What is your practice area and/or area of expertise?
Cyber Reinsurance Pricing
What led you to become an actuary, and what attracted you to the profession?
I majored in mathematics and economics in college with the intent of pursuing a Ph.D. in either field. I quickly figured out that the graduate school route was not for me and was encouraged by family and friends to take a few actuarial exams. After passing P [Probability] and FM [Financial Mathematics], I landed an entry-level analyst position in property and casualty consulting. I was interested in the profession because it is a unique blend of analytical skills and business sense. It really tapped into a real-world application of my math and economics training.
Describe a time when your professionalism training has helped you in your career.
I have relied heavily on my professionalism training throughout my career, but most notably over the past 5-plus years working in cyber insurance and cyber reinsurance. Throughout this time, I have worked as a member of a global team, collaborating frequently with actuaries outside of the US. At some points, I have been the only US-based actuary on my direct team. In these situations especially, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the applicable actuarial standards of practice (ASOPs) to ensure that our team’s work is in accordance with professional standards.
Tell us about a time where your actuarial expertise influenced an important decision in your workplace.
I can think of many examples, but a recurring one in my pricing career is that my work consistently influences strategy decisions regarding growth, target mix of business, market cycle management and more. The cyber market has seen fast-changing market conditions during my time, which have highlighted the need for underwriters and actuaries to work together to closely monitor their portfolios and adapt quickly to changing market conditions. I’m privileged to have worked closely with talented underwriters who value my opinions and seek my advice on strategy.
What’s one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in your career?
Trust your gut and ask questions! If you thoroughly understand the question that you are trying to answer with your analysis, the rest will follow. With enough experience, you can develop a good internal radar for when results don’t make sense—or for when the wrong question is being asked.
What advice do you wish you were given at the beginning of your career?
Challenge the status-quo! Understand why work is done in the current way and then figure out how to improve it. This can apply to anything from a one-off analysis for a client to workflow management to improving underwriting systems.
What do you value most about your Academy membership or Academy volunteer work?
I have had a great experience volunteering with the Committee on Cyber Risk. I love working with other like-minded actuaries, especially those who are as interested in cyber as I am. I learn a lot through conversation with the group that I might otherwise miss in my day to day. Volunteering for the Academy has also given me the opportunity to meet and learn from public stakeholders and other actuaries outside of property and casualty. A highlight was getting to discuss cyber risk with representatives from the Federal Insurance Office at the 2024 Academy Hill visits.
Would you like to share anything else with aspiring or new actuaries, or those interested in volunteering for the Academy?
The Academy provides a framework for maintaining self-regulation of the actuarial profession in the United States and serves the public through volunteer and staff contributions. Volunteers are essential to the Academy and its mission. To maintain and advance the Academy’s impact, it is critical that a variety of volunteers bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the table. You do not need to have a certain number of years of experience to be a valuable member of a committee!
Beyond work—what are your hobbies or personal interests?
I currently spend most of my out of work hours training and riding my three horses: Leia, Jagger, and Truly. I am hoping to compete in endurance horseback riding—competitions on trails of 25, 50, or 100 miles in one day! I love being outside and traveling.
