Building a Future-Ready Insurer with Michael New, ClearView

In this episode of the Life Accelerated podcast, we’re joined by Michael New , Chief Technology Officer at ClearView, to explore the realities of large-scale digital transformation in life insurance. Michael shares his experiences leading ClearView’s migration to a modern policy admin platform, tackling legacy system challenges, and ensuring data readiness for a seamless transition. As an ultra-marathon runner, he draws compelling parallels between endurance sports and the long, strategic journey of digital modernization.?

3 key pillars of this episode:???

How endurance running parallels digital transformation?

Michael compares the journey of digital transformation to endurance running—both require patience, strategy, and resilience to reach the finish line. Just as an ultra-marathon demands careful pacing, mental endurance, and the ability to adjust mid-race, large-scale digital transformation projects in the insurance industry follow a similar path. The initial optimism gives way to challenges in the middle, requiring continuous assessment and adaptability before reaching the exhilarating finish.??

Success in both arenas hinges on steady progress and a commitment to course correction, ensuring that businesses, like endurance runners, stay on track to achieve their goals.??

Why data baseline matters?

For insurers undergoing system migrations, a well-defined data baseline is critical to ensuring a smooth transition and avoiding costly setbacks. During the podcast episode, Michael emphasizes the importance of establishing a strong data baseline before undertaking a major digital transformation. In his experience, migrating legacy systems without first ensuring data accuracy leads to inefficiencies, finger-pointing between teams, and unnecessary delays. At ClearView, his team prioritized validating a subset of policies—analyzing data quality before integrating new functionalities—to minimize errors and streamline the process. By fixing data issues at the source and testing against a controlled dataset, they reduced uncertainty and prevented larger problems down the line?

Balancing technology expectations and business realities in digital transformation?

Executives expect seamless digital transformation, but reality often tells a different story. Michael explains that while sleek presentations make new systems look effortless, real change requires patience, careful planning, and a willingness to adapt. At ClearView, aligning technology with business needs means prioritizing foundational improvements—like data integrity and system consolidation—before diving into new innovations. Success comes from setting realistic milestones, fostering open communication, and recognizing that digital transformation is a strategic, long-term journey.?

Conclusion??

As Michael shares in this episode, success comes from setting a strong data foundation, balancing business expectations with technological realities, and staying committed to the long journey ahead. Just like an ultra-marathon, there will be challenges along the way, but with the right strategy and mindset, insurers can cross the finish line stronger than ever.?

Want to hear more insights from ClearView’s transformation journey? Listen to the full episode here.??

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