In this episode, we’re unpacking the remarkable cultural transformation of Guardian Life, a 165-year old insurance company that’s embracing startup thinking to drive innovation. Hear from Erin Culek, Head of Financial Protection and Retirement Solutions at Guardian, as she discusses how combining AI solutions with customer-centric innovation has dramatically improved the company’s service delivery, reducing four-week processes to near-instant results. Drawing from her experience leading both strategy and business operations, Culek shares how Guardian's "test and learn" culture combined with Amazon’s “two-pizza team” approach is accelerating digital transformation across the enterprise. From fostering a culture of experimentation to implementing transformative AI initiatives, this episode offers essential insights for leaders navigating legacy transformation. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about turning institutional wisdom into competitive advantage through startup thinking.

Examine the evolving landscape of digital trust and identity security with Jacob DePriest, VP of Security and CISO at 1Password. Drawing from his diverse experience at the NSA, GitHub, and 1Password, DePriest shares best practices for managing shadow AI, implementing confidential computing, and addressing the emerging challenges of agentic AI. He emphasizes the critical balance between enabling innovation and maintaining robust security measures in an AI-driven world. From securing credentials with advanced authentication to navigating the complexities of AI governance, this episode examines how to build trust and security in an era where AI is reshaping digital identity management.

Join Olympic silver medalist Jenna Strauch as she shares powerful insights from her remarkable journey to Olympic success. Drawing parallels between elite sport and business leadership, Strauch reveals how data-driven decision-making, constructive feedback, and a focus on process over outcomes drives high performance. She discusses building resilient teams, managing setbacks, and fostering a culture where failure leads to growth. Her experience as part of the Australian Dolphins' leadership team demonstrates that true success comes from valuing people and mentoring the next generation of leaders. This episode is essential listening for leaders looking to empower high-performance teams through times of high-stress and transformation.