Description: This is a conversation with two critical staff members of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) about their experience there. Jane Lesch is a non-actuary who has been working at the SOA for over 20 years, and is an engagement specialist. Mike Boot is an actuary who retired at the end of February after 15 years at the SOA, most recently as managing director. We spoke to both Jane and Mike to get their take on what leadership is about, and how working at the SOA impacted them.

Description: Latest installment in a series covering the application of Buddhist principles to the actuarial work setting. This installment covers the challenges actuaries face in dealing with unfamiliar and uncertain assignments. It provides both encouragement that actuaries are more capable and multi-faceted in their skill sets and offers suggestions taken from the meditation cushion and yoga mat to aid in tapping into those capabilities.

Description: Knowing how we and those around us are wired is very important for having successful relationships, whether it be family, a work team or any interaction that can be built upon for the future (e.g., a potential client). There are several models of human behavior inexistence. Like any model, none are perfect. However, having one that can generally guide us the majority of the time with simplicity, practicality and success is of great benefit.

Description: This article provides key themes of effective project management and case studies to illustrate their successful application. Key learning outcomes are: • To understand project management goals and key themes for success • For students, be empowered to manage. For managers, empower students to develop project management skills in tandem with their technical skillset

Description: A real-life situation is posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision, and readers are invited to submit their responses to "What Would You Do?" This issue’s case study found amid-career actuary uprooting his family for a new job that involved promotion to Chief Actuary. Shortly after, he found that the company was in serious financial difficulty, and he felt he'd been deceived during the interview process.

Description: A real life situation is posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision, and readers are invited to submit their responses to "What Would You Do?" This case study involved an actuary interviewing a candidate who seemed exceptional, until she started pushing back on the job level.

Description: The newsletter outlines the book selected for the book club discussion and summarizes the discussions held during the book club meeting.

Description: With increasing demand for quality new-hires, it is increasingly important to hire the most impactful employees. Actuaries who think creatively can have a disproportionately positive effect on their employers. In this article, we discuss how to identify this type of person during the interview process.

Description: A compilation of reader responses is presented to a real life situation. This issue’s case study involved an actuary trying to add to staff, who encounters questionable behavior by a prominent actuarial recruiter. What the actuary actually did is shared after the compiled responses.

Description: Feature article discussing company culture and how it relates to actuaries.