2021 Women to Watch Awards Americas EMEA
Sarah Lin President - Casualty SF
R-T Specialty, a unit of Ryan Specialty Group Holdings Inc.
San Francisco
Sarah Lin, president of R-T Specialty SF’s casualty division, is the “Where’s Waldo of the insurance world,” says a broker who has worked closely with her.
That is because “she’s usually on an airplane ready to take off or in the terminal” when he talks with her, said Jordan M. Silverman, senior vice president at Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage in East Providence, Rhode Island, adding, “She has come through for me in unbelievable circumstances.”
Ms. Lin, who was born in Chicago shortly after her parents immigrated from South Korea, grew up in the city and attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduating with a double major in accounting and finance.
After initially working for an audit service company, a chance meeting with a woman who worked at R-T Specialty led to an interview with its president and CEO, Timothy Turner, and Ms. Lin’s joining R-T’s Chicago office. She worked there until being given the opportunity in 2017 to work in its San Francisco office leading its casualty practice.
“The No. 1 attraction in wholesale broking is it’s a meritocracy,” Ms. Lin said. “I love that, truly, what you put into it is what you get out of it,” she said. “It’s held true over the last 18 years.”
She also takes a practical approach to diversity.
“I try to recruit as many women with diverse backgrounds as possible” because success is possible as long as there is the “right combination of drive and ambition,” she said.
As dedicated as she is to her job, Ms. Lin structures her day to be available to her daughters, Mina, 10, and Leia, 8, when they are out of school.
“I’ve learned so much about balance these last two years through the pandemic, and sorting out the professional and personal, to still be able to manage having the best of both,” she said. Ms. Lin’s husband, Dave, works in finance.
“Our entire family, we’re all obsessed and avid tennis players. That’s been my COVID sport and my saving grace,” Ms. Lin said.
