Description: The actuarial profession is changing rapidly and the skills needed to be successful are also changing. In this session, we will debate key topics and questions, such as: What is the predominant future career path for actuaries? Specialists or generalists? Does the actuarial profession have a meaningful value prop outside our core domains e.g. insurance? What skills are needed for the actuary of the future? What’s the best approach to improve actuarial storytelling to non-actuarial audiences? What’s the role of actuaries to managing and predicting emerging trends and assumptions? What is the role of actuaries in relation to development and ownership of advanced modeling? Is the future actuarial profession smaller/larger than it is today? In either case, how does it differ from today in terms of make-up, deployment, function, purpose, value add, etc.?

Description: Most, if not all of us, have experienced a time when we were involved in a conversation that made us uncomfortable. After a short presentation to provide things to consider prior or during a difficult conversation, attendees will work at their tables to discuss a variety of topics. After each topic has been discussed, someone at each table will be given the opportunity to share something insightful with the group.

Description: Struggling to build a diverse and representative team? In this session, listen in on a discussion about best practices to consider when building a diverse team, how to set DEI goals and track them to ensure you are empowering diversity in how your teams deliver work.

Description: Actuarial functions are being asked to do more with less: being challenged to provide more value to the business through applying insight and foresight. This article examines ways in which actuaries can provide business insights with very limited investment. The article provides actionable steps that actuaries easily apply to their daily work.

Description: Focus on the importance of achieving complete and accurate technical reviews of work products that contribute to decision making. As actuaries, we often face tight deadlines and the demand is high for our team members to provide results in a timely manner. Through investing upfront time into a quality review of our work product, with an added focus on professional excellence and ethics, overall time savings can be gained and an overall higher quality work product can be achieved, not only of the technical work being performed, but of the decision making that is influenced by the result of the work. At the conclusion of this session, you will be able to understand the value of technical reviews and the methods of preparing for and implementing technical reviews across a team.

Description: Dr. Kimberly Harden helps organizations shift from a traditional diversity model to one that emphasizes diversity, interpersonal communication, and talent management. She will discuss topics on bias and how to be your authentic self in the workplace.

Description: Study, discuss and explore the professionalism practice, code of conduct and application of the actuarial profession. Hear from seasoned presenters from mainland China as they cover several issues encountered in daily actuarial working environments through business cases and interactive discussions.

Description: Interview of Natasha Regan about her mastery of the game of chess.

Description: Learn about prevalence-induced concept change and other cognitive biases. And find out how such biases can be linked to common actuarial practices (e.g., the application of the bias to stringency of enterprise risk management frameworks, in the case of prevalence-induced concept change). You should leave the session with the ability to understand how these biases could affect your work.

Description: Join us for an exciting session as Actuarial Innovation & Technology Strategic Research from the SOA's Research Institute unveils two recently published research reports: ""Unveiling the Life Insurers' Actuarial Transformation Journey and the Impact of Analytics"" and ""Exploring Revolutionary Advances in Underwriting: An Initial Assessment of Epigenetics, Medical Tests, and Wearables"". In the first report, we delve into the evolving landscape of life insurers' Actuarial Transformation efforts, shedding light on their future prospects and emphasizing emerging Advanced Analytics techniques. The second report serves as the inaugural installment of a series dedicated to identifying promising innovations for underwriters and actuaries, and it promises to alert the SOA to the latest developments. During this session, our presenters will provide an insightful overview of the key findings and key takeaways from both research reports. By the end of the session, attendees will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the invaluable research conducted in these areas.