The Making Things Happen column features CAS and iCAS members who serve the associations in many capacities and enrich the volunteer experience for all.

Personal development has always been a fascination for Dalesa Bady, ACAS.

She didn’t know what type of impact this fascination would have on her career, but as a highly determined and ambitious person, it was important for her to build a career she could be proud of that allowed her to grow.

For a while, her career as an actuary appeared to be on track. In fact, all of the right things were happening. She passed actuarial exams, increased her exposure and visibility in the profession, expanded her skillset and ultimately watched her career grow.

But, in the back of her mind, something felt oddly off.

“Over time, I began to realize my career goals were becoming less and less clear,” Bady said. “This wasn’t an ideal situation for me. I felt lost, and it ate at me, constantly.”

She knew she needed support, so she found a coach.

“It was the best decision I’ve made in my career so far,” Bady said. “I uncovered a lot about myself and began to strengthen muscles that I didn’t know I had. I got the clarity I needed and so much more in the process.”

It didn’t take long before concluding she wanted to become a certified coach and serve as a resource for Black women in the actuarial profession. While still working full-time last year, she launched her coaching business and has now helped dozens of Black women in STEM fields.

“This type of work speaks to my interests, my strengths and my mission for supporting Black women in the workplace and moving the needle toward a more diverse workforce in the insurance and actuarial space,” Bady said.

In her current capacity as a coach, Bady provides transformational alignment and professional development support for her clients. More specifically, she helps Black women in STEM fields become more confident, renew their energy and lead careers that are connected to their true, authentic selves.

“As a Black woman, a coach and practicing actuary, I come to the table with a unique perspective,” Bady said. “And as a result, I often wear a number of hats when I partner with my clients. More importantly, I understand my clients’ struggles and empower them to go after the fulfillment they deserve in their careers and lives.”

At the center of everything, Bady helps her clients achieve their vision and drive results by uncovering barriers, building new habits and bridging the gap from their present to future self.

As an actuary at GuideOne Insurance, she acts as a liaison where she connects the business with the data and analytical arm of the organization. In this role, she works with a number of people across a variety of technical functions and has an opportunity to collaborate with underwriters to fill gaps and understand their data and analytical needs from a portfolio management perspective. She is also a key partner in corporate strategy and planning at GuideOne Insurance

She first discovered the actuarial profession as a senior in high school when she had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with a chief actuary at a life insurance company in her hometown.

“I don’t remember much of our dialogue, but what I did take away from our afternoon together was this level of excitement and energy he had for his work,” Bady said. “Those things seemed to just ooze out of him in a way that was contagious to me.”

“I decided to lean into the actuarial profession at that point because I wanted to have those same feelings about my work in my career. And today, I’m fortunate to be in a place where I can have exactly what I was looking for all those years ago.”

Bady attended The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) and received her BS in mathematics with a concentration in actuarial science.

It didn’t take long for her to get acclimated to the culture at UT Austin, so she became involved in multiple campus organizations and activities. Because of her level of involvement, she always felt that her professional career truly began at UT Austin. Being a student at an institution with a strong actuarial science program afforded her great opportunities and a wealth of exposure to companies hiring actuaries.

During her time at UT Austin, she also had internships at a large, multinational company. These experiences played a major role in shaping her understanding of an actuary’s role in the workplace and expanding the technical skills in her toolbox.

After graduating from UT Austin, she went into the property and casualty insurance industry and never looked back.

She first discovered the actuarial profession as a senior in high school when she had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with a chief actuary.

“I’ve been working in this industry for the last 12 years and have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience,” Bady said.

Her actuarial career began at USAA with a focus on pricing personal lines products. She later moved into a number of nontraditional actuarial roles, including product management, forecasting and planning, and data analytics. Following USAA, she worked as a consulting actuary for Pinnacle Actuarial Resources and led a variety of actuarial work for captives and multiline insurance carriers prior to joining GuideOne Insurance.

She is an active volunteer in the CAS and International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA).

After she became an Associate, she turned to student engagement as a way to begin her CAS volunteering journey. She worked with UT Austin and The University of Texas at Dallas as a CAS University Liaison, providing direct support and guidance for students interested in the actuarial profession. She also served in a mentor capacity across several CAS programs, including the CAS Student Central Summer Program, which was introduced in 2020 to provide an alternative professional and educational experience for those impacted by canceled internships during the pandemic.

She is also a member of the CAS Leadership Development Committee (LDC) and contributes ideas and develops articles for the LDC newsletter. The primary audience for the LDC newsletter is CAS members.

Within IABA, she leads the Student Programs Committee. This committee focuses on the development and promotion of Black students and career changers entering the actuarial profession. In this position, she works with IABA volunteers to ensure IABA’s student programs are aligned with the organization’s vision and strategic plan.

Some fun facts about Bady: Because she grew up in Texas, family and football have always held a special place in her heart. Without fail, she drives herself crazy each season as a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. She has an 18-month-old British Shorthair cat named Stormi. Outside of her time working in either of her professional capacities, she loves to travel. Earlier this year, she spent two weeks in Italy, and she looks forward to making new memories with her family as they travel over the upcoming holiday season.