Profile
"West Oak’s success has come from always putting our clients’ best interests first and always finding ways to improve and add more value to them"
Andrew mcquiston,
west oak family office, wellington-altus private wealth
Sarah Gavlick’s remarkable accomplishments over her career demonstrate her broad-ranging professional capabilities. She has set herself apart as not just the leader of Markel’s highest-revenue territory, but also as an expert in multiple insurance disciplines, an innovator in training and technology, and a tireless developer and encourager of diverse industry talent.
“For those that know me, there are three words that are a constant in my vocabulary and I pride myself on each: accountability, empathy, and listening,” she says. “Accountability is a key trait for all good leaders. Taking ownership of whatever it might be is critical, regardless of the outcome – results, projects, your team’s performance, and customer performance.”
With regard to empathy, she says: “As a leader, I spend a lot of my time talking to our associates and our customers. Whether it’s discussing a career, a project, an opportunity, or an account, it’s so important to always try to get a sense of how that person is feeling in that moment and what their particular needs are.”
Lastly, she considers active listening as “critical and yet, in some situations, very difficult. People want to be heard and training yourself to have the patience to listen and absorb allows you to better formulate a response and be a better leader — and a better person.”
Since joining Markel in 2004, Sarah has played a key role in building out the company’s casualty and property product lines, taking on growing responsibilities in multiple areas of the business. In the last two years, this advancement has led to her most recent promotion to chief territory officer for Markel’s East Territory, the company’s largest segment in terms of premium size. The East Territory, which encompasses three regions, today boasts over $2 billion in gross written premium, and has achieved an annual growth rate of 12% in the last five years.
Her accomplishments are recognized by industry leaders inside and outside Markel. A senior executive at a brokerage firm describes her as “a fantastic business partner” who is “dynamic, smart, decisive, professional, driven and strategic” and “a role model to us all.” As this comment indicates, Sarah is recognized for her relationship-building skills, and commands considerable influence and impact with the company’s partners. While advancing in positions of management responsibility, she has also proven herself as an innovator and leader in the underwriting space. Partnering with executive leadership across Markel, Sarah has played a large role in improving operational efficiencies through technology and underwriting support. Her innovations in talent development, her personal support for mentorship, and her extensive community involvement all demonstrate her commitment to strengthening the industry and providing opportunities for its professionals.
She consistently exemplifies a key tenet of the Markel Style, the foundation for corporate culture, which emphasizes community service along with other leadership qualities. In this spirit, she has delivered outstanding levels of support of community service and community involvement. Sarah currently holds multiple leadership positions within the insurance industry, including service on the board of directors for the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) Education Foundation and the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) Northeast division board of directors. She supports several local charities including Lunchbreak, Fulfill, and Shorehouse. Beyond these accomplishments, Sarah also serves as a role model for work-life balance as a successful working mother of two.
310 Highway 35 South, Red Bank, NJ 07701
732 450 8778
Sarah.Gavlick@Markel.com
linkedin.com/in/sarah-gavlick-b1324314
markel.com
Sarah Gavlick
Chief Territory Officer, East
Markel Specialty
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Milestones
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Year 7 Community Leader and Leader for Learning Technologies and Platforms at Northern Beaches Christian School
Master of Business Administration, 2017–2019
2021
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2013
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Master of Education (Curriculum and Pedagogy)
2013
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
2009–2012
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1990
1992
2004
2011
2020
Sarah Gavlick
Chief Territory Officer, East
Markel Specialty
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Profile
Milestones
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
1990
1992
2004
2011
2020
Sarah Gavlick
Chief Territory Officer, East
Markel Specialty
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
2020
2011
2004
1992
1990
2020
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Added an additional dimension of managerial experience through her new role as chief territory officer for Markel’s East Territory, which consists of three regions which are the company’s largest market by total premiums
2020
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2011
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Promoted to regional president for the northeast region, with responsibility for offices located in Red Bank, New Jersey; Boston; and New York City
2011
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2004
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Joined Markel as assistant manager of excess insurance and umbrella policies, and was soon promoted to director of marketing
2004
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1992
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Started working as an underwriter at Gen Re, where she was promoted to vice president, casualty facultative
1992
1998–2007
1990
human resources | key media
Graduated with a degree in finance from Villanova University
Started with Gen Re stat and reg
1990
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Milestones
