Inside story: Marc Safa
How would your best friend describe you?
Really tall.
What motivates you?
Achieving my goals and targets. One of them includes owning a wine estate.
What would be your personal motto?
A motto which I came across and liked: ‘Tomorrow is another day’.
Name five dream companions to be stuck on a desert island with
Lara Croft and the A-Team, which for me is the ultimate A-Team.
What’s your most ‘actuarial’ habit?
Providing a response that is provisional and not definitive, sort of like a disclaimer. Key phrases that I tend to use are “it seems”, “I could be mistaken, however” and “depends if”.
Favourite Excel function?
Concatenate, I just like the way it sounds. It can also come in handy when working on an untidy file.
How do you relax away from the office?
After hours of sitting in front of my screen at work, I like to exercise a bit by playing some good old rugby league during the weekend.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
A colleague once provided me with a task that appeared to be simple,
so I told him “this seems pretty straightforward”. Without going into too many details, let’s just say the task took seven hours to complete. I found it hilarious.
Alternative career choice?
I’ve just started learning to play the guitar, so maybe a musician.
If there were a movie produced about your life, who would play you, and why? A bearded Ben Affleck. He’s tall and has a big forehead – can’t think of a more accurate description of myself. Plus, he wasn’t bad in the movie Gone Girl.
What song best describes your work ethic?
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger – Daft Punk.
If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet?
I would be interested in having a conversation with Edgar Allan Poe. Seems like a fun person to have a drink with.
Greatest risk you have ever taken?
Due to an unforeseen circumstance, I had to send a work-related email once without any technical review. Thankfully no one got hurt.
If you could be anyone else, who would it be?
Being James Bond for a day would be nice. Doesn’t match the thrill of being an actuary, but it would still be interesting.
Marc Safa, Employee benefits, Willis Towers Watson
Do you know an actuary destined for greatness?
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