Leadership Interview Series
The Leadership Interview Series, hosted by CCA past president, Michael Clark, provides actuaries with leadership skill development through thoughtful and engaging interviews. These discussions feature actuarial leaders sharing personal experiences and practical advice that have shaped them into the people they are today. Tune into these recorded interviews to gain new insights that will help you as you look to develop or refine your leadership skills and become a more successful professional.
Featured Interviews
In case you missed it, watch the full recording of the Celebrating Women in Actuarial Leadership panel discussion.
Lisa Slotznick
In this edition of the Leadership Interview Series, CCA Past President Michael Clark interviews Lisa Slotznick – current President of the American Academy of Actuaries. Lisa is a retired actuary after having spent an illustrious career working at PwC providing actuarial advisory and audit services for various insurers and self-insurers with a focus primarily in the property and casualty space.
Sherry Chan
In this episode, CCA Past President Michael Clark talks with Sherry Chan – Chief Strategy Officer at Atidot, an insurtech start up where she’s worked for the past 3.5 years. Sherry shares her thoughts on her career journey, volunteering, and leadership.
Bella Thiel
In this edition of the Leadership Interview Series, CCA Past President Michael Clark interviews Bella Thiel recent graduate from UW-Madison with a degree in actuarial science, risk management, and insurance. She completed internships with AIG and Corebridge Financial and is about to start her new job. Bella shares her thoughts on actuarial science and leadership.
Flick Fornia
In this episode, CCA Past President Michael Clark talks with Flick Fornia, president of Pension Trustee Advisors, a firm that he created almost 15 years ago. Flick is an expert in public sector retirement plans having worked at various firms before he started his own firm.
Craig Chu and Jonah Von Der Embse (SAGAA)
In this edition of the Leadership Interview Series, Craig Chu – Retirement System Deputy Chief Actuary with the New York State Office of the Comptroller and Jonah Von Der Embse – Corporate Vice President and Actuary and New York Life discuss the Sexuality and Gender Alliance for Actuaries (SAGAA), career journeys, challenges for LGTBQ Actuaries, and their views on leadership.
Andrew Peterson
Andrew Peterson is Managing Director, International at the Society of Actuaries based in Schaumburg, IL. In his role Andy oversees the SOA’s activities outside of the US in advancing the actuarial profession through education and research. He works with the SOA’s Board to establish the organization’s international strategy and to oversee the work of volunteers and staff around the world. Hear about Andrew’s career journey, views on leadership, and SOA’s international strategy.
David Scharf
David is a Principal at Buck, a Gallagher Company based in New Jersey just outside of NYC. He is a pension actuary with a specialty in executive benefits. David is also the 2024 CCA President. Hear about how a dream one night led him to the actuarial profession and his perspective that actuarial science is linear, logical and creative. He has some advice for anyone developing their professional persona and areas of expertise, and shares what career he would have chosen had he not become an actuary - dare to take a guess?
David talks about his CCA volunteer journey, what it means to give back to the profession and what he's gained from it personally. Find out what and who inspires David - you may be surprised - and more.
Sandy Lowe - NAWA President 2024
Sandy Lowe is Actuary Manager at Liberty Mutual based in Chicago. She is a board member of the Casualty Actuarial Society and the 2024 Board President and one of the co-founders of the Network of Actuarial Women and Allies. She was also recently a presenter at the CCA’s webinar on bias in the actuarial workforce.
Jessica Vega
Jess Vega is an actuarial consultant at Northwestern Mutual based in Milwaukee, WI. She is also a former board member of the Organization of Latino Actuaries, OLA. Listen as she talks about her career journey and volunteering.
Alejandro Ortega
In this four-part video series, Alejandro Ortega – President of the Organization of Latino Actuaries and one of the founding members of the organization discusses the organization, its goals and services, leadership, and diversity.
SAGAA
Featuring Jake Akstins and Matt Gentile, Co-Founders of the Sexuality and Gender Alliance of Actuaries (SAGAA), this three-part interview discusses SAGAA's purpose to facilitate connections between LGBTQ+ actuaries and allies to engage in community-wide
dialogue about LGBTQ+ issues, as well as the importance of inclusive leadership.
Tonya Manning
In this five-part video series, Tonya Manning, Tonya B. Manning, FCA, MAAA, FSA, EA, US Wealth Practice Leader & Chief Actuary, Buck, discusses her greatest achievements, the importance of volunteering, leadership challenges, gender issues, dealing with conflicting viewpoints, how to become successful leader in your organization, and her role models.
Rob Bacher
In this four-part video series, Rob Bacher talks about his various credentials, including FCA, FSA, FCIA, EA, MAAA, CFA, Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt, and how they helped him as an Actuary, the non-traditional roles he has held, the challenges he has had
to overcome during his career, the pros and cons of working on the consulting versus client side, and how can actuaries set themselves apart from data analysts.
John Lowell
In this five-part video series, John Lowell FCA, MAAA, ASA, EA, Partner, October Three Consulting LLC, discusses his unique path to becoming an actuary, taking on new challenges, preparing for leadership challenges and developing others, and his unique hobbies.
Sara Teppema
In this four-part video series, Sara Teppma, President of Alta Advisers and Chair of the Joint SOA/CAS Committee on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion discusses how she got involved in the joint committee, the goals of the committee, and what initiatives
are on the horizon and how you can support the initiatives of the JCDEI.
Maria Sarli and Ellen Kleinstuber
In this five-part video series, CCA President Maria Sarli, FCA, MAAA, FSA, EA and President-Elect Ellen Kleinstuber, FCA, MAAA, FSA, EA, FSPA discuss their perspectives about the value of volunteering, role models who influenced their career paths, and their perspectives on leadership.
Tom Terry
In this four-part series,Tom Terry CEO of The Terry Group talks about the Evolution of his career, the actuarial profession, volunteering, successful leaders, and what advice he has for actuaries that are looking to become successful leaders within their
organizations.
Gloria Asare
In this four-part series, Gloria Asare, Toronto Affiliate Leader of the International Association of Black Actuaries and Head of Pricing for Canada at AXA XL, talks about IABA, its services, mission, and successes, and her thoughts on leadership.
Celebrating Women in Actuarial Leadership
In celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day the CCA Women in Consulting community hosted a Leadership Interview Series discussion with the five women presidents of the U.S. actuarial associations. This is history in the making
as it is the first time all five associations have had women presidents at once.
We gathered to not only celebrate but to also learn from these women - to understand their journeys and pathways toward leadership, and to understand what
inspired them. You're invited to watch this inspiring, heartfelt and genuine interview to hear more about their triumphs, challenges and motivations.
Dominic Lee
Dominic Lee, ACAS, Senior Actuary and Senior Solutions Advisor, Risk Research and Quantitative Solutions at SAS is the self-proclaimed Maverick Actuary. He is a public speaker, content creator, and helps quant professionals increase impact and value using media and visual storytelling. Check out his TED-style talk about actuarial science.
Mallika Bender
Mallika Bender, FCAS, MAAA, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Staff Actuary at the Casualty Actuarial Society, helps build awareness of and educate stakeholders on DE&I topics, develop strategies and mobilize volunteers and partners to increase the diversity and maintain and strengthen relationships with key DE&I partners.
Brent Walder
Brent Walder is a former chief actuary at Prudential Financial. Brent has a passion for helping technical leaders accelerate change, drive strategic business impact, and lead deeply satisfying lives. He recently launched a new career as a speaker, executive coach, and leadership developer. Brent spent the last 25 years growing as a leader, building and leading high-performing teams, helping transform businesses and industries, and developing emerging leaders. Brent's greatest professional energy comes from engaging, growing and developing talented leaders.
The Actuarial Foundation
Jeff Johnson, Chair of the Actuarial Foundation Board, and Jason Leppin, Executive Director of The Actuarial Foundation, discuss the Foundation's mission, programs, and its support of actuaries and the community.
Chelsea Adler
Chelsea Adler – Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, Senior Manager at Root Inc., and the creator of Inspiring Actuaries - discusses her leadership style, career journey, the actuarial profession, and also her experience on the US National Team for Synchronized Swimming.
John Robinson and Roosevelt Mosley
2023 marks the first time in history that the two major credentialing organizations based in the US, the SOA and CAS, have Presidents that are Black. In thisleadership development interview series, we hear from John Robinson, President of the SOA, and Roosevelt Mosley, President of the CAS, as they discuss this historic moment for the actuarial profession and their views on actuarial leadership.
Abacus Actuaries - Riddhi Patel
Riddhi Patel, is President of Abacus Actuaries - a network of aspiring, practicing, and former actuaries, working together through mentorship programs, networking and other professional development opportunities to break the bamboo ceiling so Asians can achieve equal representation in the highest ranks of the actuarial profession.
Charles Cowling
As you're probably aware, there are a number of actuarial organizations within the US. But did you know that there are many more organizations outside the US? One of those organizations is a worldwide association of professional actuarial associations called the International Actuarial Association.
On this Leadership Development podcast, we'll be interviewing Charles Cowling, Chief Actuary at Mercer UK, and the current President-Elect of the IAA. Listen in to understand more about the IAA and from Charles's experiences in participating with actuaries around the globe.
Melissa Chacko
Melissa Chacko is Deputy Chief Actuary at New York City Office of the Actuary. Her career has spanned positions in international consulting, health, and retirement. Hear her discuss her career journey and being a female in leadership.
Dave Dillon
Dave Dillon is senior VP and Principal at Lewis & Ellis in Dallas, TX. Dave is a former member of the Board of Directors at the Society of Actuaries where he received the SOA’s presidential award in 2022. Hear him discuss volunteering, leadership, and his career journey.
James Jones
Listen as James Jones, managing director at EY who splits his time between Miami and NYC, discusses his career journey, working internationally, and his views on leadership.