Launch Event Recap

Oct 21

The Network of Actuarial Women and Allies (NAWA) hosted it’s official launch event on October 7th, led by its cofounders: Sandy Lowe (FCAS), Adrienne Ostroff (FSA, CERA, EA, MAAA, FCA), and Amber Rohde (FCAS). Our goal was to introduce the newly formed group, gather feedback from followers, and to host a diverse panel. The panel, led by Rae Warner, focused on a topic close to our hearts and one we feel can have a real impact – “Active Allyship: Why it’s important for an inclusive workplace.” Our panelists were Mallika Bender (FCAS, MAAA), Tonya Manning (FSA, FCA, MAAA, EA), Ari Moskowitz (ACAS, MAAA), and Yvonne Palm (FCAS, MAAA). An interesting takeaway for some was that even though the panel was diverse across many dimensions, the sentiment and responses were all very well aligned when it came to the importance and impact allies have had on their personal and professional lives – experiences being an ally, having allies, and times they’ve needed an ally but didn’t have the support. So much vulnerability shared from everyone, including many of our attendees who continued the engagement with the panel well past Rae’s prepared questions.

Video Highlights

Learn more about NAWA’s Mission and Foundational Principles

Learn more about why we started NAWA

Learn more about getting involved with NAWA through Impact Committees, Sponsorship and Membership

Hear from Mallika Bender, Tonya Manning, Yvonne Palm, and Ari Moskowitz on “Active Allyship: Why its Important for an Inclusive Workplace”, facilitated by Rae Warner.

Meeting Highlights

In regards to attendance, over 368 people registered for the free event, spanning across 20 countries and 33 states (of those who disclosed). 232 attended on the day of from well over 60 companies across industries, locations, and much more. A large group with vast diversity led to wonderful engagement during the event. For a kick off event, many were satisfied that it was successful in quantity and quality – however more so in connecting so many of us in a way we haven’t yet been and igniting a passion for what we can all do together.

In addition to the event, the community was surveyed during the meeting on what they’d like to see from NAWA. The results have inspired both us at NAWA and the newly forming Impact Committees on what we can all do together. Please see our word cloud which we will be bringing with us to our Impact Committee planning sessions. Hopefully you as well are as inspired by what you see!

We at NAWA - our volunteers, our new members, our followers, and others – are all excited about what we can do, now that we are united. We’re looking forward to the impact we can all have together!