Innovation Through Conversation: Bill Harris

Episode summary This one’s a deliberate tangent. Not away from insurance, but out to the place where the industry comes together to argue, learn, sell, build… and occasionally rethink itself.My guest is Bill Harris, co-founder and Chief Customer Officer of InsureTech Connect (ITC) — the largest gathering of insurance innovation in the world. We talked about how ITC started (including the very “sliding doors” origin story), what it takes to build something at that scale, why the pandemic actually accelerated the need for face-to-face community, and what Bill hopes his legacy is beyond “the conference guy in Vegas.”What we coverBill’s early ambition to be a news anchor, and the moment that dream changedThe real origin story of ITC — and why Bill says it wasn’t even his ideaBuilding the first ITC in roughly 180 days (yes, really)Why the 1-to-1 meeting zone became the “most valuable real estate” in the expo hallThe year ITC almost didn’t go ahead — and the weight of that decision in 2017When ITC shifted from “a big event” to part of the industry’s innovation infrastructurePost-pandemic: why community came roaring back, and why ITC acceleratedBill’s take on signal vs noise (and the “AI sticker” problem)What success at ITC actually looks like for founders and leaders: connections, conversations, networkDesigning an experience that works for everyone from solo founders to carrier CEOsThe content responsibility: how ITC topics can shape Q4 planning and next-year budgetsBill’s legacy: being remembered as a connector and bridge builderLinks / where to find Bill & ITCITC Vegas: vegas.insuretechconnect.comBill on LinkedIn: Bill Harris (ITC Vegas)If you enjoyed this episode… Share it with someone who’s never been to ITC but keeps saying they’ll go “next year.” And if you’re going in 2026, come say hello — we might just do Humanizing Insurance live from Vegas.Humanizing 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.