Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to a career in the actuarial/STEM field?
I currently work for a P&C insurance company, in a role focused on Property Catastrophes. Like many actuaries, I grew up enjoying math and solving puzzles. Given my father worked in insurance, and a family friend was a P&C actuary, I learned about the career early on. I decided in high school it was the path for me, and I never looked back!
How has your identity as an LGBTQ+ individual influenced your journey—personally, professionally, or both?
It’s been an unexpected gift. Being part of the LGBTQ+ community meant that I’ve had a natural network of individuals across my company and the actuarial profession. That network has provided the opportunity to receive mentorship from others, as well as a chance to provide mentorship – which enables a different form of professional growth. And it’s a reason I became active in my company’s Pride & Allies Employee Resource Group, which has been a great way to develop leadership skills to bring back to my actuarial role.
What does Pride Month mean to you?
For me, Pride is getting to walk down the street holding my husband’s hand, and not wondering if we’re getting any negative looks. It means being a loud ally to other LGBTQ+ identities. And a chance to just exist stress-free amongst the community.
Are there any LGBTQ+ mentors, public figures, or trailblazers who have inspired you in your work or life?
In my personal life I had mostly positive, but some mixed reactions when I came out as gay. When I was about to join the workforce out of college, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Could I be out and still have a career? But a friend of a friend knew of an out LGBTQ+ leader at the company I was about to join. I figured if that leader could be LGBTQ+ and successful, it would be okay for me to be too. Since then, I’ve tried to be loudly out – you never know who might be watching, and who you might be helping.
In what ways do you think diversity—of identity, thought, or experience—strengthens the actuarial or STEM professions?
I believe that diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences can strengthen any team, including actuarial teams. In a way, it’s like an Ensemble Model – blending together multiple perspectives can produce a better result than a single individual person (or model) can on their own.
What’s one hope you have for the future of the actuarial/STEM community when it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusion and representation?
I’d like to see all LGBTQ+ actuaries just be able to be their authentic selves without facing negative career consequence for being who they are. While it’s something I’ve personally been fortunate to experience, I know it’s not yet equally true for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. It feels like we’ve made a lot of progress over the years, and I’m excited to watch us continue to get closer to that dream.
