RAJI BHAGAVATULA
Milliman Inc. Reprints
Senior Actuary
Milliman Inc.
New York
As senior actuary at Milliman Inc., Raji Bhagavatula has acted as lead consultant on mergers and acquisitions transactions, including the acquisition of GE Insurance Solutions by Swiss Re, which was completed in June 2006. She is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. She is currently the chairperson of the AAA Actuarial Standards Board Subcommittee on Reserving and a member of the AAA Mass Tort Subcommittee.
Best professional advice: "Two pieces of advice that have served me well are: Knowledge can get you to a certain level; you need common sense to go higher. Second, if the results of your actions are disastrous it does not mean that the path you have taken is wrong. Chance plays a big role and sometimes you win and other times you lose. You need to learn not to overly rejoice when you win and get overly depressed when you lose."
Professional role model: "Dr. Gottfried Berger, who established Cologne Re’s U.S. subsidiary, was an early role model. A brilliant man, he constantly challenged me to be a better actuary. Since then, I have had the good fortune to know many accomplished leaders in the insurance industry who have clearly shaped my thinking and abilities."
Advice to young women: "Pay attention to the faster growing nontraditional areas within your field and develop expertise in those areas. The insurance sector is experiencing rapid growth outside the U.S., so think globally."
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Business Insurance's "Women to Watch" feature is our attempt to identify some of the women who are doing outstanding work in commercial insurance, risk management, employee benefits and related fields.
