Description: Description of rationale and benefits of moving newsletter to a digital format

Description: What it takes to lead teams is significantly different from what it takes to excel as an individual contributor. A leader's first mistakes is to think they have to do the same things they did before just with more volume and greater speed. Leading a team requires a transition to new behaviors and mindset. This article attempts to give you a few ideas to make the transition from leading yourself to leading others

Description: Learning excellence is of value to both candidates and credentialed actuaries learning new areas. Learning mastery and excellence requires 1) use of executive function (EF), multiple brain areas, for example, verbal, formal (algebraic), computational, and geometric (rule of four), and 2) goal-setting, skillful breaking down of complex tasks into subtasks each of which are simultaneously 2a) clear and specific, 2b) achievable in a short time and 2c) challenging. 10 examples are presented illustrating use of the "rule of four" to achieve elegant solutions to otherwise complex problems as well as goal setting using fellowship-exam approaches, approaches to multi-component problems, and skillful use of databases as visual organizers. The material reflects a new approach to learning complexity that is easier to use than the pedagogic hierarchies and unifies them.

Description: Analytics, big data and predictive modeling are red-hot buzzwords and compelling mandates in the insurance industry. As the demand for analytics and big data continues to increase, how does the actuarial experience and perspective fit in? Margaret Resce Milkint of The Jacobson Group discusses the current state of the analytics field and strategies for ensuring that actuaries and their skill set remain relevant in the growing word of analytics.

Description: Book review of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen.

Description: The author offers his seven-word maxims for work / life balance and development of a personal leadership foundation.

Description: Three ways to ask for more support at work if you have ever found yourself overwhelmed by your to-do list at work and know you’re capable of doing the things on the list but wonder whether you SHOULD be doing some of them.

Description: The authors take up two questions: • How do I create my Personal Development Plan? • How will the Competency Framework tool help me design my future?

Description: This is the editor letter for this issue. It summarizes the contents of the articles in the newsletter and the theme of the issue.

Description: Summary of articles in the 2018 April issue of SOA AOF newsletter.