Her Story
About Sylvia
Sylvia Bolar is an Account Consultant at Sedgwick and a Commercial Property Insurance Adjuster with approximately 10 years of experience in the insurance and claims industry. In her current role, she manages complex commercial property claims with a focus on excess and surplus (E&S) markets and large-loss assignments. Her expertise spans policy interpretation, claims resolution, vendor management, and end-to-end oversight of the claims process from policy inception through loss investigation, funding coordination, negotiation, and settlement.
Sylvia began her career as an independent adjuster, contracting with insurance carriers for catastrophe response and short-term assignments across the United States. A pivotal moment in her career came during Hurricane Irma, when she worked through CJW and Associates on major catastrophe claims involving large E&S clients. That assignment led to her transition into Sedgwick Claims Management, where she was brought on permanently after demonstrating strong performance on complex catastrophe work. She initially supported homeowners programs and international syndicate carriers, including markets such as Lloyd’s of London, HDI Global, and QBE, gaining deep exposure to global insurance structures and E&S policy frameworks.
Over time, Sylvia advanced into an Account Consultant role, functioning in a capacity similar to an executive general adjuster, overseeing multiple vendors and coordinating large-scale loss management strategies. She later contributed to a major Hurricane Ian project supporting condominium association losses, which marked her introduction to litigation-heavy claims handling. This experience helped define her current professional focus, as she continues to specialize in litigation claims management and complex commercial losses. She is currently pursuing her PCLA designation and completing study requirements for the AIC certification, with plans to sit for the exam in October, further strengthening her expertise and leadership in the field.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sylvia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the environment I’ve grown within and the values I was raised on. My long tenure at Sedgwick has allowed me to build deep expertise, expand beyond my core responsibilities, and consistently add value by taking on work outside my formal job description. This has helped me become a more trusted and integral part of the operation. Equally important is my upbringing—my father served 30 years in the military and raised my siblings and me as a single parent, instilling discipline, accountability, and a strong work ethic. As the oldest daughter, I naturally stepped into a leadership role early, which continues to influence how I approach my work today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received has come from several strong mentors who shaped how I approach my work and professionalism. My first mentor, Kathy Cristofletti, taught me the importance of establishing presence, maintaining professionalism, and earning respect early in my career, especially in environments where you may be underestimated. She emphasized that how you carry yourself from day one sets the tone for how others engage with you. I also learned a great deal from my long-time supervisor, Gwen Norman Churchill, who demonstrated the value of resilience, advocacy, and protecting the integrity of your team while maintaining high standards. She consistently stood firm in her leadership and ensured her team was supported and respected. My current leader, Lynette Francois, has reinforced the importance of process, composure, and proactive claims handling, showing how a calm and structured approach can reduce stress even in highly complex cases. Together, these experiences have shaped my leadership style, professionalism, and ability to thrive in demanding environments.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to find a strong mentor early and learn from those who lead with confidence and experience. Be intentional about how you present yourself and communicate, and focus on earning respect through your knowledge, preparation, and professionalism. While the work can be demanding especially in claims and catastrophe environments resilience and consistency are key to long-term success. Stay committed, even when it feels overwhelming, because this industry offers strong growth, stability, and rewarding opportunities for those who persist.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The insurance industry presents both significant challenges and meaningful opportunities. Early in my career, one of the biggest challenges was establishing credibility in a traditionally male-dominated field, where earning respect required consistency, professionalism, and strong performance. The work itself is also demanding, with catastrophe events, litigation matters, high claim volumes, and tight deadlines that require focus, organization, and resilience. At the same time, the industry offers strong long-term stability, competitive compensation, and clear opportunities for growth for those willing to continue learning and expanding their expertise. I’ve been able to develop through exposure to complex claims, litigation management, catastrophe response, and vendor oversight, which has broadened my skill set and career direction. I also see a positive shift in the growing presence of women in leadership roles, creating more opportunity for the next generation. Overall, while the work is challenging, it is also highly rewarding and offers continuous paths for advancement and specialization.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Perseverance is one of the most important values to me, both in my work and personal life. I believe that while good times are enjoyable, it is during the difficult moments that resilience and consistency matter most you still have to push through and handle whatever comes your way. I also value treating people with respect and professionalism, with the belief that how you treat others should reflect how you expect to be treated in return. Building strong relationships and maintaining integrity are important to me in every interaction. Networking is another key value in my professional life, as it allows me to build meaningful industry connections, stay informed, and develop trusted resources that can support complex claims work when needed. Overall, these values guide how I show up at work and how I balance the responsibilities of my career and personal life.
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