Risky Business · Renters Legal Liability

Collaboration, Enthusiasm, and the Future Of Property and Casualty With Brenda Austenfeld

·24 min·2 clips

Brenda Ostenfeld grew up on a Kansas farm, never planning to enter insurance, but it taught her hard work and integrity.

This episode features host Gary Miller interviewing Brenda Austenfeld, President and National Property Practice Managing Director at RT Specialty, about leadership and industry trends. Austenfeld brings over 30 years of insurance and risk management experience to the conversation. They explore how corporate culture, team dynamics, and personal drive shape success in the property and casualty sector. Austenfeld explains how RT Specialty's culture of courage and collaboration helped the team adapt during the pandemic's challenges. She emphasizes that leadership requires leading by example and a willingness to work hard, drawing from her own background growing up on a Kansas farm. The discussion covers the importance of maintaining team connection and enthusiasm despite widespread "Zoom fatigue." Austenfeld advises leaders to show genuine enthusiasm even in written communication like emails. The conversation shifts to industry outlook, referencing a "black swan dive of 2020" cover story from National Underwriting Property and Casualty Magazine. Austenfeld states the definition of a catastrophic event has expanded beyond hurricanes and earthquakes to include wildfires, riots, and civil commotion. For clients in the habitational market, she stresses the critical need for complete and accurate property data for modeling, as risks vary greatly by geographical location. She also mentions working on builder's risk insurance, particularly for frame construction. A memorable insight is Austenfeld's view that sales is "the greatest equalizer," where performance metrics matter more than age, gender, or background. She encourages perseverance with the motto "hustle, grind, win, repeat" and another RT Specialty slogan: "outthink, outwork, out execute, repeat." Austenfeld shares that her mentors include industry figures Tim Turner and Pat Ryan. She offers specific advice for women in the industry, highlighting the opportunities for diverse talent. Her personal journey from a farm with a graduating class of 32 to insurance leadership underscores her message that hard work and integrity are foundational. The tone is conversational and advisory, blending personal anecdotes with practical business leadership strategies. The style is educational and motivational, focused on sharing actionable insights from a seasoned executive. This episode is ideal for insurance professionals, sales team leaders, and anyone interested in corporate culture and resilience. Listeners seeking deep technical insurance analysis or controversy might find it less aligned with their interests.

As heard by us

A grounded look at RT Specialty culture, catastrophe risk, and the human side of P&C.

Brenda Ostenfeld and Gary Miller use the conversation to sketch RT Specialty's pandemic-era culture and the role of enthusiasm and collaboration in keeping work moving.

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Why you'd press play

You want a clear read on property risk, team culture, and where P&C is heading.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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