Professional Development Edge+: Goal Setting and People Management
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
Release Date: 01/21/2025
Actuarial Leadership and Impact Making
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
Join Ganiu Shefiu as he interviews Jola Fakoya, FSA, CERA, to discuss making an impact in actuarial leadership.
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PD Edge Pod Episode 7: Is Takaful the same as mutual insurance? An interview with Hasham Piperdy
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
The podcast features Jon Forster interviewing Hasham Piperdy about the similarities and differences between Takaful and mutual insurance. Both models emphasize collective risk sharing and returning surplus to participants, but differ in ownership structure, capital provision, and investment restrictions. Takaful adds a layer of Shari’ah compliance, requiring investments to be Islamic and oversight by a Shari’ah board. The discussion highlights that while the models share cooperative principles, Takaful introduces faith-based ethics and governance. Contributors: Hasham Piperdy, FIA;...
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Emerging Topics Community: Actuaries in the Age of AI: A conversation with ChatGPT: 2 years later
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
In this captivating podcast, Joe Alaimo, CEO of ProComp, sits down once again, two years later, with ChatGPT. Together they talk about what has actually changed in two years, what did not change, and where the profession might be heading next. What does ChatGPT now see ahead for the actuarial profession? The original was published on Oct 12, 2023
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PD Edge Pod Episode 6: From Actuary to CEO, Carl Hess on his leadership journey at WTW
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
The podcast features a conversation with Willis Towers Watson CEO Carl Hess, who discusses his progression from actuary to CEO, emphasizing the importance of analytical skills, communication, and people management in leadership. Carl highlights how technology and AI are transforming the actuarial profession, noting that automation and AI projects at WTW are helping staff focus on more productive work and better utilize unstructured data. He shares personal anecdotes about using music to maintain focus during actuarial exam studies and explains how he stays connected with WTW’s employees...
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Big Company or Big Risk? Actuarial Life in Corporate vs. Startup Worlds
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
What is it really like to work as an actuary in a fast-moving startup versus a large, established company? In this episode, YPAC member Zack Moore sits down with Matt Briggs to unpack the realities of both worlds, from culture and pace to impact, growth, and career satisfaction. They explore how actuaries fit into each environment, the trade-offs between stability and innovation, and what young professionals should consider when choosing their own path. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or diving into startup life, this conversation offers insights to help you shape a career that...
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Emerging Topics Community: AI Roundtable
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
In this episode of the Get Plugged In podcast originally published in September 2025, host Dale Hall, Managing Director of Research at the Society of Actuaries, is joined by Joe Alaimo, CEO of ProComp Consulting Inc. and Community Advisory Team Member of the Emerging Topics Community. Together, they delve into the findings of a recent roundtable discussion focused on the role of generative AI in the actuarial profession. Joe shares highlights from the panel of actuaries and industry professionals who discussed real-world use cases, ethical concerns, and how actuaries are uniquely...
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Title: PD Edge Pod Episode 5: Actuaries working with Data Scientists featuring Tom Callahan and Dave Friesen
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
This podcast episode features Dave Friesen and Tom Callahan discussing the collaboration between actuaries and data scientists. Tom is an Actuary who works extensively with data scientists, and Dave is a data scientist who works with Actuaries, making them a great combo for the topic. Dave highlighted the operational focus of data science in improving workflows and customer experience, while Tom emphasized the financial impact focus of actuaries. They both agreed on the importance of clear communication and common terminology to bridge gaps between the two fields. They also shared...
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Research at the SOA: A Gateway to Innovate, Influence, and Inspire
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
Research isn’t just for academics! This episode reveals how broad the impact of SOA research is – balancing the retrospective with the prospective – and why it’s essential for actuaries and the broader public. YPAC Vice-Chair Tasso Bountouvas and guest R. Dale Hall discuss misconceptions, real-world applications, and how you can contribute – no PhD required. Tune in for practical advice, inspiration, and a glimpse into the future of actuarial science.
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Health Section: Behind the Med Supp Market – Claim Costs, Regulations and Opportunities
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
Listen in as Greg Fann interviews Moshe Nelkin about Medicare Supplement insurance. We will take you from Medicare basics through product details covering pricing assumptions, factors driving claims trend, regulatory considerations, challenges, opportunities, and more.
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Long Term Care Section: Rethinking LTC - The Wellness Evolution
SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries
Roger Loomis sits down with Stephanie Moench and Michael Rustemeyer to discuss their paper that was just published by the SOA Research Institute: “Long-Term Care Wellness Primer”, which can be downloaded here:
info_outlineIn this video, we interview Chris Lombardi, FSA, MAAA, CERA Associate Director at WTW, and Jeanne Cho Stokke, FSA, MAAA, about goal setting and people management. They share techniques and tools for actuaries to become effective leaders in the profession. Jeanne's experience as a former Pro LPGA golfer and Chris's background in jiu jitsu highlight how these skills have contributed to their career success.