Diving into Data—Literally and Figuratively

This month, I decided to return to my geeky actuarial roots and talk about something we all know and love: data. But as I started reflecting, I realized that working with data feels a lot like scuba diving—an experience I recently had the chance to try. The parallel was almost too perfect. What you see on the surface rarely tells the full story. The real magic happens when you dive deeper and start seeing the world from an entirely different angle.

Sometimes those unexpected insights jump right out at you. Other times, you have to dig—really dig—and be patient. But when you uncover that one nugget of insight, it’s incredibly rewarding. That’s what makes us actuaries who we are. We thrive on curiosity. We find joy in the exploration, in uncovering stories hidden in the numbers, and in learning something new every time we dive in.

As actuaries, we’re not just crunching numbers. We’re diving deep, connecting the dots, and surfacing with insights that help solve real-world problems. And if you ask me, that’s a pretty extraordinary superpower.