Why did you become an actuary?
I decided to become an actuary late in college, based on my interest in math. It seemed like an interesting, challenging career choice; I’m so glad I made that decision.
Describe a challenge you have overcome.
Early in my career, I faced a particularly thorny professionalism challenge. I felt that someone I worked with—someone who was a supervisor—was acting unethically. I first spoke with the supervisor and when that did not go well, I reached out to both an internal ethics group as well as the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (ABCD) for advice. It’s a good reminder—the ABCD is there to help.
What do you enjoy the most about being an actuary?
I enjoy many aspects of actuarial work, but one I particularly love is helping others solve complex problems in a quantitative way. There’s just something about unpacking convoluted questions as a group—I find it immensely satisfying.
Share something about yourself.
I don’t spend all of my time in the office, of course. I spend a lot of time with my family; I also enjoy CrossFit and running.
What advice would you share with young actuaries?
When younger actuaries ask me for advice, I always tell them the same thing: Study hard early and get those exams out of the way. They open a lot of doors!