EPISODE · Aug 30, 2023 · 46 MIN
Jacqueline Legrand: The Pioneer of Weather Insurance
from Scouting for Growth · host Sabine VdL
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Jacqueline Legrand, a name that resonates with transformative leadership in the global insurance industry. From orchestrating the radical transformation of Brokerslink to co-founding Maptycs, an InsurTech firm that is redefining how we perceive weather risk analysis and risk exposures, Jacqueline's legacy is nothing short of extraordinary. With her finger firmly on the pulse of digital transformation, she advocates for a harmonious marriage between technology and insurance. We're about to delve into a narrative riddled with transformative milestones, insights into the potential of geospatial analytics, and the challenges and triumphs of revolutionising an industry steeped in tradition. KEY TAKEAWAYS I started my career in corporate with IBM. After 8 years, I moved into insurance, fell in love, and spent a big chunk of my career as a broker working on complex property programmes, where the idea for Maptycs (mapping and analytics) was born. I really believe that independent broker networks have a compelling proposition today in the global brokerage industry, as local brokers are deeply rooted in their local industry and culture. The big thing I’ve learned and will always use is: What is the vision and the value proposition for each and every stakeholder? What is the business model? What is the execution plan? What is the road map? We saw an acceleration in natural disasters driven by climate change, alongside an explosion of high-quality location intelligence data. Timing is key in any startup company. The challenge was with all these claims and losses, and with the data that could be used to make better assessments, pricing, and risk mitigation. This is what we do at Maptycs: integrate our clients' portfolios alongside à la carte external data. BEST MOMENTS ‘Make sure, as a global broker, you build programmes for your client/global reach manager that are not only in line with their strategy, but also align with the local market practices and regulations.’ ‘Your colleagues on the ground play a critical role, and you need them whether it is to negotiate local coverage or to work on a claim with the local expert or adjuster.’ ‘We really enable corporate insurance brokers to have a good assessment of their product risk exposure because now they can see either one location at a time or accumulation across their portfolio, and they can mix and match their data with risk data.’ ABOUT THE GUEST With a footprint that stretches over 30 years across the global insurance tapestry, Jacqueline Legrand stands as a testament to transformative leadership in the industry. From the bustling markets of the US to the dynamic terrains of Brazil, France, and Portugal, her journey in C-suite and Board-level roles has solidified her as a luminary in insurance. As the CEO and co-founder of the groundbreaking InsurTech firm, Maptycs, Jacqueline is at the forefront of revolutionising property risk exposures. Through the lens of advanced geospatial analytics, she's reshaping the way commercial insurance providers approach weather risk analysis. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine VanderLinden is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur and the CEO of Alchemy Crew Ventures. She leads venture-client labs that help Fortune 500 companies adopt and scale cutting-edge technologies from global tech ventures. A builder of accelerators, investor, and co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, Sabine is known for asking the uncomfortable questions—about AI governance, risk, and trust. On Scouting for Growth, she decodes how real growth happens—where capital, collaboration, and courage meet. If this episode sparked your thinking, follow Sabine VanderLinden on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for more insights. And if you’re interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to the team at [email protected]
What this episode covers
What if the future of insurance risk isn’t hidden in spreadsheets—but visible, spatial, and actionable in real time? In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VdL sits down with Jacqueline Legrand, one of the most influential transformation leaders in global insurance, to explore how technology, data, and local expertise are converging to redefine risk understanding. This is not a conversation about incremental change—it’s about re-engineering how insurance sees the world. Jacqueline’s journey spans more than three decades across continents, roles, and market cycles. She began her career at IBM before moving into insurance—where she fell in love with the complexity of global property programmes. It was there, in the practical realities of broking complex risks, that the seeds of Maptycs were planted. The problem was clear long before the technology caught up: insurers lacked a holistic, visual way to understand risk exposure across locations and portfolios. The conversation quickly turns to independent broker networks and why they remain strategically powerful in a globalised market. Jacqueline argues that local brokers bring irreplaceable value—deep knowledge of local industries, regulations, and cultural nuances—while global platforms provide scale and consistency. The future, she suggests, lies in connecting these strengths rather than choosing between them. A defining insight from the episode is Jacqueline’s leadership discipline. Every transformation, she insists, starts with four questions: What is the vision? What is the value proposition for each stakeholder? What is the business model? And how will it be executed? Without that clarity, technology becomes noise rather than leverage. Timing plays a crucial role in innovation—and Maptycs emerged at a pivotal moment. Climate change has accelerated the frequency and severity of natural disasters just as high-quality location intelligence data has exploded. The industry was facing rising claims, mounting losses, and unprecedented data availability—but lacked the tools to connect them meaningfully. Maptycs addresses that gap by integrating clients’ portfolios with curated external data, enabling brokers and insurers to assess individual locations or aggregated exposures across entire portfolios. Geospatial analytics becomes the quiet hero of the discussion. By visualising risk spatially, insurance professionals can move from reactive loss management to proactive risk mitigation. Corporate brokers gain clearer insight into exposure concentrations, while insurers can price more accurately and engage clients in more informed conversations about resilience. Throughout the episode, one theme remains constant: technology doesn’t replace expertise—it amplifies it. Local colleagues, on-the-ground specialists, and adjusters remain essential. What changes is their ability to act with better information, faster insight, and greater confidence. This episode is essential listening for insurance executives, brokers, risk leaders, and InsurTech founders navigating climate volatility, portfolio complexity, and digital transformation. It’s a reminder that innovation in insurance isn’t about abandoning tradition—it’s about equipping it for a more volatile world. Because when risk becomes visible, decisions become smarter—and resilience becomes a strategy. And that’s exactly what Scouting for Growth is here to uncover.
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Jacqueline Legrand: The Pioneer of Weather Insurance
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