EPISODE · Mar 28, 2024 · 1H 9M
Yannick Even: A GenAI Visionary and the Future of Work
from Scouting for Growth · host Sabine VdL
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Yannick Even, a visionary at the intersection of AI, analytics and Generative AI. With over two decades of experience in transforming global organizations into data-driven powerhouses, Yannick's journey has taken him from the corridors of management consulting across Europe and Asia to pioneering roles at Swiss Re, where he led the charge in integrating innovative tech and data insurance products into the market. KEY TAKEAWAYS Insurance is very traditional. Even 15 years ago there were a lot of forms, paper, very siloed. Nobody could really track a customer throughout their journey, everyone was very focused on their part of the journey. This is also true in terms of technology and data. It created a lot of misunderstanding for the customers & even the brokers about the future of insurance & how to leverage technology & data. This resulted in a lot of data gaps in the core of the system, from CRM to data management. It’s taken until recently for the industry to realize we need to do much better. In the last 5 years at Swiss Re, I’ve witnessed & been part of a transformation to a data-driven company. We built a common data foundation where we agreed on even the common definition of data, built a catalog of data and assigned data custodians. On top of this foundation, we built the governance layer & tried to take out the silos making data available to everyone, not stuck behind barriers. The most important layer was the cultural layer, around the people, we upskilled them around data and AI literacy. You need to really understand the market, I've seen too many people build fancy solutions with the latest technology available, but not spending enough time checking the product is what the customer needs. BEST MOMENTS ‘Customer expectations are used now to have a much more engaging, personalized digital interaction with banks, retail, restaurant, any service which is at their fingertips.’ ‘Data transformation is the base to start the journey in AI enablement. If your data isn't in the right shape, you can't leverage the value AI can bring.’ 'We look at where tech & data can augment & bring value at scale into the way we do business.’ ‘Not every problem will be solved by GenAI, there are a lot of problems that traditional AI will solve. It's also important to understand which problem will be solved by which technology & make it efficient across all the different parameters.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Yannick Even is a distinguished expert with over two decades of experience in transforming global organizations into data-driven powerhouses, emphasizing the responsible use of Data & AI. His journey in management consulting spanned 18 years across Europe and Asia, including a 5-year tenure at KPMG China. Recognized as a thought leader in Insurtech, Generative AI (GenAI), & Responsible AI solutions, Yannick has garnered a following of over 12,000 innovators worldwide. Currently based in Zurich, he is leveraging his vast expertise in dual endeavors. He is at the forefront of developing top-tier Generative AI upskilling programs for corporates, including The Digital Insurer Global GenAI Explorer program supported by Microsoft. 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
Insurance doesn’t have a technology problem. It has a data, culture, and execution problem. In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden sits down with Yannick Even, a seasoned leader at the intersection of AI, analytics, and Generative AI, to unpack what it really takes to turn a traditional insurance organisation into a data-driven powerhouse. With more than 20 years of experience spanning management consulting across Europe and Asia—and pivotal leadership roles at Swiss Re—Yannick has seen the industry from the inside out. Forms. Paper. Silos. Fragmented customer journeys. Technology layered on top of broken foundations. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. For years, insurers focused on optimising their slice of the value chain, not the end-to-end customer experience. The result? • Data gaps at the core of systems • CRM tools that don’t talk to underwriting or claims • Brokers and customers left guessing • And a growing disconnect between what technology could do and what organisations were actually delivering Yannick explains why data transformation is not an AI project—it’s a business transformation. At Swiss Re, the turning point wasn’t launching shiny new tools. It was going back to basics: Agreeing on common definitions of data Building a shared data foundation and catalog Assigning data custodianship Designing governance that enabled access instead of blocking it But here’s the part most organisations underestimate: 👉 The hardest layer wasn’t technical—it was cultural. Upskilling teams in data and AI literacy, breaking silos, and making data everyone’s business—not just IT’s—was what unlocked real value. Only then could AI move from experimentation to impact at scale. The conversation also tackles one of the biggest traps in today’s GenAI gold rush: Building “fancy” solutions without deeply understanding customer needs. Yannick has seen it too many times—cutting-edge tech deployed in search of a problem. His rule is simple and uncomfortable: If you don’t understand the market and the customer pain point, no amount of GenAI will save your product. Not every problem needs Generative AI. Some are better solved with traditional AI. Some don’t need AI at all. The winners will be the organisations—and founders—who know which technology to apply, where, and why, instead of chasing headlines. This episode is a must-listen if you are: An insurance or reinsurance leader navigating AI adoption A founder building data-driven products for regulated industries A corporate executive serious about moving from pilots to scale An innovation leader tired of tech theatre and hungry for results Because the future of insurance won’t be defined by who adopts AI first. It will be defined by who gets their data, culture, and customer understanding right—and then lets AI do what it does best. As Yannick reminds us: AI doesn’t replace strategy. It amplifies it—if the foundations are solid.
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Yannick Even: A GenAI Visionary and the Future of Work
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