Description: The author describes her experience as an actuarial student living in Hartford, Conn.

Description: A compilation of reader responses is presented to a real life situation posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision. This issue’s case study involved whether or not to extend an offer to a strong candidate, after a comment from the CEO.

Description: This column highlights the recent activities of the Society of Actuaries and lists professional development opportunities.

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: 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: This article discusses how your leadership style should vary depending on the person you are leading, the situation and goal. 4 syles of leadership are discussed.

Description: A compilation of reader responses is presented to a real life situation posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision. This issue’s case study involved whether a recently departed employee should be offered the chance to return, and whether he should consider it.

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: A discussion of the recently revised Society of Actuaries Global Initiatives Policy, which covers a variety of issues including relationships with other actuarial associations, professional development issues, and education issues.

Description: Information and examples from the Younger Actuaries Network mentoring program