Anaid C
I’m a graduate of Ecole Normale Supérieur and ENSAE. I’m also a qualified and certified actuary, and a member of the French Institute of Actuaries.
I started my career with the French Regulation and Supervisory Authority (ACPR), where for eight years I was able to broaden my knowledge of the insurance business and market. I left this status of auditor to become more of a “doer” and worked successively with several insurance companies (AXA Group, Neuflize Vie, Aviva France and Macif Group).
Today, I represent the “actuarial function” of Pacifica and therefore report directly to the CEO. I’m a member of Pacifica’s Management Committee and the Non-Life Executive Committee.
The Pacifica Management Committee currently comprises 30% of women thanks to the strong commitment of its senior management.
How would you describe the position of “job title”?
The Actuarial function, introduced by Solvency 2, is responsible for verifying that the company’s actuarial work is carried out satisfactorily in order to enable General Management to take its decisions more confidently. This “four-eyes” function is specific to insurance. The world of actuaries is still too male-dominated.
What are the peak periods of your job during the year?
We adapt to the company’s various milestones. This is because it is essential that we give our opinions before decisions are effectively taken. This means that we have to fit into the very tight schedules of the professional teams. To do this, my colleagues try to act as early as possible, to provide as much support as possible rather than step in after the actions have been taken.
Can you describe your typical day?
I have my daily rituals: water the plants in my office, greet my colleagues as well as those from the financial department team (who are on the same platform), and check my email. The rest of the day is spent in meetings, committees, colleague progress meetings, etc.
The day is a hectic race but what I like particularly are the informal discussions (coffee, breakfast, post-meeting debriefing, etc.) which allow us to share precious moments of camaraderie.
I also try to keep a weekly break to practice yoga: time that is neither professional nor family time, just for me…
What career path is required to reach your position and what are the possibilities for development?
Ideally, you must be an actuary or at least have actuarial skills and techniques. I think it is possible to move towards many other functions provided you don’t become confined in the role of expert. But obviously that depends on everybody’s preferences.
Personally, I’m increasingly getting to like management, the management of cross-functional projects and strategic challenges more than the purely technical aspects.
I encourage my employees to go beyond their own expertise and broaden their understanding of the company’s other business lines and concerns.
I encourage my employees to go beyond their own expertise and broaden their understanding of the company's other business lines and concerns.
How do you see the company’s progress in terms of diversity?
The difference between female and male actuaries lies not in the entry into working life but in career paths. Women still lack models to which they can relate in companies.
We must constantly fight against self-censorship, encourage more applications from women, demystify and demolish caricatures.
We need diversity in the broadest sense (gender, origin, age, training, etc.)
Today, although things are moving, there is still a long way to go.
What will help us will be work flexibility, working from home, etc.