Tanmay Gupta

Actuarial Science, May 2010

Please tell us briefly about your academic background. 

I completed my undergraduate degree in telecommunications engineering from Bangalore, India in June 2007. After working for about a year as a systems engineer, I decided to move out of the traditional computer science job, towards something that suited my abilities better. I was always good at mathematics and statistics. The engineering background helped me take a practical view at situations. After doing a lot of research, I found the Actuarial Science Program at Columbia University. I did not apply to any other school, as it was my dream to study at Columbia University. I joined the program in August 2008 and graduated in December 2010. To further my aspirations, I took a part-time course in international finance at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi to understand the nuances of the finance industry, and to strengthen my basics. During my job, I took up a few exams of PRM (Professional Risk Manager) to gain further knowledge of financial modeling. 

Could you walk us through your career path leading up to your current position? 

After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I worked as an associate systems analyst for about a year at IBM Global Business Services in India. I was working on mainframes, which happens to be IBM's core business. Computers and programming are an integral part of every industry, and I owe my prowess in programming to this job. I believe it is very important in life to give back to the community. I have always been a member of the Rotary Club, and as soon as I joined Columbia University, I volunteered to teach MS Excel to unemployed people in Harlem. The teaching experience was wonderful because I learned to communicate with larger groups while also improving my public speaking. After my first year at Columbia University, I decided to form the Actuarial Society of Columbia University, along with two other students, and was chosen as the vice-president. Even though it was tough to garner support at the beginning, it helped me gain a sense of responsibility and leadership.

I believe the most important hurdle to clear during the program are the SOA Exams. It is extremely important to clear as many exams as possible, as that is key to finding a job. During my time, I cleared three SOA Exams and all the VEE credits. During the summer, I had an internship with MIB Solutions Inc. in New York. I developed a good understanding of the business side of insurance, and how insurance companies worked in real life. My colleagues at MIB were wonderful people, and helped me a lot during the initial stages. By the end of the program, I had three job offers, but since Metlife was the most prestigious among them all, I decided to accept their offer.

What is a typical day like in your current position?  

Metlife has a great policy of flexible work hours, which means that we can come in and leave anytime we like, as long as we get the work done. I work in the traditional life valuation division of the company, where I assess the reserves that the company needs to hold. A great chunk of my work involves use of MS Excel to draw up spreadsheets and pivot tables. I also work on the development side, whereby I help in assessing the economic viability of the insurance products. Financial reporting for the division is another aspect of my job. I usually work on the reports before lunch, which leads to development work afterwards. The company has an extremely encouraging study program. Since I am part of the actuarial development program, I am allowed to study two hours every day for any upcoming SOA Exams. Currently, I am preparing for the fourth exam for the May sitting. The day ends early and the schedule is comfortable. I think this is the greatest perk of being an actuary, the ability to dedicate copious amount of time to critical thinking.
 
How has the degree helped you in your career? 
 
The degree at Columbia University was very helpful in building a well-rounded personality. The prestige of the University and the usefulness of the degree have gone a long way in helping me realize my career goals. Furthermore, the faculty at Columbia is one of the best in the world. I think the program prepared me very well to face the rigors of my job. At my workplace, I realize that the education attained at Columbia is holding me in good stead. Although the program could be made a little more practical and industry-specific, one of its best features is the diversity of the student body. There are so many students from different countries who have varied backgrounds and each individual brings their own specialty to the table, which makes learning at Columbia a wonderful experience.
 
Is there anything you would have done differently while at the School of Continuing Education?
 
I believe in living with no regrets. The years spent at Columbia University have been some of the best years of my life. The one thing that I could have done differently at SCE would be making more connections in my first semester. I tried to go alone, but felt that I needed to be in cohesion with the other students in the program to assess my goals and to see where I stand in the program. This is where I believe the ASCU is doing a wonderful job in bringing new students together, and opening the communication lines between the faculty and students. The new ASCU board has excellent administrators, and I think the incoming students should make great use of the club to build a nexus.  

What advice would you give students interested in entering your field of work? 

I think the most important advice I can give is not to be too disheartened by your failures, and not to be too excited by your success. Discipline and a good work-ethic are important in any field, but they are critical in the actuarial field. It is crucial to succeed in the SOA Exams, and students should give them special attention. Other than that, I would encourage them to enjoy their time at Columbia as much as they can.