Live With The Maverick

My guest for Episode 58 is John Harney, FIA, CERA, Senior Consultant at Aon. The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. John and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ How actuaries add value in pensions ✅ Defined Benefit (DB) Plans and Defined Contribution (DC) Plans ✅ How shift from DB to DC plans impacts the demand for actuaries ✅ Underlying drivers of liability block transfers ✅ Redire...

My guest for Episode 57 is Sherry Chan, FSA, EA, MAAA, Chief Strategy Officer at Atidot. The theme for the episode is 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Sherry and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ The Chief Strategy Officer role ✅ Elevating awareness of actuaries outside of the insurance industry ✅ Repackaging and transferring actuarial skills ✅ Creating opportunities to add value beyond traditional deliverables ✅...

My guest for Episode 56 is Jon Forster, ASA, MAAA, Professional Development Learning and Content Design Director at the the Society of Actuaries. The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Jon and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Eliminating barriers to actuarial training and development ✅ Training and development opportunities that affect advancement ✅ The most relevant...

My guest for Episode 55 is Kris DeFrain, FCAS, MAAA, CPCU, Director of Research and Actuarial Services at the NAIC. The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Kris and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ NAIC purpose, functions, and scope ✅ NAIC coordination with Departments of Insurance ✅ NAIC interactions with international supervisors ✅ How actuaries add value in the regulatory sp...

My guest for Episode 54 is Amanda Hug, FSA, MAAA, Director of Insurance Consulting and Technology at Willis Towers Watson. The theme for the episode is 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Amanda and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ The biggest challenges facing the actuarial profession ✅ Getting the profession to evolve in a positive direction. ✅ The perception of the profession in the market ✅ Attracting talent to...

My guest for Episode 53 is Katey Walker, FCAS, MAAA, CSPA, Chief Commercial Officer at Aon. The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. Katey and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Her unconventional path to the actuarial profession ✅ How experience in different domains adds value as an actuary ✅ Projects actuaries get involved with in customer-facing roles ✅ The most valuable skillset...

My guest for Episode 52 is Leesa Kow, Managing Director at JN Bank. The theme for the episode is 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Leesa and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Gaining the trust of employees working towards a unified mission ✅ Strategies for building and maintaining high performance teams ✅ Considerations for delegating tasks to direct reports ✅ Level of detail managers need when they aren’t...

My guest for Episode 51 is Ngozi Nnaji, Principal at Ako Brokerage Services, LLC. The theme for the episode is 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 – 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮. Ngozi and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Her motivation for starting an insurance brokerage ✅ The process of building an insurance brokerage ✅ Addressing key barriers to ownership for agents and brokers ✅ Closing the wealth gap through insurance, owne...

My guest for Episode 50 is Adi Kaimowitz, CEO at Virtual Actuary. The theme for the episode is 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. Adi and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ The importance of new age thinking for actuaries ✅ New age entrepreneurship vs traditional entrepreneurship ✅ The driving forces behind new age entrepreneurship ✅ The benefits of actuaries being disruptors ✅ The mega gig economy an...

My guest for Episode 49 is Jules Gribble, FIAA, CERA, PhD, Principal at PFS Consulting. The theme for the episode is 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. Jules and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ The role of an actuary ✅ Analysis fundamentals for actuarial students ✅ Building a bridge between analysis and decision making ✅ Transitioning from actuarial student to qualified actuary ✅ Gettin...

My guest for Episode 48 is Tan Suee Chieh, FIA, Past President at the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟰. Suee Chieh and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ His motivation for becoming an actuary ✅ Frank Redington’s famous mantra and its importance ✅ Qualities instrumental for effective leadership ✅ His most consequential leadership...

My guest for Episode 47 is Blake Berman, FCAS, Managing Director at Guy Carpenter. The theme for the episode is 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴. Blake and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Catastrophe models and their critical outputs ✅ The relevance of catastrophe models for actuaries ✅ The impact of changing exposures on model reliability ✅ How model indications can potentially lead users astray ✅ An...

My guest for Episode 46 is Olympic gold medalist and financial advisor, Tyler Clary. The theme for the episode is 𝗔 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁. Tyler and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ A winning mindset in sports and finance ✅ The building blocks of developing a winning mindset ✅ Clearing hurdles to achieving a winning mindset ✅ The importance of having a winning mindset ✅ Translating a winning mind...

My guest for Episode 45 is Frank Chang, Ph. D., FCAS, Vice President, Applied Science, at Uber and President-Elect of the Casualty Actuarial Society. The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵. Frank and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ The demand for actuaries in tech and its drivers ✅ Translating actuarial skillsets to add value in tech ✅ Relevant technical skills for actuaries in tech...

My guest for Episode 44 is Michael Jordan, FASSA, CERA. The theme for the episode is 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝟯, 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗙𝗧𝘀. MJ and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Decentralized finance through blockchain ✅ The potential to decentralize insurance functions ✅ How blockchain can solidify parametric insurance ✅ The relevance of blockchain for actuaries ✅ Blockchain adoption challenges for institutions ✅...

My guest for Episode 43 is Eric Siegel, Ph. D., President of Prediction Impact, Inc., author of the acclaimed book, 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘼𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠, 𝘽𝙪𝙮, 𝙇𝙞𝙚, 𝙤𝙧 𝘿𝙞𝙚, Executive Editor of the Machine Learning Times, and Founder of Predictive Analytics World. The theme for the episode is 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀. Eric and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Artificial intellige...

My guest for Episode 42 is Jawwad Farid, FSA. The theme for the episode is 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀. Jawwad and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ How to remove barriers to effective communication ✅ The power of telling stories with numbers ✅ Developing storytelling skills as a quant professional ✅ Using cross-functional perspectives to add value for customers ✅ Important considerations f...

My guest for Episode 41 is Talithia Williams, PhD, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College. The theme for the episode is 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Talithia and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Developing models to detect the need for cataract surgery ✅ Changing the public perspective on science ✅ Making numerical concepts understandable and relatable ✅ Hosting the television s...

My guest for Episode 40 is Greg Solomon, FIA, consulting Actuary & Advisor at Eigengrey Consulting. The theme for the episode is 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀. Greg and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Cultural adaptation in multi-country careers ✅ Speaking the language of your business partners ✅ The varying nature of work in different countries ✅ Multi-county career experiences unique to actua...

My guest for Episode 39 is Sharon Robinson, FCAS, MAAA, Senior Vice President & Actuary at Zurich. The theme for the episode is 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. Sharon and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ The importance of vision in career planning ✅ Attributes that enable career progression ✅ Pitfalls that hinder career progression ✅ Evaluating career opportunities ✅ The importance of authenticity...

My guest for Episode 38 is Bill Marella, Chief Executive Officer at ACTEX Learning. The theme for the episode is 𝗔 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲. Bill and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ ACTEX, ASM, and Actuarial Bookstore ✅ Having a purpose broader than a company’s stated mission ✅ Providing affordable study materials to actuarial students ✅ His motivation behind helping people become actuaries...

My guest for Episode 37 is Ronald Richman, FIA, FASSA, Chief Actuary at Old Mutual Insure. The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. Ronald and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Opportunities to apply AI/ML techniques to actuarial tasks ✅ Barriers to AI/ML adoption within institutions actuaries serve ✅ The scope of interpretable machine learning for actuarial w...

My guest for Episode 36 is Charles Johnson, FSA, CERA, MAAA, Chief Executive Officer at the Actuarial Development Institute. The theme for the episode is 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Charles and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Challenges being addressed in his entrepreneurial venture ✅ Challenges career transitions present and how to address them ✅ The ease of career transitions for experienced actua...

My guest for Episode 35 is Klaas Stijnen, Chief Product Officer and Founder at Montoux. The theme for the episode is 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀. Klaas and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Decision-driven analytics vs. data-driven analytics ✅ The role of the data translator ✅ Keys to translating data into actionable intelligence ✅ Technology gaps and how to address them ✅ Benefits of moderniz...

My guest for Episode 34 is Stafford Thompson Jr., FSA, MAAA, Senior Vice President, Life and Executive Benefits Business Management at Lincoln Financial Group. The theme for the episode is 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀. Stafford and I explore the following topics:⁣ ✅ Navigating a career around skills ✅ Learning paradigms to build skills ✅ Skills that produce value ✅ Doubling down on strengths vs...