Description: This article is about how entrepreneur independent business owners can solve their day-to-day frustrations and problems with a simple and useful process for setting goals and building a plan to meet those goals.

Description: Many top-performing businesses aren’t just risk aware, but rather risk intelligent. Such a posture helps prepare companies for a major event and can demonstrate to a regulator or auditor that an appropriately strong control framework is in place. Better still, companies gain real strategic value from a “risk adjusted” understanding not only of their threats and vulnerabilities, but also the upside opportunities associated with various risks. It starts with having both qualitative and quantitative information to identify, assess and manage risks. Strategic risk management, at its core, is about creating value by increasing transparency and accountability, and quality of information. More than a mere compliance exercise, effective risk management enables more informed strategic decision making, increased accountability and transparency, a greater likelihood of organizational success, and – ultimately – competitive advantage, as borne out by many studies that correlate risk management and financial results.

Description: Educational trip whereby Columbia Students visit with 26 insurance and reinsurance organizations over a 4 day period in 2014.

Description: Feature article that introduces readers to Actuaries Without Borders (AWB), which provides volunteers for projects in countries where the actuarial profession is at an early level of development. The article also highlights recent international projects undertaken by AWB.

Description: In the Leadership & Development Section’s Leadership Inspiration Contest, entrants were asked to tell us what inspired them to be a better actuarial leader. Carlos Arocha submitted an entry from the “Defining Moment/Event” category.

Description: February issue of The Stepping Stone

Description: A few years ago, I had the opportunity to go from managing a team of 5 to almost losing my job to going back to an individual contributor role. I went through a rough period mentally, emotionally, and physically. In the midst of that experience, I got the opportunity to read "The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth" by John C. Maxwell. I credit this book to changing my life and setting me on the path to become a destroyer of self-limiting beliefs.

Description: An account of the trials of work ethic issues and college difficulties, and the triumphant story of overcoming obstacles through careful self-improvement.

Description: A follow-up to the 2012 article “A Global Perspective of the Health Insurance Market” about teaching a course at the Columbia University Masters in Actuarial Science program. The course provided an overview of the health care insurance industry.