The Evolution of Insurance Agencies in the Digital World with Lawson Condell

Commercial insurance is a billion-dollar industry—but behind the scenes, it’s a mess. Agents are buried in outdated processes, struggling to keep up with client needs and fighting to prove their value in a system that just isn’t built for efficiency. So, what if there was a better way? What if technology could finally give agents the tools they need to move beyond paperwork and actually reduce risk for their clients?

 

In this episode of the Insurtech Leadership Podcast, host Joshua Hollander sits down with Lawson Condell, CEO and founder of Riskbly, to talk about how he’s tackling these challenges head-on. Riskbly is a platform designed to modernize the fractured and siloed processes that have long plagued commercial insurance, giving agents real-time insights and better ways to manage risk.

 

Lawson shares his journey from working at major corporations like Oracle and Thomson Reuters to launching a platform built specifically to empower commercial agents. They dive into what’s broken in the industry, why white-label solutions are a game-changer, and how Riskbly is helping agents shift from simply selling policies to becoming true risk advisors. Plus, Lawson reflects on how his military background shaped his leadership style and what he sees as the future of commercial insurance in a tech-driven world.

 

If you’re ready to see how technology is rewriting the rules of commercial insurance, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive in!

In This Episode:

• [00:40] Founding Riskbly – Lawson’s motivation behind creating Riskbly for commercial agents.
• [01:07] Challenges in Commercial Insurance – The fragmented and manual processes in commercial insurance communication.
• [02:37] Building the Riskbly Platform – The development of Riskbly, aimed at improving agent-client interactions.
• [03:41] Real-Time Insights for Agents – The platform provides agents with real-time insights and risk management tools.
• [04:40] The Role of Agents as Risk Advisors – The importance of agents acting as risk advisors to clients.
• [08:48] Product Evolution – The ongoing evolution and future features of the Riskbly platform.
• [09:57] Team and Development – Lawson shares how he assembled his development team for product creation.
• [12:50] Data Analysis Capabilities – Exploration of the platform's ability to analyze data for client benefits.
• [16:23] Target Audience for Riskbly – The platform caters to both existing commercial agents and newcomers.
• [18:01] Best Practices for Successful Agents – Insights on what makes successful agents stand out.
• [21:03] Risk Management Transparency – How Riskbly helps demonstrate risk management efforts to insurers for better premium rates.
• [22:01] Comparison with Oracle – Lawson compares his tech startup experience with his time at Oracle, emphasizing platform flexibility.
• [25:00] Military Experience Influence – Lawson reflects on how his military background shaped his leadership philosophy and approach to business.
• [29:05] Client Relationships and Value Perception – The need to continually earn client trust and adapt to changing perceptions of value.

Notable Quotes

• [00:04:26] "I come in as the risk advising agent wanting to lower your total cost of risk. We go through a diagnosis, and I find these things. You agree on it, but in six months or a year, I come back, and you haven’t done anything. It’s a frustrating process." – Lawson Condell

 

• [00:14:10] "We are here to support the agent. We are here to make that agent that partners with us the very best. I promise to each agency, to each agent, I’m here to make you better. My team’s here to make you better." – Lawson Condell

 

• [00:28:13] "I think if you try to stay as close to the client and your employees as you can, and I don't mean emotionally close, I mean in the trenches with them, helping them out, figuring out what motivates them, it makes a difference." – Lawson Condell

 

Our Guest

Lawson Condell, CEO and founder of Riskbly, a platform designed to empower commercial insurance agents with tools to manage risk, streamline operations, and deliver better value to their clients. With a background in corporate America, including roles at Oracle and Thomson Reuters, Lawson brings a wealth of experience in SaaS solutions and commercial insurance. A former military officer, Lawson’s leadership philosophy is deeply influenced by his time in the Air Force.

 

Resources and Links

 

Lawson Condell

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawson-condell/
• https://www.riskbly.com/

 

Josh Hollander

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuarhollander/
• https://www.horton-usa.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/insurt