OM DENNE EPISODE
In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Michael Walliser, real estate entrepreneur and technology founder, to explore what happens when someone with more than two decades of industry experience decides to build the technology he wishes he'd had all along.
Michael shares the evolution of EasyDigz, from spreadsheets and pieced-together systems to a connected platform designed for independent real estate brokers. At the heart of that journey is a simple idea: technology should strengthen the relationship between brokers and their clients, not become another layer competing for their trust.
Carly and Michael also explore the realities of building with AI, including the enormous difference between creating an impressive prototype and developing something reliable enough for high-stakes customer experiences.
They also discuss Michael's approach to leadership, why he values people who are comfortable admitting what they don't know, and how the Japanese principle of Kaizen has helped create a culture focused on improving systems rather than blaming people.
Key TakeawaysTechnology Should Protect the Relationship You're Trying to Build
Every time a broker sends a client to another platform for information, documents, or updates, part of that relationship can shift to another brand. EasyDigz was designed to keep the broker at the center of the customer experience and maintain their position as the client's source of truth.
A Working AI Prototype Isn't the Same as a Production-Ready Product
AI allows Michael's team to move incredibly quickly from an idea to a prototype, sometimes within hours. But something working once doesn't mean it's reliable enough for a critical customer workflow. For Michael, AI is incredibly valuable for experimentation, but reliability still matters more than novelty.
Fix the Process Instead of Blaming the Person
Michael applies the principle of Kaizen and continuous improvement to leadership. When something goes wrong, the goal isn't simply to identify who made the mistake. It's to understand where the process failed and improve the system so the same problem is less likely to happen again.
Memorable Quotes"At any given time, if someone's confused, it's probably not just that person. So if someone gets confused, we should fix that for everyone."
"It does nothing and everything simultaneously."
"My first step is finding people who are willing to accept there's an infinite amount of more to know."
About Michael WalliserMichael Walliser is a real estate entrepreneur and technology founder with more than 20 years of hands-on industry experience.
After spending two decades working inside real estate, Michael founded EasyDigz to solve the operational challenges he had seen brokerages struggle with firsthand. He is also the founder of Carolina Land Experts and has led institutional-level projects, including a partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Today, his work sits at the intersection of real estate, operations, technology, and process innovation, with a particular focus on helping independent brokerages operate more effectively.
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