GALs Just Wanna Feel Connected
Recognizing that women remain a minority in actuarial and STEM fields, just over 30% globally, Lincoln Financial Group employees founded GALA (Girls and Allies) to build community and support for female actuaries. What began as casual conversations among ten women evolved into a full-fledged network with structured leadership, goals, and events. Launching with kickstarters in early 2023 and a Valentine’s‑themed networking event, the group now hosts regular gatherings and is planning a 2024 coffee‑chat series to nurture deeper connections. GALA’s experience demonstrates how grassroots initiatives can foster belonging as they lay groundwork for mentorship, outreach, and sustained growth.
Becoming a Better Role Model by Working Less
Early in her career, Jessi Kildow fought imposter syndrome by pushing herself to work late nights and weekends until she realized this unsustainable pace harmed both her well-being and performance. Over time, she embraced healthy boundaries, prioritized long-term goals over short-term wins, and modeled balanced success. Her message: you don’t have to sacrifice personal fulfillment to be a role model - in fact, doing so might make you one.
The Virtual Revolution: NAWA Book Club
During the COVID‑19 era many of us discovered new ways to connect across distance online. For NAWA this meant launching a virtual book club that brings together members from different time zones and actuarial backgrounds. In early 2023 the group read The Myth of the Nice Girl by Fran Hauser and explored how kindness and boundary setting can become strengths in a professional setting.
The Intersection: How Actuaries Can and Should be Empowered to Move the Needle on Equity
After a personal journey reshaped by the events of 2020, the author, now CEO of Athena Actuarial Consulting, highlights how actuaries are uniquely positioned to influence equity within organizations. She urges professionals to begin by educating themselves, embracing difficult conversations, and building supportive networks that champion inclusion. Small steps, like reviewing pay equity and examining access to benefits, can lead to meaningful change.
The Small Business Maternity Plan
When support for working parents looks sparse, benefits like paid leave, flexible schedules, nursing support, and job security help but small businesses often lack these. Drawing from her experience as a consulting actuary and mother of three, the author offers practical strategies: build robust emergency savings, adjust workloads or hire temporary help around delivery, create flexible schedules, and outsource tasks at home or work. The underlying message is clear: support, not just higher pay or status, is what women have always needed to flourish.