Voices of Tomorrow, Part 2 – A Passion for Problem-Solving
A conversation with Tan Katanchaleekorn, FSA, on her growth from introvert to actuarial leader
April 2025Photo: Adobe
In the dynamic world of actuarial consulting, the next generation of professionals brings a fresh perspective and an eagerness to solve complex problems. For this second Q&A in The Actuary’s “Voices of Tomorrow: Perspectives from the Next Generation of Actuaries” series, I connected with Thankamol (Tan) Katanchaleekorn, FSA, who is currently a manager with KPMG Thailand.
Tan shares her insights into the world of actuarial consulting, her passion for problem-solving and the personal experiences that shape her approach to work and life.
Could you start by introducing yourself and sharing a bit about your career journey so far?
My full name is Thankamol Katanchaleekorn, so people call me “Tan,” and I’m 28 years old. Before my career began, I graduated with a dual degree from Mahidol University in Thailand and Curtin University in Australia. Now I am an actuarial consulting manager at KPMG Thailand. In my role, I split my time between two main responsibilities. The first is advisory work, where I help clients solve business challenges, such as implementing solutions or adopting new accounting standards like IFRS 17. This requires a lot of problem-solving and interaction with various stakeholders. The second part of my job is auditing, where I use my actuarial expertise to ensure that clients are holding adequate reserves and that their financial statements are accurate.
Interestingly, I have always considered myself an introvert. I wasn’t very comfortable with public speaking or engaging in large group discussions, which I knew was an essential skill for a consulting career. I’ve come a long way since then, and I’ll share more about that later.
I bake in my free time. I love trying new recipes and turning my kitchen into a little experimental lab. It helps me develop patience (rewarded by cookies) and keeps my mind active. My ideal weekend is to bake a huge tray of cookies while listening to loud metal music—a therapeutic combination.
I wasn’t a foodie myself, but my boyfriend is. Through him, I have been more fully exposed to the food scene in Bangkok. I have a soft spot for carbs, especially pasta!
I am not a party person, but I will attend a gathering with friends and colleagues on occasion. My favorite cocktail is a caipirinha, which always brings back great memories of my student exchange days in Portugal.
Consulting requires interaction and communication; you mentioned that you were an introvert pre-career. How has this shaped your career approaches?
Before I entered the working world, I was more of an introvert and wasn’t very comfortable speaking up in large groups. However, I quickly realized that communication is essential, especially in consulting. I knew that if I wanted to succeed, I had to push myself out of my comfort zone. During my first years at KPMG, I made a conscious effort to speak up in meetings and discussions, even if I felt nervous about it.
Over time, this helped me build confidence. And after all the efforts, I’m still an introvert! But an introvert who is making her way comfortably communicating with clients and colleagues, whether it’s one-on-one or in larger groups. It has made a huge difference in my professional life, especially when it comes to explaining complex actuarial concepts to non-technical audiences. The ability to confidently convey ideas is a critical skill in my consulting career, and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made.
You’ve taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test and identified as Introversion, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving (ISTP). How has knowing this influenced your approach to work?
Tan: As an ISTP (often referred to as “virtuosos” or “craftsmen”), I’m someone who enjoys hands-on problem-solving and diving deep into practical challenges. I’m always keen to explore new experiences and find creative solutions to whatever I’m working on. This personality type definitely influences my work style. For instance, I’m very action-oriented and prefer dealing with tangible outcomes, which fits well with the advisory and auditing work I do. I love getting into the details, dissecting complex problems, and coming up with efficient solutions.
One of the major strengths of being an ISTP is that I’m very adaptable. When I encounter a challenge, I’m quick to jump in and start figuring things out. I don’t shy away from difficult tasks or new experiences—whether that’s helping a client with a tricky implementation or tackling a technical audit. But at the same time, ISTPs are known to struggle a bit with more abstract or undefined tasks. For me, when a project’s scope isn’t clear or the ideas are too vague, I find it takes longer to get started. To overcome this, I often turn to colleagues or team members with different expertise. Collaborating and bouncing ideas off others helps me fill in the gaps and move forward.
Overall, my ISTP traits have been a real asset in consulting, especially in my ability to focus on practical, hands-on work and adapt to the needs of each project.
How did you find out about the actuarial profession and decide to pursue it?
Like many actuaries, I stumbled upon the profession while researching top careers. In high school, I was trying to decide between finance and accounting when I came across an article that ranked actuary as one of the top professions in the U.S., particularly in terms of compensation and work-life balance. It piqued my interest, and after learning more about the profession, I was hooked.
What appealed to me was the combination of challenging exams and the relatively niche market for actuaries in Thailand. It was a unique path, and I embraced the idea of taking on something that few people pursued. I’ve enjoyed the journey ever since, including the part where I have to explain what an actuary is to strangers for the rest of my life!
If you could have any superpower to help with your work, what would it be?
As an actuarial consultant, I have to play multiple roles at work—so a shapeshifting power would be very useful. Switching hats helps me tackle problems from all angles. Here are my top three most important qualities for a successful career, which I still live by every day:
- Independence and self-learning. Imagine looking like someone but not acting like them! You can’t always wait for someone to give you answers or tell you what to do. It’s way cooler (and more efficient) to discover solutions on your own. Actuarial consultant is a strange role to have; sometimes you are a technical expert, sometimes you are a manager and sometimes you are trying to sell your service. Being able to learn on the job allows you to be capable in all these roles.
- Flexibility: We interact with all kinds of people, so being adaptable is key. You never know when you’ll need to blend in or handle a curveball. Be cool, take a deep breath!
- Communication: All right, I think most non-actuaries believe we actuaries are really bad at this, which made this quality even more important, in my opinion. You’ve got to turn ideas into vision, resolve differences, align plans and celebrate wins—these cannot be achieved without good communication. Communication is the superhero cape that ties everything together.
What challenges did you face during your exam journey and how did you overcome them?
I take pride in what I do most of the time; the same goes for my exam. Given this, I have devoted a lot of time to making it a successful one. Although I have a genuine interest in actuarial science and feel great satisfaction from learning new things from the study material, I have to admit that the exam journey hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows.
Of course, some topics are easier to score well on than others. For the tougher ones, I did something called “active recalling,” where I tried to actively retrieve information from my memory. In practice, I took a piece of blank paper and jotted down everything I knew about the concepts without referring to the textbooks. From there, I would try to connect different ideas similarly to how you combine individual pieces of a puzzle to make a complete picture. I usually repeated this method until I felt like I could explain the concept to someone who was not familiar with it. That was when I knew I really understood the concepts. My hands do not thank me for all that note-taking, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make!
Looking a few years into the future and considering both your career and personal life, what aspirations might you have for making the world a better place?
This is a tough question because I’m someone who lives in the present and making the world a better place can sound like a grand idea. I like to think that I am always committed to whatever I do in life, whether it’s acing exams or nurturing personal relationships. “Giving my all” will always be one of my most important phrases to live by.
Personally, I aspire to be a role model for younger actuaries—someone they can look up to and see as a good example in the field. I don’t expect to be the best or the most successful—with so many great actuaries already out there—but simply being regarded as respectable and inspiring would be enough for me.
I’m also aiming to reduce my fast fashion purchases to help out with our environment. Moreover, I want to build healthier habits for myself and those around me. It’s all about making positive changes, one step at a time.
Is there anything you wish you had known when you were in university?
I poured a lot of effort into getting good grades in university. (It did pay off with a bragworthy CGPA of 3.99 out of 4.) Looking back, I wish I hadn’t stressed so much about grades. Honestly, it didn’t matter as much as I thought it would back then. It would have been great to enjoy the moments more and dive into a variety of experiences. I always felt there was room to take on more adventures in life, which is why I make the most out of each day.
In closing
Tan’s career path is a showcase of transformation that is built on the ground of adaptability and lifelong learning. Her story may resonate with young aspiring actuaries (especially introverts uncomfortable around crowds). As the world continues to evolve dynamically, actuaries like Tan will likely continue to shape the future of the insurance industry with their passion and authenticity intact.
Statements of fact and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of the Society of Actuaries or the respective authors’ employers.
Copyright © 2025 by the Society of Actuaries, Chicago, Illinois.