, vertical software, and the new pace of technology innovation. From the realities of assembling proprietary datasets to the future of insurtech competition, the conversation dives deep into how insurers and technology companies should rethink strategy in a world where software creation is becoming dramatically faster and cheaper. In this episode, Amrit and Scott dive into: Why the strongest data moats are built over decades, not overnightHow Verisk earned the trust required to steward highly sensitive insurance dataWhy proprietary data has become harder to assemble in today’s marketThe strategic implications of AI on vertical SaaS and insurtech competitionWhy insurers increasingly buy outcomes rather than isolated “point solutions”Why companies must “re-underwrite” the pace at which they operate in an AI-driven world Whether you’re an insurer, founder, investor, or technology leader, this episode offers a sharp and deeply practical perspective on the future of insurance technology and what it takes to build lasting competitive advantage in a rapidly changing market.

    36 min
  3. There is no playbook: Rethinking insurance technology investment

    Apr 30

    There is no playbook: Rethinking insurance technology investment

    In this episode of The Underwriting Intelligence Podcast, Amrit sits down with James Orchard, CEO of QBE Ventures, to explore how insurance investments in technology can really work, and why most approaches fall short. Drawing on his journey from private equity into corporate strategy and ultimately leading the venture arm of one of the world’s leading insurers, James shares a candid perspective on what it really takes to build meaningful partnerships between insurers and startups. At the heart of the conversation is alignment; how successful innovation isn’t driven by investment alone, but by deeply understanding business problems and working backwards from them. In this episode, Amrit and James dive into: Why there is no “playbook” for insurance technology investing and why copying other industries doesn’t workThe importance of emotional intelligence over traditional credentials when building investment teamsHow QBE Ventures avoids “spray and pray” investing in favour of fewer, deeper strategic partnershipsWhy most insurers struggle to scale technology and how to remove friction from experimentationHow to align startups and underwriters by building trust, empathy, and shared incentivesWhat the rise of AI means for insurance transformation and why traditional approaches may no longer apply Whether you’re an underwriter, founder, investor, or insurance leader, this episode offers a practical and refreshingly honest look at how innovation actually happens and how to make it work in a complex, evolving market.

    36 min
  4. From broking to breaking news: Mark Geoghegan

    Apr 16

    From broking to breaking news: Mark Geoghegan

    In this special episode of The Underwriting Intelligence Podcast, Amrit sits down with Mark Geoghegan, founder of The Voice of Insurance podcast, to explore the intersection of journalism, insurance, and how the industry really works beneath the surface. Drawing on his unique journey from Spanish-speaking broker to leading insurance journalist, Mark shares how he “accidentally” found his way into the industry before ultimately building one of its most trusted media voices. At the heart of the conversation is perspective; how stepping away from the day-to-day grind of underwriting and broking reveals the bigger picture of how the market functions, evolves, and occasionally breaks. In this episode, Amrit and Mark dive into: How Mark transitioned from insurance into journalism and why he ultimately came back to cover the industryThe difference between working in the market versus observing it from aboveWhat makes great insurance journalism, and why trust and human relationships still sit at its coreWhy podcasts and new media formats are reshaping how insight and intelligence are shared across the market Whether you’re an underwriter, broker, insurance executive, or simply curious about the forces shaping the industry, this episode offers a candid, wide-angle view of insurance through the eyes of someone who has spent decades asking the questions others don’t.

    56 min
  5. From friction to flow: How smart trading is rewiring insurance

    Apr 2

    From friction to flow: How smart trading is rewiring insurance

    In this episode of The Underwriting Intelligence Podcast, Amrit sits down with Gilbert Harrap, Co-Founder and CEO of InsurX, to explore how technology is reshaping the way insurance risk is traded; from slow, manual processes to a future of real-time, data-driven decision making. Drawing on his journey from frustrated underwriter to insurtech founder, Gilbert shares the origin story behind InsurX and the structural inefficiencies that inspired it. At the heart of the conversation is the evolution from “slow follow” to “smart follow,” and ultimately toward a broader vision of “smart trading,” where brokers and insurers can seamlessly connect, match, and transact risk using structured data and algorithmic insights. In this episode, Amrit and Gilbert dive into: Why the traditional “follow” model in insurance has been so inefficient, and how smart follow is transforming itHow AI and data structuring are unlocking value from unstructured submissionsThe tangible benefits for brokers and insurers, from faster placement times to improved underwriting performance and lower expense ratiosHow freeing up time and capacity could lead to better products, increased market capacity, and solutions to underinsurance Whether you’re an underwriter, broker, insurance executive, or building in insurtech, this episode offers a forward-looking perspective on how data, technology, and smarter workflows are unlocking a more efficient and dynamic insurance market.

    25 min
  6. Judgment in the age of algorithms: How underwriting is actually evolving

    Mar 19

    Judgment in the age of algorithms: How underwriting is actually evolving

    In this episode of The Underwriting Intelligence Podcast, Amrit sits down with Andrew McMellin, President of Markel International, to explore how underwriting is evolving in an increasingly data-rich, technology-enabled world. Drawing on nearly four decades across the insurance ecosystem, from broking and underwriting, to leadership roles in both the London Market and the US, Andrew shares a candid perspective on the changing craft of underwriting. At the centre of the conversation is the increasingly well-accepted belief that the best underwriters don’t just assess individual risks, they manage portfolios. As data, analytics, and AI tools become more embedded in the underwriting workflow, the real opportunity lies in using technology to augment judgment rather than replace it. In this episode, Amrit and Andrew dive into: Why modern underwriting requires a portfolio mindset, not just individual risk selectionHow data and technical pricing can support better decisions without undermining underwriting expertiseThe practical ways AI is already improving underwriting productivity, from document analysis to proactive client outreachThe growing importance of intangible risks and what they mean for the future of insurance products and markets Whether you’re an underwriting leader, insurance executive, actuary, or insurtech builder, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how the underwriting profession is evolving; blending experience, data, and technology to navigate a world of increasing uncertainty.

    31 min
  7. From transactional consulting to true partnership in insurance

    Mar 5

    From transactional consulting to true partnership in insurance

    In this episode of The Underwriting Intelligence Podcast, Amrit sits down with Ben Gower, Partner at Elixirr, to unpack why so many insurance transformations fail and what it actually takes to make them succeed in the age of AI. Drawing on his journey from one of the Big Four to helping build a challenger consultancy, Ben offers a refreshingly candid perspective on extractive consulting models, misaligned incentives, and the cultural blind spots that derail even the best-funded transformation programmes. At the heart of the discussion is a powerful idea: actions are downstream of mindset and without addressing how people think about change, no amount of technology will deliver results. In this episode, Amrit and Ben dive into: Why traditional consulting incentives often undermine long-term client outcomesThe real reasons digital and AI transformations fail in insuranceWhy mindset change must come before behaviour, tooling, or operating modelsHow insurers can move away from five-year transformation fantasies toward shorter, value-driven horizonsWhat it means to “eat your own cooking” when deploying AI internallyHow to build genuine partnerships between insurers, consultancies, and insurtechs Whether you’re an insurance executive, underwriting leader, consultant, or insurtech founder, this episode offers a grounded, experience-led view on transformation, cutting through the hype to focus on culture, incentives, and practical delivery in a rapidly changing industry.

    36 min
  8. Building Carbon: Data, culture, and technology in modern insurance

    Feb 19

    Building Carbon: Data, culture, and technology in modern insurance

    In this episode of The Underwriting Intelligence Podcast, Amrit sits down with Ben Laidlaw, Managing Director at Carbon Underwriting, to explore how a tech-first approach, data-driven decision making, and a career growth centred culture are redefining delegated authority underwriting in the Lloyd’s market. Ben shares insights from his journey building Carbon from an MGU startup to a full Syndicate, and how the company’s proprietary Graphene platform empowers underwriters, quants, and technologists to work together seamlessly. He explains why early investment in technology, hiring outside-the-industry talent, and embedding data into everyday workflows have been critical to scaling Carbon while maintaining agility, culture, and innovation. In this episode, Amrit and Ben dive into: How Carbon combined underwriting expertise with a tech-first mindset to build GrapheneThe challenge of bridging technical and underwriting teams, and why culture drives adoptionHiring strategies for hybrid talent and creating a “21st century underwriting grad scheme”How data, platforms, and people intersect to drive better decisions, partner relationships, and long-term growth Whether you’re an insurance executive, insurtech founder, or tech leader in financial services, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at building a modern, data-driven, and people-centred insurance business that balances innovation, scale, and operational excellence.

    30 min
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About

Hosted by Amrit Santhirasenan, Co-founder and CEO of hyperexponential, this bi-weekly, 30-minute podcast offers sharp, strategic insights at the intersection of AI, innovation, and insurance. Each episode features industry leaders and technology pioneers exploring how emerging technologies reshape risk, reimagine business models, and redefine the future of insurance. Designed for forward-thinking executives, the show cuts through the noise with clear insights, real-world perspectives, and candid discussions you won’t hear anywhere else- helping you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving insurance landscape.

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