All Episodes

Kenny White and Fred Driscoll, Alliant Healthcare, are joined by Seth Madnick, Alliant Captives, to examine how captive insurance continues to shape risk financing strategies in the managed care and ancillary healthcare sectors. The team outlines key considerations for feasibility, formation and utilization, highlighting benefits such as control over coverage terms, cost efficiency and streamlined access to reinsurance markets.

AI-powered cyber-attacks are reshaping the threat landscape, driving new risks and challenges for organizations worldwide. CJ Dietzman, Alliant Cyber, welcomes Daniel Tobok, CEO of Cypfer, to break down the latest cyber trends from Q1 2025 and predictions for the future. They discuss the rise of generative AI in attacks, the ongoing ransomware threat and the increasing role of third-party vendors in breaches. Daniel also offers practical advice on boosting cyber awareness, protecting critical data and preparing incident response plans to stay ahead in this evolving environment.

With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, NIST has overhauled its incident response guidance to help organizations better prepare, respond and recover. Join Jay Stampfl, David Finz and Grace Michael, Alliant Cyber, as they explore the NIST Special Publication 800-61 Revision 3 and its link to the updated Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0. They explore the expanded role of incident response, the new “govern” function and the shift toward continuous improvement. The team also explains how these changes affect cyber insurance underwriting and how Alliant helps clients stay ahead through planning, tabletop exercises and risk-focused engagement.

With major staff reductions and budget constraints, the SEC is predicted to scale back broad enforcement efforts and prioritize more traditional securities fraud like insider trading, Ponzi schemes and accounting fraud. Mike Radak, Alliant Financial Institutions, and David Finz, Alliant Claims & Legal, explore the shifting regulatory priorities for the SEC under the current U.S. administration and its implications for financial and consumer industries.

Bledion Dizdari welcomes Holly Ragsdale as she shares her journey into the insurance industry and the power of networking. They discuss how Holly was drawn to insurance as a way of combining her analytical skills with her passion for building relationships, which now plays a key role in her work with the Conserve-A-Nation program. Holly also shares how co-founding the Young Risk Professionals’ (YRP) D.C. chapter has helped her expand her professional network and support the next generation of insurance professionals.

In recognition of Women in Construction Week, this episode features a discussion with Celia Seigerman-Levit and Laura Martino on the evolving landscape of the construction industry. They share their career journeys, the changes they’ve seen over the years, and the reasons they are passionate about their work. The conversation also explores the challenges and opportunities for women in the field, as well as their advice for the next generation of professionals entering the industry.

Trailblazers like Wendy Conway are paving the way for the next generation of women in the industry. In this episode we sit down with Wendy Conway, Managing Director of Risk Management at Greystar Development & Construction, to discuss her journey in construction, the challenges she’s overcome, and the valuable lessons she’s learned along the way.
Wendy shares insights into risk management, leadership, and the evolving landscape of the construction industry, along with actionable advice for women looking to build their careers in this space.

Bledion Dizdari welcomes Pam Frassineti, Alliant Public Entity, to discuss her career journey and what sets Alliant apart as a leader in insurance. Pam shares how her aspiration to become a high school guidance counselor provided her with the transferable skills needed to succeed in the insurance industry, emphasizing the value in understanding client needs, building trust and providing customized solutions. As a recent addition to the Alliant team, she highlights how the company’s relationship-centered approach is essential to building a successful outcome.

The construction industry is evolving, and women are playing a crucial role in shaping its future. In this episode, we sit down with Hillary Neal, Managing Director of Risk Management at Greystar Development & Construction, to explore her career journey, the shifts she’s witnessed in the industry, and the invaluable lessons she’s learned along the way.
Hillary shares her insights on navigating risk management, breaking barriers, and leading with confidence in the construction industry. She also offers practical advice for the next generation of women looking to build successful careers in construction.

CJ Dietzman welcomes Jon Gilbert, Alliant M&A, and Michael White, Alliant Cyber, to discuss the critical role of cybersecurity and technology risk assessments in mergers and acquisitions for private equity firms. The team reviews key insights from 2024, including the growing importance of cyber due diligence and the complexities of managing cyber risk across PE portfolios. As one of the top five risk considerations, they highlight the necessity of integrating cyber risk into M&A strategies to ensure long-term success. They also share how Alliant equips firms with the expertise and solutions needed to navigate these evolving challenges and to better support our clients.

Bledion Dizdari welcomes Kenny White, Alliant Healthcare, to discuss his unique career trajectory, transitioning from law to insurance, and highlight Alliant’s collaborative company culture with the one P&L model fostering teamwork across the entire organization. Kenny also shares his advice for aspiring insurance professionals, emphasizing the value of expertise and specialization in a chosen field.

The insurance landscape is ever-changing, especially when decisions are made shifting legal standards. Join David Finz, Mike Radak and Peter Kelly as they explore recent legal decisions posing broad implications for the industry. They discuss a favorable appellate court ruling on D&O insurance coverage and indemnification, examine efforts to deem the Corporate Transparency Act unconstitutional and analyze a high-profile cybersecurity enforcement case in New York’s financial sector.
Executive Liability Newsletter: https://alliant.com/news-resources/newsletter-financial-lines-executive-liability-2024/

Karen Caterino, Alliant Public Entity, welcomes Myshell Gresham, Ascot Group, to discuss her unconventional career path and advice essential for career growth in insurance, or any relationship-based industry. Myshell shares the internal and external challenges she has faced that have helped her learn the importance of investing in yourself, constant learning, maintaining curiosity and being an effective communicator. Defining herself as a relationship maverick, Myshell emphasizes the value in developing your personal brand and leveraging social media as a networking tool.

As companies prepare for the unfortunate probability of a cyber attack, many continue to overlook the key role played by cyber crisis communications teams. Brendan Hall, Alliant Cyber, is joined by Dan Wire, Head of Crisis Communications at Mandiant Consulting, to discuss the critical need for proactively managing communications during a cyber event, and pitfalls to avoid in order to best protect the enterprise during crisis.

The public sector has historically grappled with workforce challenges, including employee retention, layoffs, and a shortage of qualified workers—issues further exacerbated by the pandemic. Carleen Patterson welcomes Scott McNea, Alliant Public Entity, to discuss the impact of the workforce crisis on the public sector and five solutions public policy professionals believe will address these challenges. From adjusting job qualification criteria to utilizing AI to streamline the hiring process, there are several strategies organizations can actively implement to minimize the workforce shortage and improve employee retention.