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Olivia Belechak Smith

Director, Advisory Services

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I help organizations turn emerging technology—especially AI—into real, human-centered impact.


As a strategy and experience leader in consulting, I work with executives and cross-functional teams to identify meaningful opportunities, align stakeholders, and design solutions that people will actually adopt. My work sits at the intersection of business strategy, human-centered design, and technology innovation, helping organizations move from ideas to practical, scalable outcomes.


I’ve partnered with clients across industries—from global banks and law firms to SaaS companies, nonprofits, and public sector organizations—to modernize workflows, improve digital experiences, and build sustainable innovation programs. Whether facilitating executive workshops, shaping AI strategies, or designing future-state experiences, my focus is always the same: better outcomes for people, processes, and technology.


I’m particularly passionate about responsible AI adoption and keeping humans in the loop. Through collaborative workshops, rapid prototyping, and iterative design, I help organizations determine where automation, AI agents, and human expertise each play their best role.


Known for bringing clarity to complex challenges, I combine systems thinking, empathy-driven research, and practical experimentation to guide teams toward solutions that are both visionary and achievable.


I’m a builder of alignment—helping leaders, technologists, and operators move forward together. My goal is to ensure you confidently make the best decision.

Olivia Belechak Smith
Industry - Financial Services
July 30, 2026 - Industry Day
10:10 AM - 10:55 AM
Astro Room
AI Strategic Trends and Operational Insights: How Technology Is Reshaping Financial Services and Insurance

For decades, financial services and insurance have pointed to regulation and legacy technology as barriers to transformation. While those challenges remain, a new set of pressures, such as economic uncertainty, demographic shifts like the Peak 65 retirement wave, and declining trust in institutions, are accelerating demand for faster, simpler, and more transparent experiences.
Artificial intelligence is beginning to deliver on long-standing ambitions. From streamlining underwriting and incorporating electronic health records to enabling faster, more informed decisions, AI is reshaping both how organizations operate and what customers and advisors expect.
In this session, Nationwide leaders responsible for AI execution and enterprise transformation will share a grounded view of the trends shaping financial services and insurance, along with practical lessons from modernization efforts already underway. They will discuss where AI is delivering real operational impact, how organizations are approaching investment in emerging technologies, and what this means for product design, distribution, and the overall customer experience.
The session will also take on a core challenge facing the industry: how to use AI to increase speed and efficiency without eroding trust, particularly as interactions become more digital and data-driven.

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