What happens when math becomes more than a subject and starts shaping futures? Michael Marion, Director of The Actuarial Foundation and Steve Alpert, FSA, MAAA, former President of the American Academy of Actuaries, share how a bold campaign is expanding opportunity, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation of leaders. Michael and Steve discuss: The importance of non-profits for the actuarial profession The relevance of STEM education in society The All for Math Campaign T...
Jun 12, 2025โข37 min
My guest for Episode 105 is Barry Swartzberg, ASA, B.Sc., CFP, FASSA, FFA, Executive Director and Co-Founder at Discovery Limited. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ - ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ. Barry and I covered the following topics:โฃ โ
Barryโs motivation for becoming an entrepreneur โ
The vision behind Discovery Limited โ
Starting a business during the fall of Apartheid โ
The shared-value insurance model โ
Shaping South Africaโs insurance and financial se...
Dec 23, 2024โข1 hr 8 min
My guest for Episode 104 is Dave Dillon, FSA, FCA, MAAA, Senior Vice President & Principal at Lewis & Ellis and President-Elect of the Society of Actuaries. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ - ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ต. Dave and I covered the following topics:โฃ โ
What inspired Dave to run for SOA President โ
Duties of the SOA President-Elect โ
SOA sections/communities and committees โ
How Dave has benefited from posting actively on LinkedIn โ
How actuaries might...
Dec 12, 2024โข49 min
My guest for Episode 103 is Ronald Richman, FIA, FASSA, FeASK, CPCU, insurtech founder and thought leader in the actuarial data science movement. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด. Ron and I covered the following topics:โฃ โ
Statistics, machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI โ
Whether GLMs are statistical or machine learning models โ
Neural nets and their applicability to insurance โ
Reducing the risk of overparameterization for neural nets โ
Balancing accuracy, c...
Nov 21, 2024โข57 min
My guest for Episode 102 is Monica Shokrai, FCAS, MAAA, Head of Business Risk and Insurance for Google Cloud. The theme for the episode is ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ธ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ - ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ. Monica and I covered the following topics:โฃ โ
The risk management landscape for individuals and businesses โ
Working in various risk management roles at Google โ
Specific examples of risk management projects โ
The cloud and its relevance for business โ
Security tradeoffs between on-premises and cloud โ
How actuarie...
Nov 12, 2024โข53 min
My guest for Episode 101 is Marcela Granados Lavoie, FCAS, CSPA, Principal - Global Head of Insurance at Databricks. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ณ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ. Marcela and I covered the following topics:โฃ โ
Marcelaโs motivation for pivoting to tech/software โ
Why a software company would need an actuary โ
The cloud and how it enables insurance modernization โ
How generative AI can help yield value for insurance companies โ
Using unstructured data for underwriting, cla...
Oct 29, 2024โข1 hr 8 min
My guest for Episode 100 is David Wilkie, CBE, FFA, FIA, FSS, FIMA, Hon D Sc, Hon D Math, Chairman at InQA Limited. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต - ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ. David and I covered the following topics in ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ of this historic episode:โฃ โ
Modeling uncertainty within insurance, finance, and risk mgmt โ
Shortcomings of the Black-Scholes option pricing model โ
The origins and evolution of the Wilkie Model for economic variables โ
Realistic disaster sce...
Oct 24, 2024โข55 min
My guest for Episode 100 is David Wilkie, CBE, FFA, FIA, FSS, FIMA, Hon D Sc, Hon D Math, Chairman at InQA Limited. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต - ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ. David and I covered the following topics in ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ญ of this historic episode:โฃ โ
Davidโs early childhood and formative years โ
What motivated David to become an actuary โ
Building a strong foundation for academic research โ
Mortality forecasting for the Committee of Mortality Investigation โ
Ea...
Oct 21, 2024โข1 hr
My guest for Episode 99 is Julia Lessing, FIAA, Director at Guardian Actuarial. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ - ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ. Julia and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
The actuarial profession in Australia โ
The market for new graduates and qualified actuaries in Australia โ
Opportunities for actuaries in data science and non-traditional roles โ
The impact of generational dynamics for future actuaries โ
Transitioning from individual contributor to manager โ
Tip...
Oct 09, 2024โข57 min
My guest for Episode 98 is Cathy Lyn, FIA, FSA, IFoA Council Member and Retired Actuary. The theme for the episode is ๐ค๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐. Cathy and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Running for IFoA Council and what she seeks to contribute โ
Nurturing a competitive quantitative workforce โ
The importance of mathematical rigor in society โ
Why quantitative professionals need to have a seat at the table โ
How quantitative professionals make countries more competit...
Sep 25, 2024โข1 hr 2 min
My guest for Episode 97 is Lewis Kemp, CEO at Lightbulb Media. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด. Lewis and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Content marketing and its relevance in the modern era โ
Content creation and its importance for professionals โ
The three stages of the conversion funnel โ
How individuals can apply the conversion funnel to their own careers โ
How individuals can find their target audience โ
Developing success criteria around content creation ...
Sep 17, 2024โข52 min
My guest for Episode 96 is Don Grimm, FCAS, Principal and Consulting Actuary at Archer Actuarial Consulting. The theme for the episode is ๐๐
๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐. Don and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
The connection between excess casualty and primary lines โ
Target classes of business and coverage scope for excess casualty โ
Capacity, rate dynamics, and trends in the excess casualty market โ
Key differences between excess casualty and umbrella insurance โ
Tradeoffs between excess cas...
Sep 11, 2024โข58 min
My guest for Episode 95 is Hasham Piperdy, FIA, General Manager, Saudi Arabia and Director, Actuarial at Badri Management Consultancy. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐. Hash and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
The Middle East region and its relevance for actuaries โ
Insurance penetration, regulation, and market in the Middle East โ
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and mature market dynamics โ
Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and emerging market ...
Sep 03, 2024โข1 hr 2 min
My guest for Episode 94 is Dorothy Andrews, ASA, MAAA, PhD, Senior Behavioral Data Scientist and Actuary at NAIC. The theme for the episode is ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐. Dorothy and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
The link between media, data, and algorithms โ
Pitfalls in using big data to gain cognitive insights โ
The relevance of psychology for building models โ
The link between correlation and causation โ
Rational explanations for variable relationships โ
Natural experiments and rand...
Jun 26, 2024โข56 min
My guest for Episode 93 is Annie Tay, FIAA, FIA, CERA, Senior Advisor at Meanwhile. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. Annie and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Manufacturing and reviewing global insurance products โ
Developing financial strength methodologies for life insurance โ
The underlying drivers of strategic restructuring โ
The pathway to Merger & Acquisition (M&A) transactions โ
The role actuaries play in M&A transactions โ
Lessons l...
Jun 19, 2024โข46 min
My guest for Episode 92 is Larry McClure, FCAS, Chief Reserving Actuary, Americas P&C at SCOR. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด. Larry and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
The business imperative for actuarial reserving โ
Schedule P, Statement of Actuarial Opinion, and actuarial reports โ
Key decision points impacted by reserving actuaries โ
Reserving actuary interactions with finance, claim, and pricing actuaries โ
Fundamentals of a reserving analysis โ
T...
Jun 05, 2024โข1 hr
My guest for Episode 91 is Esperanza Borja Mead, FCAS, FSA, MAAA, Principal at Actuarial Factor. The theme for the episode is ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด. Esperanza and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
The inspiration behind starting her own business โ
Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship โ
Bridging the entrepreneurial knowledge gap โ
Marketing, sales, and pricing for new business owners โ
Boutique consulting firms and the clients they serve โ
Providing actuari...
Jun 01, 2024โข45 min
My guest for Episode 90 is Donna Glenn, FCAS, MAAA, Chief Actuary at NCCI. The theme for the episode is ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. Donna and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Working in underwriting and product management as an actuary โ
Origins of workers compensation in the United States โ
Private markets, state funds, and residual markets โ
Indemnity and medical claims transactions โ
The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) โ
NCCI loss cost and rate analysis โ
LCMs...
May 22, 2024โข49 min
My guest for Episode 89 is Ron Kozlowski, FCAS, Lead Consultant at RTK Actuarial and Professional Services. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด. Ron and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Deciding whether to be a generalist or a specialist โ
Solving business problems and selling business as a consultant โ
Specializing in construction defect reserving โ
The importance of taking risk as an actuary โ
Working with meteorologists, seismologists, and engineers to ...
May 15, 2024โข1 hr 3 min
My guest for Episode 88 is Lloyd Richards, FIA, CERA, CStat, Director and Head of Actuarial at Crowe UK and Teaching Fellow at the Queen Mary University of London School of Mathematical Sciences. The theme for the episode is ๐๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐. Lloyd and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Sustainability and its relevance for risk management โ
The current sustainability landscape โ
Bank of Englandโs CBES directive โ
Physical, transition, and legal risks โ
Climate sce...
May 07, 2024โข50 min
My guest for Episode 87 is Wesley Montgomery, FIA, FASSA, CEA, CEEM, Senior Actuary at Pillar Capital Management Limited. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ. Wesley and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
The insurance and risk management landscape in Bermuda โ
The Bermuda Monetary Authority โ
How insurance is regulated in Bermuda โ
Accounting/reporting standards and tax advantages โ
Global minimum tax for multinational entities โ
How actuaries add value in insura...
May 01, 2024โข53 min
My guest for Episode 86 is Ann Chai, FCAS, Chief Risk Officer at Zurich North America. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐. Ann and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Solving business problems in non-traditional roles โ
How non-traditional roles have helped to shape her career โ
Leveraging an actuarial background in a risk management role โ
ERM and other responsibilities as Chief Risk Officer โ
Purchasing insurance for a large corporation โ
Her current views on the act...
Apr 24, 2024โข50 min
My guest for Episode 85 is Kellen Booher, Executive Vice President and Global Insurance Executive. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป - ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ. Kellen and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
How to think about your career at the macro level โ
M-shaped vs. T-shaped careers โ
Four types of career experiences that are valuable to have โ
Differences between mentorship and sponsorship โ
Tips on finding a sponsor in a corporate environment โ
Guidance for employees who...
Apr 16, 2024โข53 min
My guest for Episode 84 is Zorast Wadia, FSA, MAAA, EA, FCA, CFA, Principal and Consulting Actuary at Milliman. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ. Zorast and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Defined benefit (DB) plans and defined contribution (DC) plans โ
Plan sponsors, valuation actuaries, and retirement plan operations โ
Cash valuation and financial accounting valuation โ
Differences between corporate and public pension plans โ
Millimanโs Corpo...
Apr 10, 2024โข54 min
My guest for Episode 83 is Andrew Ngai, FIAA, CERA, Director at Taylor Fry. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐. Andrew and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Participating in Esports as an actuary โ
Applicability of the actuarial skillset in Esports โ
Developing a passion for Excel beyond everyday actuarial work โ
Excel World Championships: qualification, training, and competition โ
Lessons from his competition experience โ
LAMBDA, LET, and TOCOL functions โ
The ...
Apr 04, 2024โข48 min
My guest for Episode 82 is Paul Sweeting, Ph.D, FIA, CERA, CFA, FCSI, FRSA, Senior Advisor at Hassana Investment Company. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ธ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐. Paul and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Enterprise risk management and its strategic role in organizations โ
How actuaries add value in ERM โ
Capital modeling, quantitative risk evaluation, and risk measures โ
Using multivariate distributions for risk modeling โ
What copulas are and why they ...
Mar 26, 2024โข52 min
My guest for Episode 81 is Gabriel Ware, FCAS, Transaction Actuary | Consultant. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ธ๐. Gabriel and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
What legacy risks are and why risks become legacy risks โ
Legacy acquisitions in the insurance space โ
Loss portfolio transfers and adverse development covers โ
Key considerations for buyers and sellers in legacy transactions โ
Arriving at an ambivalence point when differences of opinion exist โ
The role of a transac...
Mar 20, 2024โข53 min
My guest for Episode 80 is Simon Rees, FIA, Chief Actuary, Americas at AXA XL. The theme for the episode is ๐๐
๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ธ๐. Simon and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Satellite launches, aerospace, and cyber risks โ
CAT bonds, insurance-linked securities, and alternative capital โ
Political risk and credit bonds โ
Professional liability for emerging technologies โ
Excess and surplus lines of business โ
Nature, coverage, and unique considerations for non-standard risks โ
Lloydโs of Lon...
Mar 12, 2024โข45 min
My guest for Episode 79 is Kalpana Shah, FIA, President of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. The theme for the episode is ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ - ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ด. Kalpana and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
The importance of resilience for people in leadership positions โ
Her inspiration behind running for IFoA President โ
IFoA key strategic initiatives โ
Her views on the actuarial profession โ
The role of actuaries in the decision-making process โ
Skills actuaries ne...
Mar 05, 2024โข42 min
My guest for Episode 78 is William Mahfood, Chairman at Wisynco Group Ltd. The theme for the episode is ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ธ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ - ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ. William and I explore the following topics:โฃ โ
Wisyncoโs distribution and manufacturing operations โ
The importance of having a sound risk management culture โ
Key risk management considerations in a diverse business โ
Sourcing talent, retaining employees, and maintaining personal touch โ
Cash management and security risk mitigation โ
Ensuring produ...
Feb 28, 2024โข40 min
