Her Story
About Sarai
I kind of fell into insurance, but it turned out to be my true passion. Originally, I was a cosmetologist, but when COVID hit, I couldn't work directly with clients anymore, so I had to make a switch. I applied around the country and said whichever place hired me, I'd go there. I was in Florida at the time, and a small agency in Texas hired me, so I packed my bags and moved to Texas with just my clothes on my back. I started as a retailer at an agency five years ago, and even though I had no prior experience in insurance, I had a natural affinity for it - it just clicked. Within two years, I was promoted to management, where I managed a team of 25 account managers. My success in risk management led to recommendations in the underwriting field, and I landed an underwriting job at Amwins Group. I've been underwriting for three years now, and my boss promoted me to Assistant Vice President of the Houston location. What sets me apart is my focus on good customer service - I take the time to explain every portion of coverage, make sure agents understand what they're writing for their clients, and underwrite risks in a way that's both profitable for the insurance company and ensures the insured is properly covered. I can handle everything in commercial insurance underwriting, including general liability, property, and inland marine. Insurance is truly my passion - I'm always studying, looking up new things, and attending insurance conventions to learn about the market.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarai
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to intensity and being a go-getter. The way I stand out in front of every other underwriter in the MGA or MGU field is through good customer service. I make sure we're explaining every portion of the coverage and ensuring clients are properly insured. I take that time out to make sure the agent understands what they're writing for their client, and I underwrite risks in a way that's both profitable for the insurance company and also allows for the insured to be covered. It's about finding that balance and really taking care of people.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For young women, especially in a male-dominated field, I would say make sure that even if you don't know what you're getting into, as long as you're passionate, accurate, and determined to get what you want. I've built my career on sheer determination alone by showing people that whatever you need, I can do it, regardless if I have experience or not. That determination will show in your interviews and in your work ethic, and it will put you at the top of the line, right in front of everybody else, regardless of what your resume looks like.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge right now is that insurance as a whole is in a pretty soft market, so having to navigate the softer market where admitted is coming back into excess surplus lines is pretty difficult. Re-educating agents and making sure that the clients are insured properly and to the best of our capacity is a big, difficult hurdle to get around. But most of all, it's building those connections in a soft market.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being ethically and morally open and honest is most important to me. This industry is all about transparency, and it's all about making sure that everyone is upfront and understands every part of it. My values are very close to those - making sure I'm open and honest with people in my job, as well as my personal life, to stay connected. Morals and ethics are what I pride myself on.
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