HSB's New Ways of Thinking

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Mar 2026

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About the show

HSB's New Ways of Thinking covers timely topics impacting the U.S P&C insurance industry. Each episode will feature a special guest and will provide a unique perspective related to the specific topic.

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60 recent

March 17, 202618 min

Rethinking Non-CAT Water Part 3: Strengthening Agent & Customer Engagement

Jeff O'Shaughnessy speaks with Christina Villena and Tom Smart about how strong agent relationships shape sensor program success. They discuss early skepticism, growing support, and the challenges of DIY installs for policyholders—plus how outreach and clear communication help agents and insureds stay engaged. They also touch on how sensor data informs risk insights and where they hope these programs go next.

March 17, 202615 min

Rethinking Non-CAT Water Part 2: Where Sensor Technology Makes the Biggest Impact

Host Jeff O'Shaughnessy, Christina Villena (The Hanover), and Tom Smart (Philadelphia Insurance Companies) share real‑world examples of how water sensors have prevented losses across schools, cultural institutions, and other properties—especially when buildings are unoccupied. From detecting slow leaks over valuable art to preventing frozen pipe damage during holidays and alerting teams to mechanical room failures, they discuss where sensors have proven most effective and how saves are confirmed and quantified.

March 17, 202617 min

Rethinking Non-CAT Water Part 1: The Most Controllable Catastrophe

Non‑CAT water losses rarely make headlines, but they affect homes, businesses, and carrier portfolios every day. Host Jeff O'Shaughnessy is joined by Christina Villena (The Hanover) and Tom Smart (Philadelphia Insurance Companies) to discuss how events like freezing temperatures, heavy rains, aging infrastructure, and geography all contribute to these widespread and costly losses—and how sensors, data, and early detection can help reduce exposure for various occupancies.

January 27, 202614 min

Rethinking IoT with Meshify Part 6: The ROI

ROI isn't just about numbers—it's about real value. In the final episode, Lewis, CTO and Co-founder of Meshify, and Jeff explore the ROI of IoT programs—beyond loss ratios. They show how Meshify prevents water damage and minor events alike, saving homeowners and business owners from headaches, and wrap up with challenges and what's next.

January 26, 202610 min

Rethinking IoT with Meshify Part 5: The First Line of Defense

While many focus on flow monitoring or shutoff valves as a "single solution," the reality is they don't provide full protection and can be costly and invasive to install. In Part 5, Jeff and Lewis explain why point detection should be the first line of defense—you might be surprised how quickly customers act when a leak occurs. They also dive into how Meshify sensors address freeze risks.

January 23, 202614 min

Rethinking IoT with Meshify Part 4: The Evolution

Meshify doesn't sell sensors—it provides outcomes. In Part 4, Jeff and Lewis dive into how the team continues to evolve technology, the game-changing impact of Amazon Sidewalk on connectivity, the creation of Meshify Slim, and why designing a sensor people actually want to install—compact, reliable, and unobtrusive—makes all the difference.

January 22, 20268 min

Rethinking IoT with Meshify Part 3: The Water Problem

Solving the water problem isn't just about sensors—it's about simplicity, reliability, and impact. In this episode, Jeff talks with Lewis, Co-Founder and CTO of Meshify, about how the team evolved from industrial IoT solutions to a next-generation, low-cost, cellular water detection platform, creating sensors that are easy to install and use while protecting buildings from costly water damage.

January 19, 202610 min

Rethinking IoT with Meshify Part 2: The Partnership

The journey from startup to acquisition can redefine a company's focus—and its impact. In part 2, Jeff continues his discussion with Lewis, Co-Founder and CTO of Meshify, about HSB's 2016 acquisition of the IoT pioneer. Lewis shares how joining forces with HSB helped narrow Meshify's focus, refine its technology, and scale its smart water loss prevention solutions.

January 12, 20268 min

Rethinking IoT with Meshify Part 1: The Beginning

From a college dorm room experiment to a garage startup, the story of Meshify is a journey in innovation and problem-solving. In this episode, Jeff O'Shaughnessy sits down with Lewis Wight, Co-Founder and CTO of Meshify, about how early experiments with smart thermostats led to a pivot into IoT solutions for insurance.

October 29, 202512 min

Rethinking Water Part 4: Smarter Water Management for Sustainability

While advanced water monitoring offers clear benefits, most commercial buildings have yet to adopt it. In this episode, Jeff O'Shaughnessy wraps up his discussion with Yaron Dycian, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at WINT, to discuss HSB's partnership with WINT, how emerging regulations are driving adoption, and the impact of smarter water management on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) scores and overall building sustainability.

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HSB&apos;s New Ways of Thinking