Agency Leadership in the Age of AI: Kicking Off the ACT 2026 Tech Trends Report

In this special kickoff episode tied to the release of the “2026 Big ‘I’ Agents Council for Technology Tech Trends Report,” Kasey Connors, executive director of the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT), is joined by Andy Siegel, president of Siegel Insurance, and Michael Mellars, President and COO of Legacy Risk Solutions and members of the ACT National Committee. Together, they unpack what made 2025 a turning point for the insurance industry, from the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to a broader mindset shift that brought technology into leadership-level business conversations. “Technology moved from the back office into leadership conversations. It’s no longer about what tools exist—it’s about how technology impacts profitability, staffing, risk and long-term sustainability,” Connors notes. The discussion explores how agencies of all sizes are navigating change management, evaluating new tools and balancing AI with the human touch. From direct bill reconciliation and AI-powered call summaries to policy checking and workflow automation, Siegel and Mellars share real-world examples of what’s working and what agencies should focus on in 2026. This episode sets the stage for the ACT Tech Trends Report, which combines agent research with insights from carriers and technology partners. Check out the full report here: Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

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Agency Leadership in the Age of AI: Kicking Off the ACT 2026 Tech Trends Report is an episode from Agency Nation Radio - Insurance Marketing, Sales and Technology by Agency Nation - Insurance Marketing and Technology Strategists.

This episode is 33:19 long.

This episode was published on Feb 18, 2026.

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