Profile
“No single professional achievement has made me prouder than the partnerships and friendships I have formed throughout my career. Those relationships are the greatest indicators of my success. I have had the pleasure of watching those I mentor and coach turn into insurance superstars”
Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld,
RT Specialty
With over 35 years of excellence in both retail and wholesale brokerage, president of RT Specialty and CEO of RT National Property Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld strives to leave a legacy of excellence, dedication, and leadership.
Her own experience gaining guidance from insurance leaders has pushed Austenfeld to provide mentorship opportunities to the industry’s successors.
“I have been extremely fortunate to have some of the greatest mentors and coaches throughout all aspects of my career and life. I feel strongly that one person can make a huge impact on each of us, and it is our duty to be that special person for others.”
She adds, “No single professional achievement has made me prouder than the partnerships and friendships I have formed throughout my career. Those relationships are the greatest indicators of my success. I have had the pleasure of watching those I mentor and coach turn into insurance superstars.”
Growing up on a wheat and cattle farm in rural Kansas, Austenfeld learned the value of resilience, determination, and teamwork. These qualities were essential for success in her childhood farm and have carried her through her career as an E&S specialist.
“At the heart of it all, I have stayed true to the values I learned growing up on a farm in Kansas: hustle, integrity, and determination. Those values have helped me adapt, lead, and deliver for clients in ways that matter,” she says.
155 N Wacker Dr Suite 4000, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 784 6001
brenda.austenfeld@rtspecialty.com
linkedin.com/in/brenda-ballard-austenfeld-26724812
rtspecialty.com
Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld
Co-president of RT Specialty and
CEO of RT National Property
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Milestones
“Synergy, collaboration, and a shared vision of success are vital to leading a team and showcasing everyone’s powerhouse potential”
Brenda (Ballard) Austenfeld, RT Specialty
1986 - 1998
1998–2001
2001–2013
2013–2024
2024- 2025
1986-1995: Began her career at Alexander & Alexander where she rose to Vice President of Risk Management and Marketing
1995-1998: Senior Vice President at Westrope
1986 - 1998
Director and SVP, Global Property Practice Group at Aon Risk Services
1998–2001
2001 - 2013: Partner and Executive Vice President at Westrop
2006: Business Insurance “Women to Watch” (inaugural class)
2008: Kansas City Business Journal “Women Who Mean Business”
2001–2013
2013 - 2024: CEO & President of RT National Property
2015: Midwest CEO Most Influential Women
2018: Insurance Business America Elite Women Award
2020: Insurance Business America Hot 100
2024: APIW Women of the Year, UJA Federation of NY Insurance Person of the Year
2013–2024
Co-President of RT Specialty and CEO of RT National Property
Chair of the Board 2024, Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association after serving on the board for nine years
Board member of the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, where she has served six years on the board
Founding member of WOW!, Ryan Specialty’s employee resource group for women
Founding member of the WSIA Diversity Foundation board, where she served for four years
Served 15 years on the Kansas 4-H Foundation
2025 – Insurer’s Lifetime Achiever Award
2025 – Business insurance’s Iconic Leader
2024- 2025
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
Austenfeld’s continued success in her leadership roles have been built through a deep commitment to teamwork at Ryan Specialty.
“Synergy, collaboration, and a shared vision of success are vital to leading a team and showcasing everyone’s powerhouse potential,” she explains. “I strongly believe it is the collective strength of our team that distinguishes us from the rest. My goal is for our team to be the very best, not just in numbers or metrics, but in the way we conduct ourselves and the level of excellence we set.”
Having witnessed numerous waves of change in the E&S space throughout the past three decades has instilled a focus on speed and technical nous, Austenfeld notes the ever-growing need for E&S professionals to be more agile, informed, and connected than ever before.
“Whether it is leveraging technology to work from anywhere or building teams that can respond with precision and urgency, I have learned that speed – combined with deep technical knowledge – is a winning formula.”
Always looking to give back, Austenfeld’s deep passion for supporting other women in the insurance industry is demonstrated by her role as a founding member of the Ryan Specialty Employee Resource Group (ERG), WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning!), which enables fellow female professionals at Ryan Specialty to develop crucial skills and confidence.
“Helping others grow, especially women in our industry, is one of the most rewarding parts of my role,” she says.