One year ago today, the LA wildfires changed lives, neighborhoods, and the way many of us think about risk, resilience, and recovery.

In the first episode of season 3, I interview Shanna McIntyre, co-founder and Chief Data Officer at Delos. Shanna’s journey into the industry began far from it, with a background in physics, aerospace, and satellite data, before she and her co-founder recognized the urgent need to apply serious science to one of the most personal challenges facing homeowners today. We talk about why insurance is such a critical enabler of stability and recovery, how wildfires have exposed the limits of traditional risk models, and what the industry has learned in the year since communities were forced to rebuild.

Shanna shares how Delos’s wildfire hazard models performed during recent fires, and how better data, automation, and climate-aware science can actually expand insurability rather than restrict it. We discuss the role insurers played in recovery, the emotional weight these moments carry for homeowners, and why understanding the full insurance ecosystem is essential to creating equitable, sustainable solutions. What stayed with me most was Shanna’s belief that curiosity is a catalyst for progress: when we truly understand risk, we can price it more fairly, respond faster, and design coverage that meets people where they are, especially when they need it most.

In my final 2025 collaboration episode with ISC Group, I interviewed Alisa Grafton for a timely and intriguing conversation about Generation Z and how their digital-first upbringing is reshaping the workplace. Alisa breaks down what truly sets Gen Z apart, from being the first generation to never know an analog world, to growing up amid constant global crises and identity-driven conversations around diversity and authenticity. We talked about how this exposure has shaped a generation that is purpose-driven, entrepreneurial, and deeply values transparency, while also sometimes struggling to build offline connections in a hyper-connected world.

We also dug into the real challenges leaders are facing as Gen Z enters the workforce, especially after the pandemic disrupted traditional professional development. Alisa debunks common myths, reframing Gen Z as pragmatic, transactional, and intentional about where they invest their energy. Our conversation explores how this generation is rewriting workplace rules through flexibility, side hustles, and reverse mentorship, and what leaders can do to meet them where they are.

In this episode, I interview Carrie Conejo, Executive Vice President of Client Services at C3. Carrie shares her journey from claims into leadership, and how building systems, processes, and efficiencies became her way of supporting the people who serve clients every day. We also talk about the impact of a supportive company culture, leadership that models positive behavior, and colleagues who work passionately towards the company's goals and have fun while doing it.

My favorite part of my conversation with Carrie was her openness about life outside of work. As a remote professional long before it became common, she shares how that flexibility allowed her to show up fully for her youngest son, who has Down Syndrome, and how navigating therapy schedules, appointments, and milestones deepened her understanding of what real support looks like in the workplace. We talk about the power of finding “your people,” of getting into the room with others who understand your stage of life, and of leadership that lifts, not stifles, talent. Carrie is someone whose honesty, heart, and operational brilliance shine through in everything she does.