Leading, Learning, and Leaping Forward
The Fall of 2024 brought with it more than just new students and changing leaves at Columbia—it brought the spirit of connection, ambition, and leadership to life through the Actuarial Science Proseminar Series.
Why Proseminar?
At its heart, the Proseminar is about building a community—one that thrives on learning from industry thought leaders and sharing opportunities unique to the actuarial world. Designed exclusively for Columbia’s Actuarial Science students, this one-of-a-kind course isn’t just about sitting through lectures—it’s about immersing ourselves in real-world insights, developing leadership qualities, and bridging the gap between academic theory and professional practice.
The goal is simple, yet powerful: create such an engaging and enriching experience that the speakers—many of whom are industry veterans—look forward to coming back again.
Through the Proseminar, we are trained not only to understand the insurance and risk industries but also to grow into future leaders. Leadership, after all, is not just a title—it’s a practice. As Henry Mintzberg wisely said,
“Leadership is a bit like swimming, that you can’t learn it from books. Ultimately, you have to get in the water.”
Each session reinforced this sentiment, showing us how leaders influence their environments through actions—clear communication, attentive listening, and confident direction-setting. These are not abstract traits. They are skills, practiced and learned, week after week.
A Semester of Industry Connections
Throughout the semester, the Proseminar hosted an incredible lineup of guest speakers and organizations. We were honored to learn from leading professionals at New York Life, MetLife, Arch Insurance, Marsh, Gen Re, Tokio Marine, and many others.
These sessions didn’t just offer career advice; they provided a look behind the curtain—into industry trends, workplace realities, and the kind of strategic thinking that can only come from experience. For many of us, it was the first time hearing such candid, real-world insights, and it left us both wiser and more confident in the paths we’re forging.
This blend of professional knowledge, leadership development, and exclusive networking makes the Proseminar a true highlight of the program. It’s an environment where we not only learn about leadership—we live it.
Career Fairs
One of the most anticipated parts of the Proseminar experience is the Career Fair. In Fall 2024, students had the opportunity to attend five different fairs throughout September, including:
SPS Career Fair
ASNY Career Fair (Virtual)
Gamma Iota Sigma Conference (Indianapolis)
Columbia Actuarial Science Career Fair
ASNY: Actuarial Society of Greater New York
The centerpiece of these events was the Columbia Actuarial Science Career Fair, thoughtfully organized by our program’s faculty and tailored specifically for our cohort. It was an incredible platform, bringing together over 20 top-tier companies, offering more than 80 roles, and connecting with 67 students from our program.
Some of the standout participants included:
NYS Department of Financial Services, Arch Insurance, American National Insurance, AON, Deloitte, and several other industry leaders.
The outcome? A resounding success for all. Students walked away with real prospects, companies found enthusiastic talent, and Columbia further cemented its role as a powerhouse for actuarial excellence.
As we reflect on the semester, it’s clear that the Proseminar is more than just a course—it’s a cornerstone of our professional journey. It provides the tools, confidence, and connections we need to thrive—not just as employees, but as future leaders.
To all the professionals who shared their time and insights with us: thank you. We hope to see you again soon—this time, as colleagues.
If you’d like to learn more about the Proseminar—whether out of curiosity, professional interest, or a desire to participate—we’d love to hear from you!
Please feel free to reach out to us at ascu@columbia.edu.
