CCII: Michael Ley

Michael Ley on Agency Networks, Tech Stacks, and the HawkSoft Purple Cow | Connected Conversations in InsuranceIn this episode of Connected Conversations in Insurance, Ray Huang sits down with Michael Ley, Director of Network Relations at HawkSoft, to talk about what agency networks and aggregators are doing to stand out and deliver real value beyond commission splits.Michael shares his journey from a family-owned agency to HawkSoft and breaks down what agencies should look for before joining a network—from book ownership and carrier access to contract terms, transparency, and technology investments.They also dive into the modern agency tech stack, why the AMS is at the center of it all, and the tools helping agencies work smarter, including CRM, texting and VoIP, e-signatures, and streamlined intake solutions.Plus, Michael talks about HawkSoft’s customer-first “Purple Cow” philosophy and wraps things up with a fun travel-themed round of “Where Would Michael Sit?”0:00 Networks Look Alike00:46 Meet Michael Ley01:37 What Network Relations Means03:23 From Teacher to Agent06:01 Networks vs Associations06:33 Network Pain Points10:35 Agency Network Checklist15:27 Tech Stack Talk17:28 Open APIs and Data Ownership21:35 Must Have Agency Tools29:15 Purple Cow Branding32:35 Culture and User Community34:10 Travel Game Setup34:54 Aisle vs Window Debate35:47 Bathroom Row Stories36:47 Family Travel Tradeoffs37:10 Accidental Private Jet38:02 Subway Seat Strategy39:42 Rental Shuttle Tactics41:19 Doctor Waiting Room Picks41:53 Conference Room Power Seats43:16 Movie Theater Sweet Spots44:43 Best Seats in the Stadium47:39 Airplane Selfie Side Eye49:28 Season Wrap and Sponsor