An Enduring Sense of Community
More than 10 years ago, when I was serving as a CAS vice president, I participated with the Board and Executive Council (EC) in discussions to identify the “why” for the CAS. We were inspired by a popular TED Talk by Simon Sinek, called “Start With Why.” In this talk, Sinek encourages organizations to answer the question, “Why does our organization exist?” The answer will dig deeper than questions like, “What do we do?” or “How do we do it?” The “why” question exposes the purpose, cause, or belief that drives the organization. Sinek says very few organizations can clearly articulate their “why.”
So, the CAS Board and EC took on the challenge to articulate our “why.” After several rounds of conversation, a theme started to emerge centered around the word “community.” CAS President Bob Miccolis summarized this theme in the May 2015 Actuarial Review:
“So why should the CAS exist? Because the CAS is a community defined by the shared beliefs of actuaries whose specialty is solving actuarial problems in property/casualty risks, and those actuaries who share our beliefs are drawn to the CAS and our community. Those shared beliefs are what define our community within the actuarial profession and thereby define why the CAS should exist.”
For many of the Board and EC members at the time, the sense of community in the CAS was personal and meaningful to them. They valued the sense of belonging they felt at CAS meetings, the insights that were shared in CAS research, and the opportunity they had to contribute to building the CAS community. This articulation of “why” guided many things that we did in CAS leadership for many years to strengthen and deepen this sense of community in the CAS.
Now, 10 years later, I often reflect on how CAS members continue to value our sense of community. We are a much larger organization now — more than 11,000 members, with an increasing number outside the U.S. and Canada. We hold more meetings virtually now than we did back then. And our community had to navigate the enormous disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting societal strains. Yet despite all those challenges, I believe our sense of community is just as strong and remains an important part of “why” the CAS exists.
I did some research recently on what makes a professional community strong and vibrant (with the help of Google Gemini, Google’s next-generation AI model). Gemini summarized four core principles of successful communities (text in italics), drawn from several articles that are referenced at the end of this column. The following text comprises parts that I chose from the Gemini summary.
Core Principles
Member-Centricity and Shared Purpose.
At its foundation, a professional community must exist to serve its members. This requires understanding that members’ individual requirements, desires, and goals are of critical importance and should be actively catered to (Kaplan). A community must have a unifying purpose that resonates with all members and provides a clear vision. This shared purpose becomes a rallying point during challenging times and a source of motivation that empowers members to move forward with their individual growth as well as the growth of the community as a whole (Kaplan). Without this shared desire and clear articulation of purpose, a community cannot attract or retain like-minded members who are willing to contribute their time and effort (Amann).
Diversity and Inclusion.
A strong community thrives on diversity. It recognizes that not all members are the same in terms of knowledge, academic background, or work exposure. Welcoming a diverse range of ages, genders, mindsets, and geographic locations creates an environment where people feel appreciated and heard, which drives connection and innovation (Kaplan). Fostering an accepting and inclusive workplace where discrimination is not tolerated is paramount. This can be achieved through creating safe spaces for marginalized voices to be heard (Cacoveanu). By capturing and promoting diverse mindsets, a community becomes more flexible and accommodating, increasing its chances of success (Kaplan).
Relationships and Collaboration.
A community is the sum of its members, and its effectiveness is based on the quality of the relationships they form. This involves creating a collaborative and cohesive environment — a shareable ecosystem where members can exchange ideas, information, and resolve queries without hesitation (Kaplan). This is a departure from individual work in isolation and is characterized by a shared commitment to work together to create an effective and supportive environment (Earp). A well-functioning community provides an engaging atmosphere that positively involves members, linking their needs, relationships, and common goals to drive proactive participation (Kaplan).
High Ethical Standards.
A professional community is founded on trust. Drawing from the fundamental principles of professional conduct in fields like accounting and law, a community’s ethical infrastructure must be built on integrity, objectivity, and professional competence (ICAEW). Integrity requires being straightforward and honest in all professional relationships. Objectivity demands that professional judgment is exercised without bias or undue influence. Professional competence and due care entail maintaining the necessary knowledge and skill to provide a high-quality service and acting diligently in accordance with applicable standards (ICAEW). Principles of professional conduct are not merely rules to be followed; they are the essential components that build the confidence and respect of the community and the public it serves (Washington state Supreme Court).
I see many ways that these principles come to life in our CAS community. In our most recent Strategic Plan, we confirmed that members are at the center of our objectives. And our Envisioned Future continues to articulate a shared purpose for the CAS — CAS members are globally recognized for their expertise in applying analytics to solve complex insurance and risk management challenges. We are fostering an increasingly inclusive culture, as more members join us from different backgrounds and nations.
There has been a renewed interest in coming together to build relationships. Our recent Annual and Spring Meetings have had very high attendance. Attendees tell us how much they value meeting colleagues, renewing relationships, and sharing experiences together. We have established new Research Working Groups in current topics like artificial intelligence and climate risk, attracting many members who are eager to collaborate on these challenging issues. Our shared commitment to professionalism continues to bind us together and represents an essential part of our identity.
So more than 10 years after the CAS Board articulated the “why” of community, we continue to be a strong and vibrant community of professionals. This didn’t happen by accident. It happened because you, our members, value this community and are willing to invest in it. Because of that, I’m confident that the CAS community will continue to thrive for decades to come.
Works cited
- Kaplan, Marc, “Identifying and understanding key principles and values of community building,” accessed August 11, 2025, https://www.digitalfirstmagazine.com/identifying-and-understanding-key-principles-and-values-of-community-building/.
- Cacoveanu, Adriana, “How to Build a Strong Workplace Community,” Yarooms, accessed August 11, 2025, https://www.yarooms.com/blog/how-to-build-a-strong-workplace-community.
- Amann, Andrew, “The Four Principles of Building a Community,” NineTwoThree Studio, accessed August 11, 2025, https://www.ninetwothree.co/blog/the-four-principles-of-building-a-community.
- Earp, Jo, “Building a Professional Learning Community,” Teacher Magazine, accessed August 11, 2025, https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/building-a-professional-learning-community.
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), “Code of Ethics — The Five Fundamental Principles,” accessed August 11, 2025, https://www.icaew.com/technical/trust-and-ethics/ethics/code-of-ethics/the-fundamental-principles.
- Washington state Supreme Court, “Fundamental Principles of Professional Conduct,” accessed August 11, 2025, https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/RPC/GA_RPC_FUNDAMENTAL%20PRINCIPLES.pdf. ●
