Hanbing He (’14SPS, Actuarial Science) graduated from Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, China before earning a Master of Science in Actuarial Science from Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies. He is currently an Associate member of Casualty Actuarial Society and a board member of Reinsurance Under 40s. He also works for Guy Carpenter’s Strategic Advisory team and has managed the development of BenchmaRQ, helped insurers build ERM framework, and consulted clients on issues ranging from reinsurance to growth strategies.
What initially attracted you to the Actuarial Science program at Columbia University?
I heard about this program back when I was in my freshman year of college. One of the alumni at my college attended this program. As I researched the program more, I started to see how unique it was since it has a very close relationship with the industry and is located in New York City, the heart of the finance world. All these factors convinced me to apply for the program without any hesitation.
Columbia has opened the door for me to network and speak with individuals with industry experience.
What type of skills were you able to build and improve on through the program?
The program provided all kinds of different training sessions and classes. Through the years, I found the most valuable skill I picked up at Columbia was communication. Doesn’t matter if it’s a group discussion or a professional seminar, Columbia has opened the door for me to network and speak with individuals with industry experience. By talking with them, I learn the tactics to efficiently communicate. The communication skill is such an important one because there are conversations going on at every moment.
How have these skills helped you succeed at your job?
As an actuary in a broker firm, my day to day job includes meetings with colleagues and communicating with clients. Most times as an actuary, the biggest hurdle is not about the technical problem-solving; instead, it is how to express your opinion and information clearly in a way that’s understood by others. How you describe technical term determines the outlook of your conservation and your work because every qualified actuary can produce similar quality work but not everyone is a good communicator.
