Name: Greg Milbach
Title: AVP – Technology Assurance & Service Management, EMC Insurance Companies
Base: Des Moines, Iowa
How did you become involved with ID Federation and SignOn Once? I had the opportunity to become involved after I joined EMC Insurance Companies, which had been participating with SignOn Once for a number of years.
Why are you passionate about SignOn Once? What excites me is that it’s not just a technical solution. There’s a lot of technology out there already. SignOn Once by ID Federation is a more holistic approach that helps address the challenges associated with adopting single sign-on capability. SignOn Once helps leverage technology to make doing business easier.
What do you love most about the industry? Coming from the technology side, I like the opportunities ahead of us with new and emerging technologies.
I also have one observation about technology. There are a lot of opportunities and new tech capabilities out there. But we need to keep in mind that we are in a people business — we need to keep our focus on how to realize the benefits that these technologies can bring to people. This is why SignOn Once is so important — because the focus is on how to make things easier.
What is something about the technology side of the industry that you would like to share with others? Insurance will be able to benefit from technology developments that aren’t unique to our industry. Areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and smart contracts are technology-headline buzzwords, but they’re showing real potential in the insurance industry. They can improve existing processes and capabilities, and create new opportunities.
What book, author, or podcast has inspired you? I read a lot of books about technology and information security. Recently read a couple of Gary John Bishop’s books. The colorful language of his titles caught my attention when browsing at the airport a while back. His messages focus on personal development, why we think the way we think, how we hold ourselves back, and how to get out of your own head to move forward.
