Description: As part of the 2019 Disruptions to the Actuarial Profession Contest, this essay posits that the actuarial profession should respond to other fields encroaching on its space, particularly software development and data science, not by a defensive reaction to establish a boundary between fields but instead by a welcoming attitude that seeks to utilize expertise from other fields while maintaining the actuarial role of comprehensive risk management and its hard-earned professional trust.

Description: Emails are to the business world what cars are to a road trip: we can't get anywhere without them. This article offers 6 specific strategies to write emails more effectively. The theme is that re-reading your emails to check for a clear goal, conciseness, appropriate tone, etc. is a worthwhile time investment as it saves your reader time and prevents problems caused by miscommunication.

Description: The SOA Competency Framework for Actuaries is a powerful tool to enable you to Design Your Future by prioritizing your continuing education goals over time.

Description: Cassie He and Kabeer Jhaveri invite Michael Frank, a health, accident and life actuary with 24 years of experience, to talk about his career experience, his insightful views on the room to growth for actuaries and also the changes happening to the profession.

Description: Gearing up-- exploring the rewards for completing the SoA Competency Framework tools of Self-Assessment and Personal Development Plan.

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: One group of actuaries devoted an entire SOA meeting morning to developing their communication knowledge and skills. Titled “Actuaries Can Communicate,” the workshop was designed to: identify ways to communicate more effectively as an actuary, develop individual communication competence and practice communication skills central to the work of an actuary.

Description: The author discusses his transition from journalist to actuary. His goal is to help 21st century actuaries to be the best that we can be.

Description: Discusses how volunteering helps with development of important soft skills such as communication, networking, teamwork and leadership.

Description: This article addresses dealing with distractions, avoiding habits like multi-tasking, and providing guidance on how to reach a state of "flow" to concentrate on deep work.