Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.

In this episode, Justin interviews RIMS 2026 President Manny Padilla on several topics, including his first connection with RIMS and his attendance at RISKWORLD on a scholarship. Manny is the first RIMS president of Hispanic descent. This is a historic moment. Manny remarks on the support for diversity he has experienced in RIMS since joining.

Manny's background spans corporate risk leadership, military service, and teaching. Manny speaks of his teaching practices and how he links the academic side to real situations and strategies the students will face. Manny shares anecdotes from his military service. Justin and Manny discuss the objectives of the RIMS Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 18th and 19th, and Manny invites all members to register and participate.

Manny continues the interview with reflections on the RIMS-CRMP, other certifications and designations, and how investing in developing yourself will make you stand out as a risk practitioner. Justin and Manny discuss the nature of polycrisis. Manny asks you to participate and become involved in your RIMS chapter and educational events.

Listen for career advice for both new risk practitioners and seasoned risk professionals.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] About RIMS and RIMScast.

[:16] About this episode of RIMScast. We are delighted to be joined by RIMS 2026 President Manny Padilla. We're going to learn about his plans for the presidency and his unique career in risk and pre-risk. But first…

[:47] RIMS Virtual Workshops. The next RIMS-CRMP-FED Virtual Workshop will be led by Joe Mayo on February 17th and 18th. On March 10th, we have a RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep with John Button, a recent RIMScast guest.

[1:04] On March 4th and 5th, we have a virtual workshop, "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making" with Joe Milan. Register today and strengthen your risk knowledge! RIMS members always enjoy deep discounts on the virtual workshops.

[1:21] Webinars. On March 6th, RIMS presents "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management". We'll be joined by a Chief Risk Officer, an underwriter, and a broker.

[1:36] They will explore their career paths, risk and safety philosophies, and lend some insight as to why this is the time for the next generation of leaders to rise.

[1:47] On March 12th, Global Risk Consultants returns with "Don't Waste the Soft Market: Where to Reinvest Insurance Savings Before the Window Closes". Register for these and other webinars by visiting RIMS.org/webinars and the link in this episode's show notes.

[2:07] The RIMS 2025 Compensation Survey is now available through the link in this episode's show notes. The survey incorporates data from 867 U.S. and 201 Canadian Risk Professionals. Download it today and see how you measure up to your peers.

[2:25] RIMScast has its first spinoff, RIMScast Canada! It is a video podcast hosted by RIMS Canada Conference Committee Chair, Aaron Lukoni, with Justin as co-host. Check it out at RIMS.org/canada. This is a monthly series, and we are stoked to share it with you!

[2:50] On with the Show! I am so pleased to present our guest today! He has been a big supporter of RIMScast for years! I'm thrilled that he is our 70th President here at RIMS. I'm talking about Manuel "Manny" Padilla.

[3:05] Manny was RIMS 2025 Vice President. He's been a positive force on the Board. He is also the Vice President for Risk Management & Insurance for MacAndrews & Forbes, Inc. He is a RIMS-CRMP holder. He truly loves risk management! He will be a fantastic RIMS President!

[3:26] We're going to talk about his career pre-risk-management and bring us up to the present, what his experience with RIMS has been like, and his perspective on what it takes to achieve success in the profession today. Let's get to it!

[3:40] Interview! RIMS 2026 President Manny Padilla, welcome to RIMScast!

[4:02] Manny says everyone's energy is up there, and he's looking forward to having a very positive 2026.

[4:16] Manny says that being Vice President involved a lot of learning. He says that the RIMS board participation is very much a training program. You learn to see how the organization responds. In the Executive Board, you start to see how RIMS is run.

[4:34] Manny says, as you move forward from Secretary to President, you pick up a lot of training. It's a good training program.

[5:00] Manny says that on the Board, there's a lot of excitement and a lot to do. There's a lot of information to impart to our professional society. We're very active and motivated to get that information out there.

[5:15] Manny is the 70th president of RIMS. In 1992, Manny attended RISKWORLD in New Orleans through the Anita Benedetti Student Involvement Program. The information was on a board at the College of Insurance. He applied for it and was sponsored to attend.

[6:30] In the College of Insurance, Manny was sponsored by an insurance company as an assistant junior underwriter, in the days when computers were just meant to write letters and fill out policy forms. He knew just one side of the business.

[6:55] Going to RISKWORLD got Manny out of New York for a week. When he learned what risk management was, his eyes opened, and he said, this is what fits best for me. It was looking at risk strategically and doing things to protect the company's assets. That resonated with him.

[7:48] When underwriters and brokers answer the phone, often it's with Hello, this is (Company). How can I help you? Manny says that when he answers the phone, it's with Hello, this is (Company), this is Manuel Padilla. I hope you're having a great day! How can I help you?

[8:04] That approach made a difference. From the very first, Manny found that this is a relationship business. It's very direct. You know who you're doing business with. People have an open mind and are willing to listen and hear you out.

[8:41] Manny has relationships over the years through RISKWORLD; some have become primary vendors. He notes that there has been a lot of change in the last decade, and since COVID, there's a whole new group of professionals. Some are going to RISKWORLD for the first time.

[9:20] Manny says, as our technology develops, and as we become more crucial to the companies we manage and represent, he sees it on the floor at RISKWORLD. As risk professionals, you need to step out from behind the table and go into the industry.

[9:52] The industry is welcoming and will provide you with a significant number of opportunities.

[10:17] Manny Padilla is the first RIMS President of Hispanic descent. He finds that personally meaningful, but says that RIMS has always extended a hand to all. He felt that when he first stepped onto the conference floor. He has met some unique people and friends through RIMS.

[11:02] Manny says it's great to get the recognition, but it's secondary. RIMS is a good environment. If you're looking at a career change or looking to expand your horizons, this is the organization that you team up with for development.

[11:42] The bigger picture and strategy are built into risk management. Risk managers do better when they raise their hand and say, "This doesn't smell right." They tend to be strategic, forward-thinking, and practical when executing their jobs. Manny speaks up at Board meetings.

[12:30] Seeing the big picture comes with a responsibility. Not being able to operate a significant portion of your business or have your product on the shelves sends your customers to your competitor.

[13:39] Manny gives a shoutout to all veterans in RIMS and shares some thoughts from his military experience. He was in the Navy 24 hours after he graduated from high school. He has been to every country except those that are sanctioned. He was in the Navy from 1982 to 1988.

[14:50] He says it was a wonderful time. The Berlin Wall came down while he was in the military.

[15:03] Manny was an Assistant Master-at-Arms for Fighter Squadron 124 in San Diego. The movie Top Gun was filmed on the base at Miramar Naval Air Station. Manny met Tom Cruise and the rest of the crew briefly during the filming.

[15:57] Some of the Squadron 124 instructors were in the movie as background in the club scene. The Top Gun character was based on a real pilot, who later went into state government.

[17:01] Manny is an adjunct at the Greenberg School of Risk Management. He has some latitude in how he teaches. What he teaches is centered on a set of accepted books and information. There's the technology the students need to know, and the practice that he teaches them.

[17:42] Manny links the definitions, structures, and policy designs to real-world situations and his experience on how those situations were handled. A lot of it has to do with the customization of pr...

Investing In Yourself with RIMS 2026 President Manny Padilla