Where are you based?
I’m from Egypt but am now based in London.
What volunteering do you do for the IFoA?
I’m the chairman of the Arab Actuarial Society (AAS) and a member of the IFoA Data Science Working Party.
How long have you been volunteering?
Since 2019.
What’s involved in your roles?
As AAS chairman, I promote awareness of the actuarial career and the IFoA to Middle Eastern candidates. The most important part of the role is helping Milliman with the initiative it signed with the UN Development Programme to increase capacity in developing countries; Egypt is one of the first countries to roll out this programme.
What motivates you to volunteer?
It’s fun and worthwhile. It gives me the opportunity to connect with amazing people from both the IFoA and the wider insurance industry. More importantly, it is a way to give back to the community.
What do you hope to achieve in your roles?
To see a large cohort of Fellows from the Middle East in the next few years.
What new skills or knowledge have you developed?
Volunteering allows me to develop not just technical but also interpersonal and soft skills.
It has helped me build a strategic mindset and plan properly to achieve goals.
How has this assisted your lifelong learning?
Being a member of the Data Science Working Party has helped me stay up to date with the latest industry trends and topics of interest.
Has volunteering helped you in your day job?
Absolutely – the profile of engagements and discussions involved in the role provide a depth of knowledge about industry development, and enhance different levels of soft skills.
Have there been any memorable moments?
When I passed the preliminary exam and was selected to join the actuarial science major at Cairo University – seeing my name on the list of successful candidates is carved in my memory. Even writing about it now evokes all the emotions and anxiety I felt back then.
How do you balance your day job and your volunteer role?
The good thing about the volunteer work is that there is no strict requirement. You can easily plug the volunteer work into your weekly or monthly schedule, and it does not create any pressure or stress.
How do you relax away from the office?
Long walks during the day, and taking short breaks to go overseas and explore different countries.
Who is your role model in life or business?
Steve Jobs.
What was your earliest dream job?
Equity trader.
What word best describes you?
‘Nomad’.
Do you prefer a staycation or holiday abroad?
A holiday abroad, of course.
I have a wanderlust nature – I have visited 39 countries. My tips: consider Morocco in the winter, and Croatia and Montenegro in the summer.
If you were locked inside a famous building for one night, which would it be and why?
The Empire State Building – I love the view.
What would you consider to be the highlight of your career to date?
The time when I was rejected from an interview in 2006 by one of the largest reinsurance companies in the industry.
As Steve Jobs said: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” Looking back,
I know that if I had been given the job,
I would not be in the position I am in now.
It’s amazing how a rejection can open a door for a glorious opportunity.
To share your volunteer involvement or find out about volunteering for the IFoA, contact: [email protected]
Mohamed Aly Soliman Crypto asset and digital money division, Bank of England
Image credit | Shutterstock
