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

Join me as I interview Ralph Clayton who took the most unusual route into insurance of any of our guests so far... He choose a career in insurance at the outset. Ralph is a true expert on pricing and data science. Discover Ralph's journey from starting in insurance pricing to embracing cutting-edge techniques in data science and cloud computing. He shares invaluable insights on how modern tools like machine learning, Databricks, and cloud services can revolutionize pricing strategies, enhance efficiency, and can lead to significant cost savings. In this detailed discussion, Ralph explains:

 * Why the traditional actuarial route was not for him because of too much theory and not enough practical value.
 * The advantages of using serverless computing with AWS Lambda for scalable, cost-effective solutions.
 * Implementing a modern pricing architecture using Databricks, focusing on automation and efficient data practices.

Ideal for insurance pricing directors and professionals, this episode provides a roadmap to adopting sophisticated analytics and programming approaches in the insurance industry. Learn how integrating these technologies can help manage revenue, margins, and volumes effectively, all while navigating the complexities of anti-selection and moral hazards.  Tune in to gain a competitive edge in general insurance pricing and lead your team towards more innovative and profitable practices.

Ralph Clayton on the Price Writer Podcast Ep 18

Navigating the Future of Insurance Pricing: An In-depth Conversation with Rick from Maven Blue  Join us for this latest episode of Outstanding Claims. Jeremy talks with Rick de Jager a pivotal figure in the insurance industry and part of the team at Maven Blue, to discuss his unconventional journey into the realm of insurance. From banking to being bitten by the "insurance bug" during the credit crisis, Rick shares how his passion for quantitative sciences and risk management led him to the forefront of pricing and innovative solutions in the insurance sector.  In this episode: Rick's Origin Story: Discover how Rick's early exposure to banking morphed into a deep-seated interest in insurance, guiding him through academic pursuits in insurance sciences and leading him to the heart of pricing.  The Maven Blue Difference: Rick provides a comprehensive overview of Maven Blue, highlighting its unique approach to insurance pricing and tariff deployment. Learn how Maven Blue's open philosophy and advanced modeling platform empower insurers to streamline their processes and bring tariffs to market efficiently.  Innovations in Insurance: Explore the groundbreaking features of Maven Blue's product, including their state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms designed for monitoring tariff performance and optimizing pricing strategies.  The Future of Pricing: Rick discusses the pressing challenges facing the insurance industry, from inflation and affordability to customer behavior changes and the potential for multi-year policies. He also touches on the critical role of sustainability in pricing and the evolving landscape of insurance in response to technological advancements.  The AI Dilemma: The conversation takes a deep dive into the complexities of integrating AI into insurance models, addressing both the opportunities and the inherent challenges of ensuring fairness and accuracy in automated decision-making.

Rick de Jager on the Price Writer Podcast Ep 17

In this month's episode, we are thrilled to have George Wright, the innovative mind behind Vounder Analytics. Join us to explore the transformative journey of data management and software development. George shares his unique path from the environmental sector to revolutionizing bordereau software, highlighting the challenges, solutions, and the future of data analytics in the insurance industry. Tune in to gain valuable insights on managing big data, improving data pipelines, and the cutting-edge BDXView software designed to streamline Bordereaux management. Highlights: 

George's Journey: From environmental regulation to founding Vounder Analytics, discover how George's passion for coding and problem-solving led him to create impactful solutions. 

Challenges: Learn about the initial struggles in business development and the importance of finding a niche that Vounder now dominates. 

BDXView Software: An in-depth look at Vounder's latest software innovation designed to consolidate Bordereaux data efficiently, catering specifically to MGAs, MGUs, and syndicates dealing with delegated authority. 

Target Audience: Understanding who can benefit most from BDXView and how it revolutionizes data management for better decision-making and efficiency in the insurance industry. 

Vision and Mission: George shares his aspirations for the future, emphasizing the role of advanced data technologies in fostering innovation and improved operational efficiency. 

Contact George: george@vounder.co.uk 

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-wright-86824575/  

BDX View: https://www.bdxview.com/

George Wright on Outstanding Claims with the Price Writer Ep 16

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/]