There’s something deeply inspiring about the combination of precision, curiosity, and courage required to venture into the unknown. Watching a spacecraft travel to the moon and back invites a sense of awe, but it also challenges us to shift our perspective—to see familiar things in entirely new ways.

I’m thrilled to share the first installment of my presidential series, inspired by my CCA Annual Meeting experience in Las Vegas. The energy in the halls, the conversations happening around every corner, and the collective excitement of our members remind me why this gathering is such an important touchpoint for our profession. It’s always a privilege to be part of this event—whether you're presenting, attending sessions, or reconnecting with colleagues.

Have you ever been in an airport or walked into a store and realized the employees around you might be connected to your work? I have—and it’s a powerful reminder of why what we do matters.

Microsoft’s viral list of “Top 40 Jobs Most Likely to Be Replaced by AI” included mathematicians, data scientists, and statistical assistants—but not actuaries. Why? Because while AI can enhance actuarial work, it can’t replace the human judgment, creativity, and client-specific problem solving that make actuaries essential.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about bucket lists. Most people have a personal one — maybe it includes traveling to Paris, learning to play the guitar, or running a marathon. But have you ever thought about your career bucket list?

This month CCA president Yi-Ling Lin reflects on the incredible impact of community—specifically within the actuarial profession—and how it’s shaped her journey. She used to think that doing good work within her company was enough. But over time, she discovered that networking, volunteering, and simply talking to other actuaries opened doors she didn’t know existed.

David writes about the dynamics between logic and reason versus emotion and intuition. As actuaries, we often think that we lean towards logic and calculation. However, this way of thinking can make us vulnerable to undetected bias. While we assume that emotions inherently have bias, there can also be bias in our logic, where it is often more difficult to detect, especially if we are not looking for it.

In this month's blog, David tells us his definition of a polymath, why he thinks actuaries are polymaths and what they have in common with Leonardo da Vinci.

Those of you who are regular readers of this blog will not be surprised about my love of astronomy and the recommended soundtrack to this month’s blog post.* Of course, this is very apropos of what has been dubbed the Great North American Eclipse, which took place on April 8, 2024, and I want to share with you some of my thoughts on the eclipse, including a surprise connection to actuarial science.