The annual Zywave Cyber Risk Insights Conference is one of the insurance industry’s most prestigious thought leadership events, where industry leaders gather to tackle the sector’s most pressing challenges and outline what’s next. In a powerful keynote at this year’s conference, which took place on October 29, Neeti Bhalla Johnson, President of Global Risk Solutions at Liberty Mutual, framed cyber insurance as the industry’s “defining test of trust and growth in the digital age.” These three takeaways from her keynote could reshape how insurers think about growth, trust, and innovation.
“Cyber Insurance Must Give the Digital Economy the Courage to Thrive”
Bhalla Johnson, who has been named as one of Insurance Business America’s Elite Women in Insurance, opened with a bold comparison: “Insurance gave the industrial economy the courage to grow. Cyber insurance must give the digital economy the courage to thrive.”
Her message was clear—cyber coverage must evolve to meet the scale and complexity of today’s digital threats. That evolution demands smarter underwriting, clearer policy language, and a deeper understanding of the interconnected risks that are shaping the economy.
Market Stability Requires Collective Action
“Cyber increasingly behaves like a systemic financial risk. Let’s treat it that way,” Bhalla Johnson urged. She emphasized that traditional diversification models fall short in a world of shared digital dependencies.
“Can we keep writing on Monday after a $15 billion industry event, a $50 billion event?” she asked, challenging the industry to adopt rigorous portfolio management and scenario planning.
Innovation Must Be Scalable and Sustainable
To succeed and keep up long-term, innovation must be designed to deliver consistent value. Bhalla Johnson discussed this, cautioning against enhancements that “sell but don’t scale,” noting that innovation without scalability breeds fragility. “Insurance innovation that doesn’t scale is fragility and mistrust disguised as progress,” she said.
She praised the industry’s progress, especially the role of MGAs in expanding access to cyber insurance companies for small and mid-sized businesses, and the increased penetration among large enterprises.
The Future of Cyber Insurance Starts with Leadership
With systemic threats increasing every day and an industry that is constantly changing, strong leadership is the key to weathering the insurance landscape. Johnson, who was honored as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, concluded in her keynote that, “There’s no playbook for the future ahead of us. We get to write the playbooks. It is exciting, it is overwhelming, it is bloody terrifying, but the choices we make today will matter more than ever.”
Zywave is committed to empowering positive transformation in the insurance industry. Our technology solutions help you drive organic growth, streamline operations, and scale with confidence. To stay ahead of the curve, and to learn more about the Zywave Cyber Risk Insights Conference, check in regularly on the Zywave resource library and the Zywave events page.