My organisation has sent a number of qualified actuaries on the Guardian Actuarial Leadership Program, and I''ve noticed a huge improvement in communication skills, as well as project, stakeholder and people management skills from those who have attended this course. The program is very practical and is structured in a way that enables students to immediately apply what they are learning in their jobs, benefiting both themselves and the organisation.- Mike Williamson, VP, Finance, Corporate Actuarial & Appointed Actuary, Australia, Pacific Life Re

If you''re aspiring to journey from technical actuary to leader, Julia''s book is essential in your toolkit to enhance your skills to manage yourself, your team and strategic projects. It captures valuable insights from experienced actuaries and provides practical tips to implement in your current role to boost your career to the next level.- Kim Clough, Insurance leader and Actuary

Julia''s thoughtful, diligent and empathetic approach to learning and development combined with her wide experience as an actuary, manager and educator make her an ideal person to author this book for actuaries who are seeking to move from technical to broader management roles. Her book combines practical examples, insights from the experience of others and plenty of opportunities to reflect on what might work for you in different situations. - Jenny Lyon, Actuary and Non-Executive Director

Where was this book when I was a newly qualified manager? To learn these management skills I needed to rely on the (hopefully good) example of those that managed me in the past. Julia takes a systematic, holistic and thoughtful approach to developing the necessary skills for successful actuarial management and leadership. A valuable resource for all actuaries- Simon Guthrie, Senior Lecturer, Nominated Accreditation Actuary, Macquarie Business School

Finally good material of management specifically designed for Actuaries - Syed Musa Ali

Julia''s book is a fantastic resource for pricing actuaries, who want to develop their leadership skills. The shift from contributor to leader doesn''t always come naturally to technical professionals, yet with the right support, many of us can become brilliant managers. Some of the world''s greatest business leaders are introverts, good leadership isn''t about being the loudest voice in the room, but about fostering trust and vision. Congratulations to Julia on publishing this valuable book and for helping to develop pricing leaders - Jeremy Keating, Actuary and Author of Price Writer: The nine-step method to becoming a highly successful general insurance pricing leader.

If you don''t have stakeholders in your work life then you do not need this book. For the rest of us, this ˜toolkit'' provides ample opportunities for active learning on career management through self-reflection. A worthwhile read at all stages of your career!- Mike Callan, FIAA, FIA, PhD, EGME Actuaries Institute.

New MVP for my management skills reference material. Up until now, my repository of professional books had two separate categories for this. One that explores the art of people management and another for my actuarial technical work. Julia has combined the two into a practical guide specific to actuarial managers. If there is anything else like this on the market, I haven''t been able to find it! - Alison Visser, AIAA

I love how this book brings together four things I really value: wellbeing, stakeholder management, strategic thinking and networking. I''ve always found these to be really important when working in a professional environment at any level, and glad Julia has brought these ideas together in one place in a very clear, succinct and easy to grasp manner. - Dinushi Jayasuriya, AIAA and experienced actuarial leader

The book works equally well as a self-study guide or as source material for group discussions among actuarial teams, making it versatile for different learning preferences and organizational contexts. - Trevor Matthews FIA, FIAA, FAICD, ASA

It''s so brilliant¦well structured, easy to read, friendly and supportive writing style and full of great advice for actuarial managers - Amanda Aitken

This book is so readable, I could barely focus on my coffee. Packed with practical, systematic, clearly explained content, it''s the perfect companion for actuaries who''ve recently become managers, those who are aspiring to, and those who became managers without any leadership training at all. Aspiring Actuarial Leaders is hard to put down, and easy to return to over and over. - Sheridan Daniels

As a graduate of the Guardian Actuarial Leadership Program, I still immensely benefit from this book that provides fresh insights from practicing actuaries, and an applicable toolkit that doesn''t assume leadership is one-size-fits-all but acknowledges different strengths of different styles under various circumstances. This book is not about teaching theories, but is conversational and playing clips of real-life scenarios. - Laura Zhao

For someone in a technical role looking to develop a strategic mindset, this book offers practical insights on aligning team goals with organisational objectives. It also provides valuable guidance for actuarial managers on effectively managing people with different social styles. Additionally, the book covers essential time management techniques to enhance productivity and leadership effectiveness. - Sidd Gandhi

Reflecting during a peaceful camping trip, I found the Optimum Well-being pillar especially valuable, alongside the book''s other powerful tools, in equipping aspiring actuarial leaders to transition confidently, thrive, and enjoy the journey. - Desmond Muzorewa

Aspiring Actuarial Leaders is a practical and concise guide for actuaries, or other professionals, moving from a technical role to managing a team for the first time. The examples are drawn from real life situations - I''ve found myself in most of these situations before! - and the insights from experienced actuaries are excellent. I thoroughly recommend Julia''s book to all actuaries in management roles whether they are new to managing a team or have been doing so for many years. I wish it had been available at the start of my leadership journey.- Anthony Lowe