Samantha Rubin

I attribute my success to a strong personal drive shaped by my family’s history of resilience—especially my grandfather’s experience as a Holocaust survivor who came to the United States and rebuilt his life in New York City in pursuit of the American Dream: freedom, opportunity, and the chance to build a life from the ground up. In the process, he had to adapt to an entirely new culture and society, learning to navigate a new world while continuing to move forward with determination and hope.

New York has always symbolized possibility to me—“if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” It’s not only been my home, but also the place where I’ve watched people around me work relentlessly toward their goals and create new futures. Growing up, my father drove a yellow taxi, and as a child I listened to his stories about the businesspeople he met and the everyday deals and ambition that power the city. Through him, I also felt how global New York really is—meeting people from all over the world—and it gave me a deep appreciation for every walk of life and the value of connecting with people where they are.

Growing up with an awareness of financial hardship in my household reinforced my commitment to education as a foundation for opportunity and stability. I also credit my parents, whose work ethic and encouragement taught me to reach for the stars and never limit my potential. I’ve remained focused on working hard, leading with integrity, and building meaningful professional relationships while striving to do my best in every role, and I’m grateful for the steady support of my family and close friends who continue to encourage and ground me throughout my career journey.

The best advice I received was to lead with empathy and treat with people with kindness and understanding, regardless of their position or circumstances. I was also taught to stay humble, appreciate the small wins along the way, never be afraid to ask for help, and to always keep learning. Those lessons have shaped not only my career, but the kind of person and leader I strive to be.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to seek out roles where you feel genuinely valued and supported, and to trust your instincts when making career decisions. Prioritize environments that encourage growth, learning, and collaboration rather than just status or title.

Specifically for women: don’t wait until you feel “100% ready” to speak up, go for the role, or ask for what you want—raise your hand early, be clear about your goals, and advocate for yourself with the same confidence you’d have for someone you’re mentoring. Find sponsors and mentors (not just supporters) who will champion your work in rooms you’re not in, and build a network of women and allies who will share perspective and open doors.

Lead with humility, stay open to feedback, and focus on building strong relationships, as those connections often become just as important as technical skills in long-term success.

The biggest challenges right now are keeping pace with a rapidly evolving market—changing appetite, capacity, and underwriting expectations—while maintaining consistency and momentum across a broad territory as priorities and structures evolve. At the same time, there’s a strong opportunity to turn that complexity into clarity for brokers by staying close to the regional market, deepening local relationships, and driving growth through intentional, consultative wholesale business development that builds durable partnerships.

The values most important to me are family, humility, and continuous learning, grounded in traditional values while embracing a modern outlook. I value meaningful connection through work, relationships, travel, and time in nature, as well as my love for animals.

In both my personal and professional life, I strive to lead with gratitude—appreciating the people and opportunities that come my way—and to approach each experience as a chance to challenge myself and grow. I aim to lead humbly, recognize others’ efforts, and foster collaboration while staying open to learning from every experience.