In this episode, Jeremy and Catrin explore Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed, reflecting on how its themes of cognitive diversity and constructive challenge apply directly to pricing teams. They unpack the idea that diversity of thought rather than background alone can drive innovation, and they share personal stories of when uniform thinking held back progress.

From project team dynamics to the impact of power structures, they explore why pricing professionals often reach similar solutions, and how broadening input from across disciplines and industries can lead to better outcomes. Catrin draws parallels between literature and analytics, while Jeremy questions whether a lack of differing perspectives has led to stagnation in pricing innovation.

This is an honest and practical conversation about creating space for alternative views, learning from others outside the pricing bubble, and presenting ideas more effectively to diverse audiences.

PriceWriters is a training and education company focused on insurance pricing. Find out more about our engaging training, graduate schemes and workshops, by visiting:
👉 www.pricewriters.com [http://www.pricewriters.com/]

#InsurancePricing [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23insurancepricing&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #GeneralInsurance [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23generalinsurance&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #PandCInsurance [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23pandcinsurance&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #PriceWriter [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23pricewriter&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]

Rebel Ideas on the Price Writer Podcast Episode 28

Join Jeremy Keating and Catrin Townsend as they relaunch the Price Writer Podcast with a fresh new focus on books and their relevance to insurance pricing teams.  In this episode, we explore The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni and examine how the model applies to technical and data-driven teams in insurance. From the challenge of building trust in large departments to the value of constructive conflict, we discuss practical, real-world insights on managing teams, holding each other accountable, and avoiding the low standards that arise from unresolved tensions.  Whether you're leading a pricing function or collaborating across teams, this episode unpacks how a popular business book can offer genuinely useful takeaways, even in the highly regulated world of general insurance.  Expect honest reflections, practical examples, and the occasional Monty Python anecdote.  PriceWriters is a training and education company focused on insurance pricing. Find out more about our engaging training, graduate schemes and workshops, by visiting 👉 www.pricewriters.com  #InsurancePricing #GeneralInsurance #PandCInsurance #PriceWriter

Five Dysfunctions of a Team on the Price Writer Podcast Episode 27

In this episode, we’re joined by Max Wicks, a pricing professional whose journey from professional boxing to general insurance is anything but typical. Max talks about falling into pricing via a graduate scheme, how his motor trade background gave him a head start, and building a career without following the traditional actuarial exam route.

We discuss his move from GLMs to GBMs, and how data science is transforming pricing teams. Max shares practical tips on building models more efficiently, navigating legacy systems, and improving transparency in modern methods. He also highlights the value of curiosity, subject matter expertise, and what insurance can learn from tech.

Perfect for anyone in pricing or data science looking to modernise their approach, question legacy thinking, and rethink career paths.

Max Wicks on the Price Writer Podcast Episode 26

Books mentioned:



Best Book of the Quarter

Aspiring Actuarial Leaders – The Modern Manager’s Toolkit - Julia Lessing



Insurance Books

Why Insurance Markets Fail and What to Do About It - Liran Einav, Ray Fisman, Amy Finkelstein

The Art of Uncertainty - David Spiegelhalter

Non-fiction Books

KIND - Graham Allcott

Dare to Lead - Brené Brown

The Authority Gap - Mary Ann Sieghart

Zig Ziglar's Secrets of Closing the Sale - Zig Ziglar

The Imposter Cure - Dr Jessamy Hibberd

$100M Offers - Alex Hormozi

Politics on the Edge - Rory Stewart

Apocalypse Never - Michael Shellenberger

Traction - Gabriel Weinberg, Justin Mares

Let It Go: My Extraordinary Story - From Refugee to Entrepreneur to Philanthropist - Stephanie Shirley

Dear Female Founder - Lu Li

Be Useful - Arnold Schwarzenegger (twice)



Fiction Book

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen



Kids Book

Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson - Katherine Johnson



Inspiring Pricing

Our next event is Inspiring Pricing at Insurance Hall, London on 20th May 2025

Why attend?

🔹Discover how Inclusion, Integrity, and Innovation can Inspire Pricing Success

🔹Connect with leading pricing professionals and industry experts

🔹Take away practical tools to make real progress toward your goals

This isn’t just a conference. It’s about making real progress.

🎟 Price Writer members: £199

🎟 Non-members: £399

🔹 Only 50 tickets available!

Book now: https://inspire.pricewriters.com/

A big thank you to our sponsors Ascentia Partners | MavenBlue | Consumer Intelligence

I’d love to see you there

Books of 2025Q1 on the Price Writer Podcast Episode 25

This month on the Price Writer podcast I spoke to Julia Lessing actuary, executive coach, and author of "Aspiring Actuarial Leaders: The Modern Manager’s Toolkit.”

Julia is the founder of Guardian Actuarial and she shares her journey from actuary to leadership mentor, discussing the critical transition from technical expert to effective manager and leader.

Highlights

 * Julia's motivation behind writing her book and how it's designed to help actuaries develop crucial managerial skills
 * Personal experiences of challenging transitions into management roles, highlighting the importance of targeted leadership training
 * Practical tips on communication, understanding audience needs, and navigating uncertainty effectively
 * Julia’s unique career pivots and insights from roles like breastfeeding counselor and Lifeline crisis counselor, demonstrating the unexpected links between actuarial thinking and effective communication
 * Her vision for empowering actuaries through lifelong learning and leadership skills, enhancing their ability to impact organizations and communities positively

This discussion is packed with valuable insights to help you develop your career and enhance your professional growth

Julia Lessing on the Price Writer Podcast Episode 24

In this insightful episode, Simon joins Jeremy to explore his 30-year journey from consulting to building Calibrant, a leading MGA consultancy, and developing Sybil, an innovative portfolio management platform. Simon shares his passion for portfolio management, emphasising its critical role in ensuring long-term profitability in insurance.  Key topics include:

 * The Value of Portfolio Management: Why nurturing existing portfolios is essential for sustained success.
 * Breaking Down Silos: How collaboration across pricing, reserving, and underwriting can unlock untapped potential.
 * Overcoming Challenges: Tackling messy processes and the limitations of spreadsheets with innovative solutions like Sybil.
 * A Bayesian Approach: Using continuous data updates and control cycles to refine models and drive better decisions.

This episode highlights practical methods for turning insights into actionable, profitable outcomes. Learn how Simon and his team are defining the future of portfolio management!

Simon Pollack on the Price Writer Podcast Episode 22

Tom's Journey and the Future of Insurance Pricing Join us in this episode as Jeremy Keating interviews Thomas Saliba delving into his career journey and expertise in insurance pricing. Tom recounts his early fascination with maths, leading him to a successful career at Norwich Union and eventually becoming an independent contractor. He discusses his work with Lloyd's syndicates and MGAs, emphasizing the integration of data science in pricing. Explore debates on off-the-shelf vs. custom-built pricing software and the influence of AI on coding and pricing practices. Ideal for pricing professionals, this episode offers invaluable insights into the complexities, innovations, and the evolving future of insurance pricing.

Thomas Saliba on the Price Writer Podcast Ep 21

Books mentioned:

Best of the year

A Risky Business: An Actuary's Guide to Quantifying and Managing Risk in Society - Catrin Townsend



Non-fiction

Fluke - Dr Brian Klaas

Escape from Model Land - Erica Thompson

You're Better Than They Think You Are - Sir Rod Aldridge

Blue Ocean Strategy - W. Chan Kim, Renee Mauborgne

The Power of Moments - Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Enzo Ferrari - Luca Dal Monte

The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life - Steven Bartlett

Churchill - Andrew Roberts

Normandy ’44 - James Holland

D-Day - Antony Beevor

Stalingrad - Antony Beevor

Band of Brothers - Stephen E. Ambrose

D-Day - Stephen E. Ambrose

The Battle of the Atlantic - Jonathan Dimbleby

Masters of the Air - Donald L. Miller

Sicily '43 - James Holland 

Becoming Superman - J Michael Straczynski

Midnight in Chernobyl - Adam Higginbotham

Challenger - Adam Higginbotham

Supercommunicators - Charles Duhigg

Methods of Persuasion - Nick Kolenda

Imagine Reading This Book - Nick Kolenda

Pre-Suasion - Robert Cialdini

The Challenger Sale - Matthew Dixon, Brent Adamson

Dark Psychology and Manipulation - Lucas Bailey

The Illusion of Choice - Richard Shotton

The Charisma Myth - Olivia Fox Cabane

Want - Gillian Anderson

We Can All Make It - Sara Davies

Single-Minded: My Life in Business - Claude Littner



Fiction

Leviathan Wakes - James S. A. Corey

Caliban's War - James S. A. Corey

Abaddon's Gate - James S. A. Corey

Cibola Burn - James S. A. Corey

Nemesis Games - James S. A. Corey

Babylon's Ashes - James S. A. Corey

Persepolis Rising - James S. A. Corey

Tiamat's Wrath - James S. A. Corey

Leviathan Falls - James S. A. Corey

The Three-Body Problem - Cixin Liu, Ken Liu

Pompeii - Robert Harris

Greyhound - C.S. Forester 

The Roommate - Rosie Danan

Prelude to Foundation - Isaac Asimov

Foundation and Empire - Isaac Asimov

Second Foundation - Isaac Asimov

Precipice - Robert Harris



French Short Stories - Lingo Mastery

Short Stories in French - Olly Richards, Richard Simcott

French Sci-Fi Short Stories - Sebastian Cutillo



To Children

Skin in the Game - Jane Wurwand

I Am Malala - Malala Yousafzai

Jo Malone: My Story

The Trials of Life - David Attenborough

World War 1 & 2 History for Kids History Brought Alive

The Princess Bride - William Goldman

Tin Tin – various including TinTin on the Moon

Star Wars: In the Shadow of Yavin

Some of The Wizard of Oz Collection by - L. Frank Baum

The Princess Bride (again)

The Adventures of Parsley the Lion

Wonka - Sibéal Pounder, Paul King

Sing - Dreamworks



Both

My Family and Other Animals - Gerand Durrell

Kensuke's Kingdom - Michael Morpurgo



Our next event is Inspiring Pricing at Insurance Hall, London on 20th May 2025

Why attend?

🔹Discover how Inclusion, Integrity, and Innovation can Inspire Pricing Success

🔹Connect with leading pricing professionals and industry experts

🔹Take away practical tools to make real progress toward your goals

This isn’t just a conference. It’s about making real progress. 

🎟 Price Writer members: £199

🎟 Non-members: £399

🔹 Only 50 tickets available!

Book now: https://inspire.pricewriters.com/

A big thank you to our sponsors Ascentia Partners | MavenBlue | Consumer Intelligence

I’d love to see you there

Books of 2024 on the Price Writer Podcast Episode 23

Welcome to our latest episode where we return to the world of insurance pricing this time with our special guest, Martin Ellingsworth, a seasoned expert in data analytics and insurance pricing. Hosted by Jeremy, this conversation covers everything from Marty's unique journey into the insurance industry to the current trends and challenges in pricing and risk management. Key Takeaways: -Marty’s journey from military operations research to becoming an insurance data analytics expert. -The evolution and importance of accurate data in improving insurance pricing. -The impact of external factors, such as used car values and economic shifts, on the insurance industry. -The role of technology and predictive analytics in shaping the future of insurance. -Insights into the personal auto insurance market and the challenges it faces.  Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Leave a comment below or connect with us on social media. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon to stay updated with our latest content.

Martin Ellingsworth on Outstanding Claims with the Price Writer Podcast Ep 20

Navigating the Intersection of Insurance, Ethics, and Digital Transformation with Duncan Minty. Join us as we discover the fascinating journey of Duncan Minty, who has a notable career in the insurance sector. Starting in the early 1980s, Duncan explored innovation and the social analysis of risk, eventually becoming head of insurance for Motability, Europe's largest car fleet for people with disabilities. In this episode, Duncan shares his insights on the ethical challenges and technological transformations within the insurance industry. He discusses the evolving landscape of fairness in pricing, the impact of GDPR 2.0, and the complexities of digital decision systems. Learn how Duncan collaborates with insurers, academics, and civil society groups to ensure that insurance remains a fair and socially responsible service.

Duncan Minty on Outstanding Claims on the Price Writer Podcast Ep 19

Welcome to the Price Writer Podcast, presented by Price Writer, a leader in insurance pricing and training. 

Join us as we explore the world of insurance literature, offering insights, analyses, and discussions on pivotal books that shape our industry. Whether you're an insurance professional or simply curious about the field, our episodes provide valuable perspectives to enhance your knowledge.

Hosted by Jeremy Keating, the Price Writer Podcast is brought to you by Price Writer, a learning and development company supporting over 190 members from 70+ insurance providers. Our work helps pricing professionals grow their careers through expert insights, practical training, and a strong industry network.

Find out more at pricewriters.com [https://pricewriters.com/]

Jeremy Keating

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