Engineering Communities: Paolo Cuomo

Engineering Communities: Paolo CuomoWhen Paolo Cuomo planned for a life designing and building tangible things - bridges, buildings, “real stuff” - he didn’t expect to fall for an industry that makes nothing you can touch. But in the grey areas of specialty risk and the human handshake of EC3, he found something else: a place where engineering discipline meets portfolio uncertainty, and where communities change careers.In this episode, Paolo (Executive Director, Gallagher; co-founder of Instech London; Lloyd’s Lab founding team) traces the path from Imperial College engineering to McKinsey problem-solving to building businesses and communities that have shaped today’s insurance ecosystem. We talk about the real origins of “InsurTech” (and why he still loves “Instech”), London’s “unfair advantage” of proximity, and the very human reason insurance matters: it quietly enables progress - ship voyages, chip factories, sprinkler retrofits - then steps out of the spotlight.We also get personal: the cost of doing too much, what a real priority list looks like, and why Paolo is calling 2026 “the Year of Paolo.” Underneath it all is a builder’s mindset: lay better foundations, connect people who should meet, and measure success by what stands years later.In this conversationEngineering vs. insurance: structure, uncertainty, and where they clash, and complementWhy more data sometimes adds confusion (lessons from the first InsureTech wave)Instech London’s beginnings, the hashtag wars, and the power of communityLondon’s proximity effect: why EC3 creates serendipity other hubs can’t easily replicateMGAs as the innovation chassis: letting humans + tools ship value fasterInsurance as quiet social good: sprinklers, cyber posture, and enabling big betsFocus, boundaries, and “The Year of Paolo”: doing fewer things, betterLegacy: builder of communities, businesses, and relationships that lastHumanizing Insurance is bought to you by Daniel Grimwood-Bird. It's a passion project, driven by the evergreen phrase 'Insurance is a people industry'.Through each conversation, we explore the stories, experiences, and ideas that make our world of insurance more human - from the pioneers and innovators shaping its future to the quiet leaders who hold its traditions together.This podcast exists to remind us that behind every policy, premium, and claim is a person, someone making decisions, taking risks, and protecting what matters most.If these stories resonate with you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a colleague or friend who still believes in the people side of this business.You can also connect with Daniel on LinkedIn to continue the conversation, recommend guests, or request a topic that you'd like to know more about.Humanizing Insurance — one conversation at a time.