Description: In “Gearing up for Designing Your Future,” published in the May 2017 issue of Actuary of the Future, the author cited four heroes as his personal inspiration. This article is the successor, showing the glory of these heroes and how they can inspire us actuaries today, as we strive to live our best lives. Identifying your own Noble Purpose as an actuary and in your life makes creating a five-year plan for personal growth meaningful and motivating. What will you gain from reading biographies of famous people and the classics? To aspire, to approach eloquence, to emulate the poetry of how they put their ideas across to mobilize their publics, to elevate our own characters by their examples, to be fully equipped to make moral and ethical judgments, to master the primary tool, verbal communication.

Description: When you hear the word 'feedback,' do you cringe? Do you want to give a colleague advice but don't want it to backfire? There are good reasons why no one likes to get or give feedback. But how do we deliver better outcomes at work without it? In this session, learn why legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry was a master at driving excellence and what you can learn from his approach. You'll learn why traditional feedback methods fail and how criticism actually inhibits learning. We'll dig into recent feedback trends and the old standbys to understand why they might not work for you. Using coaching techniques and the latest thinking, learn how to talk through issues, share your reactions and inspire team members and colleagues to excel. You'll leave this session armed with tools and techniques to have more productive conversations with your boss, team members and colleagues.

Description: The insurance industry is in a constant state of transformation. As organizations adapt to the effects of COVID-19, undergo modernization efforts and implement new technologies, soft or “human” skills are becoming key differentiators for success. Skills such as communication, empathy, storytelling, leadership, problem-solving and more are separating the good from the great actuaries. Those who possess these skillsets can better translate data and most efficiently leverage systems and teams. At the same time, by taking a human approach to modernization efforts, leaders will be able to best engage and motivate their workforces, while building teams that will excel in the future of work.