By Loretta Worters, Vice President – Media Relations, Triple-I

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Triple-I is spotlighting leaders shaping the future of insurance. Sabrina Hart, CEO of Munich Re Specialty North America (MRS-NA), shares her insights on leadership, innovation, and the growing role of women in specialty insurance.

“I get to work alongside incredible people who advance my continued learning and growth,” Hart said. “It is extremely rewarding to contribute to further shaping a culture where talented people can contribute, grow, and see themselves reflected in leadership.”

Hart joined MRS-NA in 2022 to expand the Excess & Surplus lines business and was named CEO in 2023. Reflecting on that transition, she emphasizes listening, learning quickly, and setting clear priorities.

“In specialty insurance, agility and disciplined underwriting are essential, so ensuring that teams understand both the strategic direction and their role in achieving it is critical,” she said. “Unleashing the power of Global Specialties allows us to better serve our customers and our distribution partners.”

Early roles at Marsh and Zurich North America, including chief underwriting officer and executive vice president of the Midwest Region, gave Hart a holistic view of the industry.

“Working across these perspectives provided a broad view of the industry and reinforced how important relationships, trust, and transparency are in our business,” she noted. “The best leaders stay close to the fundamentals, understanding the customer, empowering experts to make decisions, and creating an environment where people feel accountable and supported.”

Her education – a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and completion of the Executive Management Program at Kellogg School of Management – has shaped her disciplined approach to leadership and decision-making.

Hart also helped advance inclusion in the industry by co-founding Zurich North America’s Women’s Innovative Network around 2007–2008. The initiative began after she attended an industry presentation on future workforce demographics that highlighted the growing diversity of the talent pipeline.

“At the time, projections showed that by 2020 about 54 percent of college graduates would be women,” Hart recalls. “It underscored that diversity and inclusion weren’t just cultural priorities. They were strategic imperatives for attracting the best talent and serving an increasingly diverse client base.”

The network was designed to create a structured forum where women could connect, share experiences, support one another, and build leadership capabilities. Over time, it has grown into a successful community that helps strengthen the industry’s leadership pipeline.

At MRS-NA, Hart focuses on attracting and retaining top talent by fostering meaningful work, growth opportunities, and a culture where expertise is valued. She sees the future workforce as increasingly interdisciplinary, combining underwriting, analytics, technology, and risk expertise.

Mentorship and sponsorship have also played a pivotal role in her career.

“Creating space for conversations about career growth and skill development, as well as helping others see opportunities they may not have considered, is essential,” she said.

Hart’s advice to young women considering insurance careers?

“Diverse viewpoints are essential to solving complex challenges,” she said. “Be curious and open to different experiences; be a lifelong learner. Build transferable skills and relationships, balance technical skills with interpersonal skills, seek mentors, and stay confident in your voice and perspective.”

Looking ahead, Hart is encouraged by the growing presence of women in leadership across insurance.

“Organizations are increasingly recognizing that diverse perspectives drive stronger decisions and better outcomes,” she said. “As that momentum continues, I’m confident we’ll see even greater representation and impact from women across our industry.”

By Loretta Worters, Vice President – Media Relations, Triple-I

During Women’s History Month, the insurance industry celebrates leaders who are shaping its future. One such leader is Kristen Martin, President and CEO of Utica National Insurance Group, whose path to the top reflects both determination and the power of community support.

Martin became CEO in 2024, following the retirement of Richard Creedon. For her, the role is deeply personal. Growing up near Utica National’s headquarters, she passed it almost every day and even visited as a middle schooler for a Legal Eagles program.

“Leading the organization today feels surreal,” Martin said. “It’s a full-circle moment that underscores my connection to Central New York and the people who have helped shape my career.”

She credits mentors, colleagues, family – including her husband, sister, and sister-in-law – and close friends, for supporting her ambitions while raising a family. Raising two sons with a partner who shares responsibilities has given them a healthy view of teamwork and respect. Martin hopes they continue to embody values she sees in them already: kindness, responsibility, and the importance of showing up for others.

“You can be a dedicated parent, partner, and professional simultaneously,” she said. “Leading Utica National shows the power of support, representation, and community, and motivates me to help others feel the same sense of possibility.”

Martin’s career began at Utica National in 2001 as an examiner after working as a trial attorney. Claims work, she explains, is one of the best ways to understand the insurance business, offering insight into distribution, underwriting, risk management, and customer impact. Those early experiences shaped her leadership philosophy: ask thoughtful questions, stay curious, and consider the real-world consequences of every decision.

Over the years, Martin held roles across underwriting operations, governance, and executive leadership. Serving as President and COO starting in 2019 provided valuable preparation for the CEO role. Positions such as Corporate Secretary to the Board and General Auditor broadened her understanding of governance, risk, and operational mechanics. Combined with her legal training at Albany Law School, Martin developed a disciplined approach to decision-making, emphasizing clarity, scenario planning, and evaluating impact.

Despite progress, women currently hold only about 22 percent of C-suite positions in insurance. Martin believes progress requires three key shifts: openly discussing resilience, letting go of perfectionism, and being clear about career goals.

“Build a support system, take care of yourself, and ask for what you want,” she said. “None of us succeeds by ourselves.”

Addressing the industry’s talent gap is another priority. Martin emphasizes early exposure through internships, which allow early-career workers to connect with industry professionals and explore multiple career paths. “Leadership isn’t the only path to a meaningful career. Individual contributor roles are equally valuable. Mentorship is also critical, helping young professionals grow while staying authentic.”

For young women considering insurance, Martin advises them to “surround yourself with diverse perspectives, step outside your comfort zone, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Persistence and authenticity are essential.”

Martin is optimistic about the next generation. Through internships, she sees young women arriving confident, curious, and eager to learn about leadership and career paths.

“As I meet our interns and see the confidence and curiosity they bring, it makes me incredibly positive about the future,” she said. “When I think about where they’ll be in 15 or 20 years, I see a generation of women who will continue to expand opportunities and shape the future of this industry.”