Richardt Hechter

Actuary Of The Future

Employer and area of work: Discovery, technical marketing - South Africa

How would your best friend describe you? 

An idealist, with just the right touch of pragmatism.

What motivates you? 

The hunger to never stop learning, growing, exploring and ultimately succeeding.

What would be your personal motto? 

If the wind will not serve, take the oars.

Name five dream companions to be stuck on a desert island with? 

Jimi Hendrix - with his guitar slung from his shoulder, Christine Lagarde, Leonardo Da Vinci - armed with paper and pencil, Natalie Portman and, of course, William Golding.

What's your most 'actuarial' habit? 

Underwriting.

If you could learn one random skill, what would you learn? 

To understand and speak any language.

Favourite Excel function? 

hlookup - the hipster vlookup.

How do you relax away from the office? 

Waterpolo, whiskey, mates and a great book.

Alternative career choice? 

Fighter pilot.

Tell us something unusual about yourself 

My penchant for a good suit is limited by my size-14 shoe requirement.

Greatest risk you have ever taken? Dabbling in life's great pleasures, be it love, the pursuit of triumph, relocating or changing jobs - all equal risks, and ones worth taking.

If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet? 

Tie - Leonardo Da Vinci and Nikola Tesla.

What's your most treasured possession? 

The A5 Moleskine I carry with me.

What are the top three things you would like to achieve in your lifetime? 

One, to find balance between being content and experiencing what life has to offer. Two, inspire others to be the best that they can be. Three, to look back on a life well lived. 

If you ruled the world, what would you change first? 

I would pursue the ideal that people can be more accepting and tolerant.