Agency Nation Meets: Rob Bourne

• February 1, 2026

Get to know the individuals that ignite the insurance industry as they answer our icebreaker questions. 

Rob Bourne is the senior vice president and general manager of EZLynx. He previously served as senior vice president at Applied Systems, EZLynx’s parent company, overseeing inside sales, account management, business development and alliance partnerships. Before that, he held senior roles at Athelas and Podium, where he spearheaded growth, revenue strategy and operations.

With a Master of Business Administration degree from Cornell University and extensive experience in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platforms, Bourne brings strategic insight and proven expertise in scaling innovative technology solutions.

Thanks for joining us, Rob! What’s your biggest pet peeve?

People eating cereal with their mouths open.

Ha! Speaking of food, if you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Smoked brisket.

Favorite pizza topping?

Soppressata.

And when you go to a fast-food restaurant, where do you go?

Chick-fil-a for a spicy chicken sandwich.

Have you ever met a famous person?

I met Post Malone a few years back at a Slim Chickens.

Chicken FTW! So, if you could travel back in time to see a band play live, who would it be and why?

The Doors. Jim Morrison was a fascinating human and musician.

And if you had to do karaoke, what song would you sing?

“Gaston” from “The Beauty and The Beast.” It’s a popular one with my kids.

And a real pick-me-up song! Which sports teams do you support and why?

Manchester United, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks and the University of Utah for college football and basketball.

No wonder you sing “Gaston.” What is your favorite season and why?

Fall, especially in the Northeast. I lived in New York for a few years and fall there was amazing.

Where would you go during a zombie apocalypse?

Deep into the mountains of Utah or Montana.

Some “Last of Us” vibes right there. What goals are you currently working toward outside of work?

I’m trying to become a decent chess player.

What superpower do you wish you had?

Flight. My dad was a pilot, and I’ve always been fascinated by defying our natural earth-bound state.

What film have you watched the most times and will probably keep watching over and over again?

I’ve had the same favorite movie since I was 4 years old: “Top Gun.”

What is your dream vacation?

Showing up at the airport with a bag and picking a random exotic locale from the departures screen.

Who has had the biggest influence on your professional career?

My mission president from my Latter-day Saints church mission.

What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics?

I wish it was something cool like track and field or basketball, but probably curling.

If you could live in any historical period, which one would you choose?

1940s. It was a dark period of war, but I admire the Greatest Generation so much.

If you could appear on any game show, which one would you choose?

“The Price is Right” for Plinko!

Thanks, Rob! 

This is a monthly column for Independent Agent magazine and iamagazine.com. To be featured, email hello@agencynation.com.