Meet Neelofar Rahimi
Neelofar Rahimi - Senior Actuarial Associate, Munich Re.
Neelofar, graduated with her Masters of Actuarial Science from the University of Waterloo. And now working as a Senior Actuarial Associate.
Fun fact about Neelofar: “I memorized the first 30 digits of Pi in grade 7 in order to win a pack of gum, and it hasn’t left my memory since then. Sadly, haven’t been able to make use of that skill in my daily job, but I still have quite a way to go.
In her spare time, Neelofar enjoys hiking, baking, painting, indulging her artistic side with henna, and exploring the city's dessert scene. With a knack for memorization, she still recalls the first 30 digits of Pi, a skill acquired in grade 7 for a pack of gum, showcasing her journey.
When did your love of STEM begin?
As a child, I was always interested in mathematical patterns and problems. I relished the moments when I would recall the math lessons I learned in class and apply them to resolve sibling feuds. It was exciting to find solutions to daily problems using material I thought was only for the classroom. This curiosity for the subject then transformed into a passion in high school, after having been taught by the man who inspired me to develop a lifelong love for math. My calculus teacher loved math so much that he celebrated Pi Day as you would a holiday. For every theoretical concept he taught, he would then apply it to specific models, shapes, machines and data used in everyday life, to let us develop a better understanding of the mathematical concepts that surround us. He would give us unsolvable mathematical problems that encouraged our curiosity and determination to go beyond the walls of our school. His excitement for math was contagious and he made me believe math was everywhere to be found. My world had opened up and I was ready to explore.
I’d love to say mathematical concepts came to me easily, but that wouldn’t be entirely true. Sometimes it did, other times I’d have to spend quite some time on a topic to simply understand the material. After that it was just pattern recognition, which also sparked my love of language and statistics. The first language I learned was Dari (Farsi), followed by Hindi, English, French, and finally Arabic. As such, I had developed a knack for parsing out data from different languages, because words were like building blocks. Once you understood the basic alphabet and syntax of a language, the rest was just a combination of communication and a bit of art. The same skills also easily translated to recognizing patterns and extracting information from data in a statistical setting.
Math always made sense to me, because every problem I had encountered had a solution that could be solved for, and this mindset never really left. Even now, as I encounter problems in the workplace or in life, I know a solution can found as long I know what pieces make up the problem, and how to optimize the resources at my disposal to be able to come to the most efficient solution.
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
An actuary’s typical day is not static – it varies according to the projects they work on, which valuation quarter they are in, the company they work for as well as what stage they are in their career. What keeps me excited and stimulated in this field is that it fosters an environment where we’re constantly learning, adapting to change, and leading change as well. The work that we do is constantly changing due to the evolving nature of the insurance industry, financial markets, medical and technological advancements. Hence, never a dull moment.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
My family is originally from Afghanistan, a country where women are no longer allowed to attend secondary school or receive higher education. Had my family not left the country years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to receive an education let alone pursue a career as an actuary. That’s why I passionately advocate for having women explore this field.
As such, my advice to any woman interested in a career in STEM is this:
When life presents you with the honor and opportunity to pursue something you’re passionate about, make your own space in that field, and then knock it out of the park. You can, and you will be the change that you are seeking.
If there’s something that sparks your interest in STEM then dive in and explore it thoroughly. See what you like, what you can adapt, and what you can own regardless of who may seek to tell you otherwise.