--- title: "Profiles in Risk – E60: Trent Cooksley: Head of Open Innovation at Markel Corp – “Take The Bull By The Horns” - InsNerds.com" description: "SUBSCRIBE AT: Buzzsprout RSS: https://goo.gl/5K4X3Q Google Play: https://goo.gl/WMAvW4 iTunes: https://goo.gl/7SqwvP Overcast: https://goo.gl/8b4cbD Spotify: https://goo.gl/niAbGN Stitcher: https://goo.gl/DmE7Mi YouTube: https://goo.gl/1Turar In this episode of Profiles in Risk, I speak with Trent Cooksley who is the head of open innovation at Markel Corp. Markel is a large insuance company, with a global presence, and Trent is in charge of" image: https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lamparelli-100x100-Jan-03-2025-02-36-07-3231-AM.jpg --- 2 min read # Profiles in Risk – E60: Trent Cooksley: Head of Open Innovation at Markel Corp – “Take The Bull By The Horns” [![Picture of Nicholas Lamparelli](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Nick%20Lamparelli(Headshot%20GS).jpg) Nicholas Lamparelli ](https://insnerds.com/insights/author/nicholas-lamparelli) : Feb 18, 2018 12:00:00 AM [Podcast](https://insnerds.com/insights/tag/podcast) ![Profiles in Risk – E60: Trent Cooksley: Head of Open Innovation at Markel Corp – “Take The Bull By The Horns”](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lamparelli-100x100-Jan-03-2025-02-36-07-3231-AM.jpg) Audio Player [https://www.buzzsprout.com/87086/645542-e60-trent-cooksley-head-of-open-innovation-at-markel-corp.mp3](https://www.buzzsprout.com/87086/645542-e60-trent-cooksley-head-of-open-innovation-at-markel-corp.mp3) 00:00 00:00 00:00 Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume. **SUBSCRIBE AT: [Buzzsprout RSS: https://goo.gl/5K4X3Q](https://goo.gl/5K4X3Q)**** [Google Play: https://goo.gl/WMAvW4](https://goo.gl/WMAvW4)**** ****[iTunes: https://goo.gl/7SqwvP](https://goo.gl/7SqwvP)**** [Overcast: https://goo.gl/8b4cbD](https://goo.gl/8b4cbD) ****[Spotify: https://goo.gl/niAbGN](https://goo.gl/niAbGN) [Stitcher: https://goo.gl/DmE7Mi](https://goo.gl/DmE7Mi)** **[YouTube: https://goo.gl/1Turar](https://goo.gl/1Turar)**     In this episode of Profiles in Risk, I speak with [Trent Cooksley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-cooksley-0ab17b1/) who is the head of open innovation at [Markel Corp](http://www.markelcorp.com/). Markel is a large insuance company, with a global presence, and Trent is in charge of exploring new technologies and innovation. We discuss the insurtech scene, how Trent filters the large (and ever growing) list of new technologies and companies. Trent also goes into how startups can be being successful (“take the bull by the horns”) and how important it is for startups to find an internal corporate champion and how to sell their ideas. **CONNECT WITH TRENT COOKSLEY:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-cooksley-0ab17b1/) **DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:** [insurance-utility-insurtech-catalyst-george-kesselman/">The similarities of an insurance company to an electric utility “](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/%3Cspan%20class=)Don’t boil the ocean” “Learn how to sell” “Find a champion”   **BOOKS RECOMMENDED ON THE SHOW**   ![](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lamparelli-100x100-Jan-03-2025-02-36-07-3231-AM.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=Lamparelli-100x100-Jan-03-2025-02-36-07-3231-AM.jpg) ### About Nicholas Lamparelli Nick Lamparelli is a 20+ year veteran of the insurance wars. He has a unique vantage point on the insurance industry. From selling home & auto insurance, helping companies with commercial insurance, to being an underwriter with an excess & surplus lines wholesaler to catastrophe modeling Nick has wide experience in the industry. Over past 10 years, Nick has been focused on the insurance analytics of natural catastrophes and big data. Nick serves as our Chief Evangelist. - [![](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/linkedin-Jan-03-2025-02-36-10-9744-AM.png) ![](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/linkedin-Jan-03-2025-02-36-10-9744-AM.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicklamparelli) - ![](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/wordpress-Jan-03-2025-02-36-07-8558-AM.png) ![](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/wordpress-Jan-03-2025-02-36-07-8558-AM.png) ![](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lamparelli-150x150-Jan-03-2025-02-36-06-2601-AM.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Lamparelli-150x150-Jan-03-2025-02-36-06-2601-AM.jpg) ##### [ Nicholas Lamparelli](https://insnerds.com/author/nick-lamparelli/) + posts Nick Lamparelli is a 20+ year veteran of the insurance wars. He has a unique vantage point on the insurance industry. From selling home & auto insurance, helping companies with commercial insurance, to being an underwriter with an excess & surplus lines wholesaler to catastrophe modeling Nick has wide experience in the industry. Over past 10 years, Nick has been focused on the insurance analytics of natural catastrophes and big data. Nick serves as our Chief Evangelist. - ** [From Teacher to Tech: How SettleStream Cuts Litigation Time and Costs - A Discussion with Chrysa Jones, COO](https://insnerds.com/from-teacher-to-tech-how-settlestream-cuts-litigation-time-and-costs-a-discussion-with-chrysa-jones-coo/) - ** [My Battle With Sleep Demons (and How I Overcame It 🤞)](https://insnerds.com/my-battle-with-sleep-demons-and-how-i-overcame-it-%f0%9f%a4%9e/) - ** [Exploring the History of Citizens Insurance Company of Florida: From Inception to Present - AoB Podcast](https://insnerds.com/20638-2/) - ** [The Importance of Security in Workflow For Insurance Agents & Brokers (AoB Podcast with Taylor Pascoe of ShareFile)](https://insnerds.com/the-importance-of-security-in-workflow-for-insurance-agents-brokers-aob-podcast-with-taylor-pascoe-of-sharefile/) ### Related Posts - [Profiles in Risk - E46: Abel Travis on Insurance, Innovation and Podcasting](https://insnerds.com/profiles-risk-e46-abel-travis-insurance-innovation-podcasting/) SUBSCRIBE AT: Buzzsprout RSS: https://goo.gl/5K4X3Q Google Play: https://goo.gl/WMAvW4 iTunes: https://goo.gl/7SqwvP Overcast: https://goo.gl/8b4cbD Spotify: https://goo.gl/niAbGN Stitcher: https://goo.gl/DmE7Mi YouTube:… - [![](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/PARLogo-150x150-Jan-03-2025-02-34-57-6354-AM.jpeg?width=150&height=150&name=PARLogo-150x150-Jan-03-2025-02-34-57-6354-AM.jpeg) ![](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/PARLogo-150x150-Jan-03-2025-02-34-57-6354-AM.jpeg?width=150&height=150&name=PARLogo-150x150-Jan-03-2025-02-34-57-6354-AM.jpeg) ](https://insnerds.com/podcast-e5/) [Profiles in Risk - Episode 5 - All about Innovation in Insurance](https://insnerds.com/podcast-e5/) or Subscribe. Show Notes: The Medici Effect by Frans Johansson. Kill the Company by Lisa Rodell. Insurify… - [Profiles in Risk - Episode 11 - Telematics and Innovation](https://insnerds.com/profiles-risk-episode-11-telematics-innovation/) or Subscribe. Show Notes Mateo's article: http://insurancethoughtleadership.com/the-new-paradigm-of-connected-insurance/ Sold cars for 5 years:    Luke Skywalker going… [**Share](https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Finsnerds.com%2Fprofiles-risk-trent-cooksley-head-open-innovation-markel-corp-take-bull-horns%2F%3Futm_source%3Dlinkedin%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3DSocialWarfare) [**Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Profiles+in+Risk+-+E60%3A+Trent+Cooksley%3A+Head+of+Open+Innovation+at+Markel+Corp+-+%22Take+The+Bull+By+The+Horns%22&url=https%3A%2F%2Finsnerds.com%2Fprofiles-risk-trent-cooksley-head-open-innovation-markel-corp-take-bull-horns%2F%3Futm_source%3Dtwitter%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3DSocialWarfare&via=InsNerds) [**Share](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finsnerds.com%2Fprofiles-risk-trent-cooksley-head-open-innovation-markel-corp-take-bull-horns%2F%3Futm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3DSocialWarfare) [**Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Finsnerds.com%2Fprofiles-risk-trent-cooksley-head-open-innovation-markel-corp-take-bull-horns%2F%3Futm_source%3Dreddit%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3DSocialWarfare) [**Email](mailto:?subject=Profiles%20in%20Risk%20-%20E60%3A%20Trent%20Cooksley%3A%20Head%20of%20Open%20Innovation%20at%20Markel%20Corp%20-%20%22Take%20The%20Bull%20By%20The%20Horns%22&body=SUBSCRIBE%20AT%3A%20Buzzsprout%20RSS%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2F5K4X3Q%20Google%20Play%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FWMAvW4%20iTunes%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2F7SqwvP%20Overcast%3A%C2%A0https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2F8b4cbD%20Spotify%3A%C2%A0https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FniAbGN%20Stitcher%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FDmE7Mi%20YouTube%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2F1Turar%20%26nbsp%3B%20%26nbsp%3B%20In%20this%20episode%20of%20Profiles%20in%20Risk%2C%20I%20speak%20with%20Trent%20Cooksley%20who%20is%20the%20head%20of%20open%20innovation%20at%20Markel%20Corp.%20Markel%20is%20a%20large%20insuance%C2%A0company%2C%20with%20a%20global%20presence%2C%20and%20Trent%20is%20in%20charge%20of%0D%0A%0D%0ARead%20More%20Here:%20%20https%3A%2F%2Finsnerds.com%2Fprofiles-risk-trent-cooksley-head-open-innovation-markel-corp-take-bull-horns%2F%3Futm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3DSocialWarfare) [![Profiles in Risk – E41: John Bachmann on How He Makes A Difference In People’s Lives, Via Claims](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lamparelli-100x100-Jan-03-2025-02-54-17-0183-AM.jpg) ](https://insnerds.com/insights/profiles-risk-e41-john-bachmann-makes-difference-lives-using-claims) 2 min read #### [Profiles in Risk – E41: John Bachmann on How He Makes A Difference In People’s Lives, Via Claims](https://insnerds.com/insights/profiles-risk-e41-john-bachmann-makes-difference-lives-using-claims) ![Picture of Nicholas Lamparelli](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Nick%20Lamparelli(Headshot%20GS).jpg?width=30&name=Nick%20Lamparelli(Headshot%20GS).jpg) [Nicholas Lamparelli](https://insnerds.com/insights/author/nicholas-lamparelli) : Nov 19, 2017 12:00:00 AM Profiles in Risk – E41: John Bachmann on How He Makes A Difference In People’s Lives, Via Claims by Nicholas Lamparelli Listen here: Audio... 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[Podcast](https://insnerds.com/insights/tag/podcast) [Read More](https://insnerds.com/insights/podcast-e31) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=7110236&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Nicholas Lamparelli", "url" : "https://insnerds.com/insights/author/nicholas-lamparelli" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-03T02:37:53.251Z", "datePublished" : "2018-02-18T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Profiles in Risk – E60: Trent Cooksley: Head of Open Innovation at Markel Corp – “Take The Bull By The Horns” - InsNerds.com", "image" : [ "https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lamparelli-100x100-Jan-03-2025-02-36-07-3231-AM.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://insnerds.com/insights/profiles-risk-trent-cooksley-head-open-innovation-markel-corp-take-bull-horns", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://insnerds.com/hubfs/InsNerds%20Large%20print%20quality.png" }, "name" : "Insurance Nerds" } } ```