Description: Reflection and messaging from ISC chair for March 2025 newsletter

Description: Summary of networking activities and update from ISC chairperson

Description: An interview with Diana Skrzydlo, the inaugural winner of the SOA Outstanding Educator Award, about her teaching and the future of actuarial education.

Description: The author shares their experiences and timeline in building an actuarial science program from scratch and reaching the Advanced Curriculum level

Description: What does it take for an actuary to be a good people manager? We propose an answer in three words: willingness, love and rigor. A good people manager is dedicated to invest in team members’ success, sincerely cares for them, and subject them to high standards that speed up their growth.

Description: Dovel Technologies started as a two-person company, and by the time we sold to Private Equity in late 2019, Dovel had more than 1,200 people on its payroll. In this article, the authors (and cofounders of Dovel) describe two concepts that helped Dovel grow that actuaries can apply to help grow their firms.

Description: Effective strategic planning can have a profound effect on the development of your team and the growth and direction of your actuarial organization. This article shares the elements that will set you up for success before the meeting even begins.

Description: In "Are You Leading Your Actuarial Organization with the Right Mind?" by Tim Hebert, the author explores leading with emotional intelligence amid challenges. Distinguishing between reactive and thoughtful responses, the article underscores the importance of intentional leadership and urges actuarial leaders to develop mindfulness skills. The "right mind" is introduced as a state of emotional intelligence, advocating for leaders to choose thoughtful responses over impulsive reactions. The article delves into the dual nature of the human mind, highlighting the cluttered and reactive "thinking mind" and the neutral "observing mind" that provides a broader perspective. Actuarial leaders are encouraged to leverage their observing minds for intentional and thoughtful decision-making. Emphasizing the balance between leadership and management, the article urges leaders to increase their consciousness levels for objective responses in times of change. Overall, Tim Hebert promotes the mastery of the mind as essential for effective leadership in the actuarial realm, inviting readers to cultivate intentional and mindful approaches even during crises.

Description: This article covers the importance of letting teams lead you as a leader, that it's okay to admit you're not okay even at work, and that it's important to find informal ways for virtual teams to connect.

Description: Read how to combine people management and mentorship to create positive and open environments and improve employee engagement and productivity.