The insurance industry has been progressing remarkably, adapting to meet the changing needs of society and businesses. It has grown beyond its traditional role of risk transfer to become a critical enabler of economic stability and innovation. The industry offers improved customer experiences, streamlined operations, and enhanced risk management by integrating advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and data analytics. The importance of insurance extends beyond financial security; it serves as a foundation for economic resilience, empowering individuals, businesses, and governments to face uncertainties and plan confidently. This evolution underscores the industry’s role in driving progress across sectors, ensuring its continued relevance and impact.

Tetiana George, the CEO and Co-founder of Curium is redefining how technology intersects with insurance to create meaningful solutions. Alongside, she is actively working as a Director of the Board for Insurtech Australia; a national not-for-profit organisation representing ~96 Australian insurtechs and over 150 partners. Her leadership is characterized by a results-oriented approach underpinned by a profound understanding of the sector’s intricacies and challenges. Tetiana’s unique perspective, shaped by her global experience and deep commitment to addressing core industry issues, drives her to focus on innovation and problem-solving. She prioritizes transparency and collaboration within her team, ensuring a culture that values ownership and resilience. This leadership philosophy has positioned her as influential in advancing technological adoption within the insurance sector.

Curium, an Insurtech firm based in Australia, specializes in claims management and regulatory compliance, offering nimble, intelligent solutions tailored to the needs of insurers. The company’s commitment to addressing the industry’s most pressing problems has made it a trusted partner for global insurers. By combining a customer centric approach with a robust innovation framework, Curium delivers scalable, impactful technologies that streamline processes and improve service delivery. With a vision to integrate Insurtech into the mainstream toolkit for insurers, Curium continues to push boundaries and shape the industry’s future.

Let’s explore Tetiana’s customer centric approach in the insurance industry:

Addressing Compliance and Claims Challenges

Tetiana is the CEO and Co-founder of Curium, an Insurtech specializing in claims and regulatory compliance operating in Australia. Her insurance career started at BCG (Boston Consulting Group) in Switzerland in 2011. Since then, she has worked in more than 20 countries for the largest global insurers. Her passion for insurance comes from her upbringing in Ukraine, where insurance is a luxury, not a standard.

Having worked for large insurers for many years, she realized they often lack nimble and innovative technology to help them with some of the most challenging problems (like compliance and claims). Having developed deep technical expertise and a good understanding of how technology can help firms, she started Curium to help insurers serve their clients better, faster, and cheaper.

Developing Optimal and Scalable Solutions

As CEO, she sets the company’s strategic direction and runs day-to-day operations. Her favorite part of the job is ongoing innovation. Tetiana was fortunate to assemble a great team of talented individuals who love a good challenge. They spend much time talking to their customers and sometimes embedding themselves into their businesses. They want not only to understand their problems but to solve them. Once they develop a good understanding of the problem, they put their minds together to find the most optimal and scalable solution to their problems. This is how innovation is born. They use first principles and their innovation framework to develop practical and scalable solutions.

Complementary Skillsets and Shared Values

Tetiana has embraced “radical transparency” with her team. They face challenges together, go through tough times, and make decisions together. They all have complementary skill sets, but they share a set of common values—hard work, ownership, and going the extra mile for each customer, no matter how big or small.

Partnering with a Long-Term Strategic Investor

Curium had a rough 2022 year when Tetiana and her team tried raising a VC round. It was a great learning experience of how not to do things. As a result of the challenges, Curium has pivoted to a more straightforward product proposition with a shorter sales cycle and partnered with a long-term strategic investor.

Prioritizing Focus Over Comfort

She does not believe in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She works a lot. Her secret to success is to “outwork everyone else.” Outside of work, she spends time with her children and husband. She loves painting and being outdoors when she gets some time, but she has little time for anything but work and family. Her advice to anyone is to get their priorities right and to focus. Nothing great ever comes from a point of comfort and balance. Honestly successful people are rarely balanced—they are usually itching for more.

Driving Change with Technology

Tetiana believes that personal inspiration is unnecessary. Curium’s work and its impact on clients are highly motivating. Observing how Curium’s technology enhances business operations and positively transforms practices is almost intoxicating. The drive is rooted in effects.

Key Advice for Aspiring Insurtech Entrepreneurs

She states that Insurtech is a challenging business. Outside the US, it is significantly underfinanced and not well understood. Succeeding in what is often described as a “niche” is problematic. Tetiana’s advice includes:

• Ask yourself what motivates you and if Insurtech is the right area for you.
• Be prepared for long sales cycles and difficult investment conversations.
• Never underestimate the power of deep insurance expertise (don’t try to fake it).
• If you succeed, the upside is substantial and “sticky” (revenues and reputation are usually long term)

International Expansion Goals

Tetiana hopes that the term “Insurtech” becomes a standard toolkit for every mainstream insurer. She wishes for the industry to embrace new technology and adopt it more quickly. Curium’s goals for the next year are to expand internationally and continue growing.