Embroker Innovation, Technology & Agility

What’s your professional or academic background? How did you break into the tech industry?
My career path hasn’t been linear, but every step prepared me for where I am today. I studied business marketing and management at Penn State and spent over 10 years in the insurance industry in sales, marketing and leadership roles. While working as a broker at Brown & Brown, I became increasingly interested in how technology could change the game for insurance.
At Embroker, I initially supported our traditional MGA arm, while our direct side led innovation with insurance tech. That contrast motivated me to pursue a master of computer and information technology through UPenn, blending my industry experience with technical expertise. What started as curiosity about engineering led me to dive deeper into AI — especially after learning about its fascinating history and real-world potential.

How did you learn how to use AI, and how do you apply it to your work?
I gained a strong foundation in AI through UPenn’s MCIT program, with coursework in machine learning, natural language processing and deep learning. My academic work gave me both the technical depth and context to start building practical AI tools, and I supplemented that learning with hands-on experimentation using open-source platforms.

Beyond coursework, I joined group projects and online student communities, where real collaboration helped bridge theory and application. That learning now shows up daily in my work at Embroker — especially in projects like our AI Underwriter, which was built to streamline the quoting process. That tool even earned a tech innovation nomination from Business Insurance Magazine, which was a great moment for our team.

What do you consider the greatest benefit of leveraging AI? How has it positively impacted the work you produce as a whole or your career?
The greatest benefits of leveraging AI lie in its capacity to enhance operational efficiency, foster innovative solutions and bridge communication across diverse organizational functions.

Understanding the underlying science of AI allows for more effective utilization, transforming it from a misunderstood phenomenon into a powerful and approachable toolkit. It’s similar to how understanding the mechanics and construction of a car inherently enhances a race car driver’s performance — making sure one grasps the science behind AI is critical to leveraging it fully.
AI has significantly advanced my professional capabilities by enhancing strategic decision-making, streamlining operations and fostering innovation within the insurance and technology sectors. My background in sales and sales management enables me to leverage my skill set creatively, enhancing my ability to integrate AI-driven solutions in practical and impactful ways.