Description: Article describes accomplishments as Chair during the year. Four accomplishments are mentioned: i) Actuarial Research Conference ii) Early Career Award, iii) Establishment of Outstanding Educator Award, iv) Push to create surveys from the section containing a reservoir of ideas that can be used for webinars, podcasts, etc.

Description: The incoming E&R chair for the coming year reflects on past accomplishments of the E&R council, acknowledges with thanks contributors, and looks forward to continuation in the coming year.

Description: The Society of Actuaries (SOA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the creation of a Diversity Extension of the new University-Earned Credit (UEC) program. One of the SOA’s key strategic initiatives is to engage diverse communities to address key societal issues and to work to build a more diverse actuarial profession. The UEC Diversity Extension will begin investing in efforts to achieve greater diversity within the actuarial profession.

Description: Do you struggle with confidence presenting your ideas in front of others? You are not alone. The good news is that confidence can be learned. Rob Salafia, executive coach at MIT Sloan School of Management and author of the book, Leading From Your Best Self (McGraw-Hill) will guide you through a science based, positive psychology approach for you to fortify yourself and discover your four keys to confidence. Rob utilizes his 20 + years in the performing arts to help business leaders project a positive presence, connect authentically with others, and incorporate the skill of storytelling to create meaning and momentum.

Description: Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world, is plagued with poverty, political unrest, and natural disasters. The latest disaster was a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck the town of Les Cayes and surrounding communities on August 14, 2021. Only three days later tropical storm Grace brought devastating flooding to the very same region along the southern peninsula of Haiti. Over 2,200 were killed and many thousands more injured, homeless, or missing. Food and drinking water were scarce. Relief from the capital in Port-au-Prince was limited due to structural damages to bridges and landslides on roads. Outside aid took days to arrive. Spontaneously, Pierre-moise Louis of Jérémie Bakery sprang into action. He donated his entire stock of konparèts (a dry biscuit baked from breadfruit flour) to affected families in the area. With additional support from Trees That Feed Foundation, over 80,000 meals were provided by local Haitians to victims of the disaster. Since its inception in 2008, Trees That Feed Foundation has received financial and operational support from my fellow actuaries in several countries.

Description: The webcast addresses the four stages of effective leadership, and the three main drivers of effective leadership. It provides several metrics for assessment. Use of these ideas allows any leader in a leader-subordinate situation to raise the level of the subordinate to mastery level. The material in the discussion is based on an article in Stepping Stones (Sep 2023), "Are you an Empowering Leader", by Russell Jay Hendel.

Description: Stefanos Orfanos shares his perspective and priorities for this year as the incoming chair of the SOA Education and Research Section.

Description: A summary about the first book club discussion on Never Split the Difference. Insights on key negotiation elements are discussed in the article.