Future of Risk

Hosted by Zurich North America

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Episodes

117

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Future of Risk looks at the changing risk and resilience landscape with insights on the challenges facing businesses today…and tomorrow. Each episode, we invite leaders and subject matter specialists to talk about current, emerging and evolving risks…and what you need to do to prepare your business for the road ahead. Presented by Zurich North America.

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October 21, 202619 min

Legal System Abuse: Litigation strategies to level the playing field

https://www.zurichna.com/ In this final episode of the Claims in action: Driving better business outcomes podcast series, host Catherine Marciniak, Senior Vice President and Head of Property & Casualty Claims for Zurich U.S., speaks with Allen Kirsh, Head of Claims Judicial & Legislative Affairs for Zurich U.S. They explore how legal system abuse, rising litigation costs and an increase in nuclear verdicts are affecting businesses, insurers and consumers. Kirsh discusses key factors driving these trends, including evolving plaintiff tactics, eroding tort reform and third-party litigation funding. He also explains how strategies such as counter anchoring, collaboration among defense attorneys and education for claims professionals can help level the playing field. The conversation highlights Zurich’s work with industry collaborators to advocate for tort reform; and shares signs of progress in states including Florida and Georgia. Listeners will gain insight into how a more balanced legal environment can help control claim costs, support insurance affordability and drive better business outcomes. In this miniseries, other episodes include: 9/9/26: Road to recovery: Workers’ Comp and Managed Care 9/23/26: Medical Bill Review: Verifying care, validating costs 10/7/26: Protecting claims integrity in an evolving fraud landscape Record date: 8/26/26 Air date: 10/21/26

October 7, 202630 min

Protecting claims integrity in an evolving fraud landscape

https://www.zurichna.com/ In this episode of Future of Risk, part of the Claims in action: Driving better business outcomes miniseries, host Catherine Marciniak, SVP, Head of Property & Casualty Claims at Zurich U.S., sits down with Delpha DiGiacomo, VP, Head of Claims Investigative Services at Zurich U.S., for a closer look at the fast-changing world of insurance fraud. In “Protecting claims integrity in an evolving fraud landscape,” they explore how fraud has grown more sophisticated, from staged accidents and organized schemes to AI-generated photos, videos and documents. Delpha shares how Zurich Claims Investigative Services helps protect the claims process by identifying suspicious indicators, uncovering facts and collaborating across teams, customers and the broader insurance industry. The conversation highlights why fraud mitigation is about more than cost savings — it’s about protecting customers, supporting accurate claims decisions and preserving trust in the insurance process. Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of how Zurich is using collaboration, technology and investigative insight to help drive better claims outcomes. In this miniseries, other episodes include: 9/9/26: Road to recovery: Workers’ Comp and Managed Care 9/23/26: Medical Bill Review: Verifying care, validating costs Record date: 8/5/26 Air date: 10/7/26

September 23, 202614 min

Medical Bill Review: Verifying care, validating costs

https://www.zurichna.com/ Medical bill review is about much more than processing medical bills. It's a critical tool for supporting appropriate care for injured workers and managing workers' compensation costs. In this episode of our Claims in action: Driving better business outcomes podcast series, host Catherine Marciniak, Head of Property and Casualty Claims at Zurich U.S., sits down with Jesi Pabley, Head of Managed Care and Vendor Services at Zurich U.S., to explore the role medical bill review plays in workers' compensation claims management. Their conversation unpacks common misconceptions about medical bill review, explains how medical expertise and data-driven insights support better claim outcomes and highlights the importance of integrating bill review with broader managed care strategies. Listen now to learn how a comprehensive approach to medical bill review can help organizations improve outcomes and better manage loss costs. In this miniseries, other episodes include: 9/9/26: Road to recovery: Workers’ Comp and Managed Care Record date: 7/17/26 Air date: 9/23/26

September 9, 202615 min

Road to recovery: Workers’ Comp and Managed Care

https://www.zurichna.com/ What if helping injured employees recover and return to work faster can help reduce workers' compensation costs as well? In the first episode of our new Claims in action: Driving better business outcomes podcast series, Catherine Marciniak, SVP and Head of Property & Casualty Claims at Zurich U.S., sits down with Neil DeBlock, VP and Head of Workers’ Compensation Claims at Zurich U.S., to explore how workers' compensation and managed care work together to improve outcomes for both employers and injured workers. The conversation covers today's biggest cost drivers, including medical inflation, increasing claim severity and evolving treatment patterns, as well as the critical role of coordinated care and pharmacy oversight. Catherine and Neil also discuss the importance of return-to-work programs and how effective claims management can help control costs while supporting employee recovery. Tune in for practical insights on how proactive claims strategies can drive better business outcomes and stronger workforce resilience. Record date: 7/14/26 Air date: 9/9/26

July 1, 202634 min

Data centers through the eyes of risk engineers

https://www.zurichna.com/ Step inside the fast-moving world of data center construction and operations in this episode of Future of Risk, hosted by Matt Wagner, Head of Construction Property at Zurich U.S., joined by Bill Ingram, VP of Technical Operations, and Joseph McManigal, Senior Risk Engineer, South, both with Zurich Resilience Solutions. The conversation offers a firsthand look at how risk engineers' approach some of today’s most complex, high stakes builds. From the moment they arrive on site to the final stages of commissioning, Bill and Joseph share the details that can determine project success—highlighting how coordination, early planning and disciplined execution can make or break a project. The takeaway is clear: build it right, respond quickly to issues, and plan for the long term, because in data centers, every decision can have lasting impact. In this miniseries, other episodes include: 5/20/26: Billion-dollar questions in the data center buildout 6/3/26: Lessons from data center claims 6/17/26: Human side of data centers Record date: 5/21/26 Air date: 7/1/26

June 17, 202625 min

Human side of data centers

https://www.zurichna.com/ From AI-driven demand to worker safety on the ground, the data center boom is reshaping construction risk in real time. In this episode of Future of Risk , host Matt Wagner, Head of Construction Property at Zurich U.S., is joined by James Savage, U.S. Head of Construction Casualty and Chris Semlies, Project and Business Resilience Manager at Zurich Resilience Solutions, to explore the human side of data center construction. The discussion examines how labor shortages, compressed timelines and complex project environments are increasing safety risks across job sites. Key topics include video-based safety coaching, onsite medical clinics, worker fatigue and the critical role of safety culture in improving outcomes. The episode also highlights parametric insurance innovations, including heat index and air quality triggers, as tools for managing environmental risk and protecting workers. Ultimately, the conversation underscores that successful data center projects depend on proactive risk management, integrated safety planning and a consistent focus on workforce wellbeing. In this miniseries, other episodes include: 5/20/26: Billion-dollar questions in the data center buildout 6/3/26: Lessons from data center claims Record date: 4/10/26 Air date: 6/17/26

June 3, 202640 min

Lessons from data center claims

https://www.zurichna.com/ As data centers grow in scale, speed and complexity, the risks driving claims are evolving just as quickly. In this episode of Future of Risk, we explore key lessons from data center claims, focusing on the unique risks emerging from rapid construction, increasing project scale and evolving loss drivers. Our guests are Jimmy Johnson, Vice President of Property Major Case Unit at Zurich U.S. and Patrick McBride, Head of International Construction, Global Specialty at Zurich. Together, they unpack how rising project values, complex equipment and compressed timelines are fundamentally reshaping both underwriting and claims strategies. The discussion highlights major loss drivers such as severe weather, equipment sensitivity and construction sequencing, as well as the growing impact of delay in startup (DSU) exposures. Listeners will gain insight into how Zurich is applying decades of experience, data and cross-functional collaboration to deliver innovative solutions and help clients navigate these increasingly complex risks. In this miniseries, other episodes include: 5/20/26: Billion-dollar questions in the data center buildout Record date: 3/30/26 Air date: 6/3/26

May 20, 202639 min

Billion-dollar questions in the data center buildout

https://www.zurichna.com/ This episode of Future of Risk is the first in Zurich U.S. data center podcast miniseries, where we look at the risk management challenges posed by the rapid expansion of data centers fueled by AI, cloud computing and digital transformation. For the kickoff episode, Wagner speaks with Tobias Cushing, U.S. Head of Construction, and Stephen Penwright, Head of Underwriting for U.S. National Accounts, about how hyperscale data centers are blurring the lines between construction and operations and how these billion‑dollar projects are integrating onsite power generation and testing the limits of insurance capacity. Cushing and Penwright highlight how data centers can remain a strong, insurable risk by building in resiliency, redundancy and safety from design through operations. This episode provides essential insights for risk managers, construction leaders, insurers and business decision‑makers navigating the expanding data center economy. Our host for this miniseries is Matt Wagner, a Regional Vice President with Zurich’s Construction business. Record date: 4/10/26 Air date: 5/20/26

December 3, 202543 min

What's next in AI?

https://www.FutureOfRisk.com/ Discover how artificial intelligence is redefining the future—faster, smarter, and more customer-focused than ever before. In this episode of the Future of Risk by Zurich North America, host Justin Hicks discuss the rapid evolution of AI, highlighting trends like agentic and generative AI, explainable AI, and hyper-personalized customer experiences with Amy Nelsen, Head of Underwriting Operations for Middle Market and Madhu Ramamurthy, Chief Information Officer. The conversation covers how Zurich is leveraging AI to automate routine tasks, enhance underwriting and claims with advanced tools, and deliver actionable insights—all while ensuring strong human oversight and regulatory compliance. Scaling AI for meaningful return on investment and navigating regulatory ambiguity are recognized as key industry challenges, but Zurich’s approach emphasizes starting with low-risk, high-impact use cases. The podcast underscores that AI is here to augment, not replace, human expertise, empowering underwriters and claims professionals to focus on what matters most: building relationships and delivering value to customers. Stay tuned to learn how Zurich is helping businesses meet tomorrow prepared through responsible, innovative AI adoption. Record date: 10/16/25 Air date: 12/3/25 In this miniseries, other episodes include: 10/22/25: What is AI delivering so far 11/5/25: 5 ways everyone can benefit from AI today 11/19/25: Dark side of AI

November 19, 202539 min

Dark side of AI

https://www.FutureOfRisk.com/ As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the way we work and protect our businesses, are you ready for the risks—and the rewards—it brings? In this episode of the Future of Risk by Zurich North America, host Justin Hicks discusses the evolving risks of AI and machine learning with Barry Perkins, Chief Operations Officer, and Adam Page, Chief Information Security Officer. The conversation highlights concern about AI’s impact on talent, entry-level jobs, and the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, including deepfakes and targeted phishing. Both Adam and Barry emphasize that while AI presents new risks—such as data breaches and disinformation—it also offers opportunities to streamline business processes and improve decision-making. The discussion underscores the importance of governance, continuous education, and adapting workforce skills to stay ahead of technological change. Ultimately, the podcast encourages businesses to embrace AI’s potential while remaining vigilant about its challenges, ensuring a safer and more resilient future. Record date: 10/10/25 Air date: 11/19/25 In this miniseries, other episodes include: 10/22/25: What is AI delivering so far 11/5/25: 5 ways everyone can benefit from AI today 12/3/25: What’s next in AI?