XPRIMM: Please introduce The Institutes CPCU Society and The Institutes Knowledge Group to our readers and what opportunities it offers insurance professionals.

Traci ADEDEJI: The Institutes CPCU Society is a global community of risk management and insurance professionals dedicated to advancing excellence in the industry. Society offers members opportunities for career growth, networking, and continuing education. With a focus on sharing industry insights, fostering leadership, and building connections, Society supports professionals at every stage in their careers, empowering them to make meaningful contributions to the risk management and insurance fields. CPCU Society membership is open to all professionals and students in risk management and insurance fields.

Spencer VILLWOCK: The Institutes Knowledge Group helps people build foundational, technical and leadership skills to stay ahead of evolving trends in risk management and insurance. We offer more than 25 practical Institutes Designations, including CPCU®, along with topic courses, sample courses for learning in the flow of work, collegiate studies, and executive and leadership education programs, all focused on the business of risk management and insurance.

XPRIMM: Please tell us more about the benefits of holding a CPCU designation and who are the best candidates.

S.V.: CPCU is the risk management and insurance leadership designation. CPCU is rated as the most valuable credential for demonstrating insurance and leadership skills – by 3x more decision-makers than the next best credential, including a company’s own internal professional development.

CPCUs:

• See across the insurance value chain to better solve business problems
• Lead effectively with improved communication and collaboration skills
• Make strategic business decisions based on data
• Tell the story of coverage in an engaging and meaningful way

Additional skills gained by completing CPCU include:

• Identify and analyze costly risks to improve your organization's bottom line
• Recommend risk management approaches to internal and external stakeholders to maximize your organization's strategic potential.
• Solve strategic business challenges with a comprehensive view of the insurance landscape.
• Confidently answer internal and external stakeholder questions with a legal foundation of insurance policies
• Better understand financial statements to gauge an insurer's financial health and assess its strengths and vulnerabilities.
• Use ratios and monetary calculations to determine the financial impact of potential strategies.

Anyone who completes all the requirements of the program can earn CPCU. Typically, we recommend starting the program after being in a risk management or insurance role for 1-2 years.

XPRIMM: What differentiates CPCU from similar academic entities? Why should a candidate prefer the designations available through The Institutes Knowledge Group's programs to other similar/equivalent ones provided by other educational entities?

S.V.: CPCU is more than just a designation - it’s a transformative experience. From the moment you start a CPCU course, you become part of a vibrant community filled with study groups, networking opportunities, and supportive peers ready to share advice.

Once you earn your CPCU, you join over 90,000 professionals from diverse backgrounds who share a passion for risk management, insurance, and lifelong learning. Through the CPCU Society, you can build a strong network and stay at the forefront of industry trends, with access to continuing education through CPCU In Good Standing.

The Institutes Knowledge Group’s educational programs are designed for the busy professional, with application-based courses that fit into your schedule and build skills across all technical areas and experience levels. Our micro-courses offer quick, focused learning on specific insurance topics, allowing you to develop skills that you can immediately apply to your work.

XPRIMM: The CPCU Society is affiliated with The Institutes, a leading provider of risk management and insurance education and research, and thus cooperating with other affiliates in different areas of the risk management profession. How does this cooperation work?

S.V.: Our affiliations allow The Institutes to provide a depth and breadth of knowledge and resources to educate, elevate and connect individuals throughout their entire span of their career—from prior to entering the professional workforce and even after retirement.

Our diverse ecosystem of 19 brands and affiliates empowers individuals and organizations with risk management and insurance knowledge so they can:

• Build the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions
• Better serve those who rely on risk management and insurance services and, when needed, help them overcome the unexpected
• Empower professionals to succeed at every stage of their careers
• Prepare for the future of risk management and insurance

We deliver on our vision through our brands and affiliates by leveraging our 110+ years of experience as an educational not-for-profit.

No matter your level of interest in or experience with risk management and insurance services, we offer a full spectrum of knowledge-building opportunities globally, including:

• Continuing Education Credits
• Courses
• Custom Programs
• Designations and Certificate Programs
• Executive and Leadership Development
• Events
• Microlearning
• Professional Networks
• Scholarships
• Thought Leadership and Research

XPRIMM: CPCU Society defines itself as a global network, interconnecting professionals worldwide. It also works across all layers of professional training and seniority. What are the prerequisites to become a CPCU Society member?

T.A.: Membership to The Institutes CPCU Society is open to all professionals working in risk management and insurance fields. We serve and celebrate risk management and insurance professionals throughout the world at all points in their career. Joining the CPCU Society means connecting with a dedicated community committed to excellence and advancement in our profession worldwide.

XPRIMM: What is The CPCU Society's geographical footprint? How does the program work internationally?

T.A.: The CPCU Society proudly maintains a growing global footprint, with 120 chapters worldwide, including established chapters in Bermuda and Japan, and a new chapter launching soon in West Africa. Our Europe Chapter is especially active, recently hosting its annual conference in Romania, which brought together professionals from across the continent. We hope that our dedicated local members will continue to champion activities in their areas, helping foster growth and connections within the Society.

Our chapters are truly the lifeblood of the Society. They drive engagement, support professional growth, and strengthen our ability to meet the unique needs of our members. This local involvement is essential, creating a foundation for deeper connections and stronger networks across all regions. Additionally, we have a vibrant Virtual Global Community, where members from around the world stay connected and engage in discussions on risk management and insurance, ensuring that our community remains interconnected, no matter the geographical distance.

XPRIMM: Are the CPCU designation programs accessible to students from the Central and East European countries as well? Is it your intention to increase your presence in the area?

S.V.: All CPCU coursework is available on-demand online. Therefore, it is accessible to all who wish to access materials. The CPCU designation is recognized globally, and we welcome students from a number of countries outside of the United States. In addition, there are active members of the CPCU Society that are working to increase presence in the area. We are very hopeful that the local presence will strengthen and provide so many more in Central and Eastern Europe with opportunities to educate, elevate, and connect with one another.

XPRIMM: Who may volunteer for a CPCU Society chapter? What is volunteers' role and how is the CPCU Society supporting their activity?

S.V.: Any CPCU Society member with a passion for leadership, teamwork, and community impact can step into a volunteer role at their local chapter. Volunteers serve in roles like chapter president or committee leads, organizing outreach initiatives, networking events, and professional development programs. These leaders are essential to driving chapter activities that engage and support our members. To support their efforts, the CPCU Society provides a suite of resources, tools, and the Circle of Excellence program, which celebrates chapters that achieve performance goals in alignment with the Society’s mission. As we like to say: together, we are CPCU Society!

T.A.: Volunteering offers extraordinary professional growth opportunities that bring immense value—not only to our members but to their employers as well. By taking on chapter roles, our volunteers gain real-world experience in leadership, project management, and strategic planning, skills that directly benefit their careers and their workplaces. Many of our volunteers describe their experience as transformative, building lasting friendships, expanding their networks, and gaining confidence in their abilities.

Through chapter service, volunteers can create meaningful impact within their local insurance communities, making a difference that extends beyond themselves. Employers recognize that a CPCU Society volunteer isn’t just building their own expertise - they’re bringing valuable knowledge and leadership skills back to their organizations.

Interview conducted by Daniela GHETU