What does the world never tire of? The passion and drive for innovation and success that the young never quit pursuing. It is the next generation of thinkers, doers and trail-blazers that our economies thrive on and, this year, our Rising Stars are the embodiment of Bermuda’s future. These young professionals hold their own in their respective industries, seeking every opportunity to learn, grow and develop their skills, so that one day soon they will be the leaders whom we depend on. We at The Bermudian are pleased to profile the achievements of 12 young people who have been nominated by their respective companies for their professional excellence. Their stories may differ but they all share in one thing: the determination to be successful no matter the opposition or adversity. It is their hard work, perseverance and positive attitudes that got them where they are today and will continue to see them through in the future.
Alexander Rupelli
Age: 34
Job Title: Actuarial Modeling Associate
Place of Employment: Global Atlantic Re Limited
Education: Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, A.S.A.
Years Working: 8+
“Actuarial was a good fit for me coming out of college as a math major because it allowed me to apply my analytical skills to solve problems,” says Alexander Rupelli, actuarial modeling associate at Global Atlantic Re Limited. “I graduated in 2008, which was a bad time to look for an actuarial job but my family was very supportive of me.” Starting out in consulting, Rupelli eventually moved on to reinsurance realising that was where he’d garner a greater understanding of executive management.
Before moving to Global Atlantic Re, Rupelli joined Athene Life Re where he grew exponentially. “Working at Athene for over five years prepared me the most for my current role. It’s a great place for an actuary to grow fast, and gain exposure to many critical actuarial functions, and I learned a lot from my managers, Joe Bellanca, Jon Steffen and Logan Blake.
“Global Atlantic is going through a period of immense growth, which provides a lot of opportunity for upwards mobility professionally. I get to work with a lot of talented individuals on a diverse set of projects within the company,” says Rupelli. “There’s never really a dull day as no two problems are the ever the same. I sometimes find myself in situations where the problems I am solving are essentially unique.”
When asked if there was any advice he’d give to his younger self, Rupelli replied, “Focus on polishing the soft skills and business acumen as these can take you further than your technical skills in the long run.”
In the future, Rupelli hopes to find himself in an executive actuarial role but wouldn’t rule out the possibility of working in a non-traditional actuarial position, such as in a hedge fund. Until then, he’s working hard at his current position and enjoying weekends and holidays travelling the globe.
Special thanks to ESC for lending us their fabulous red stools for our Rising Stars shoot.