Hi, I’m Kuda. I share my journey from a math student in Zimbabwe to an Actuarial Analyst in the US. My mission is to show you that with grit and numbers, anything is possible.
The actuarial path is difficult, especially when you are the first in your family, your village, or your community to walk it. When I left home (Zimbabwe), I was carrying my family’s hopes, my community’s prayers, and my own fear of the unknown. I started ActuaryKuda to document the "reality" of this career. I wanted to move past the polished LinkedIn posts and talk about what it actually takes: not just passing exams, but navigating visa hurdles, overcoming culture shock, loneliness, mental health challenges, managing financial pressure, and finding your footing in a new country.
"Ubuntu" is an African philosophy that means "I am because we are." For me, this reflects a deep spiritual truth: God often shows His love through people.
I am here because other people chose to show up for me.
Mentors who answered my questions. A host family who opened their home when I couldn’t travel back to Zimbabwe. Friends who prayed with me before exams. Managers who took a chance on a student with “potential”. My Christian faith is at the center of this. I genuinely believe I did not “get here” by strategy alone. God carried me through grief after losing my mother at a young age, through financial uncertainty, through exams I thought I had failed, and through seasons when every door seemed closed. Each opportunity, scholarships, internships, mentors, job offers—has been a reminder of grace, not just personal effort.Because I was carried by a community, ActuaryKuda is my way of serving.
My goal is to build a bridge for all students especially in underrepresented communities everywhere. I want to show that success in Actuarial Science is within reach, even if you are starting with limited resources.
ActuaryKuda is a response to what God has done in my life. Here is how I plan to make the journey clearer and kinder for you:
"If my story can help even one student take a step they thought was impossible, then this mission is worth it."
– The Spirit of Ubuntu
A snapshot of my professional and creative milestones.
Corebridge Financial
Cash Flow Testing & Analysis: Perform projection analysis on IM, GIC, and SS blocks using Excel, VBA, and internal models to rigorously monitor risk and key performance metrics.
Strategic Reporting: Build and refine consolidation tools and dashboards to compare CFT results across scenarios. These tools empower the team to explain complex financial movements to management and clients with clarity.
Milliman
Worked in Financial Risk Management, building robust actuarial models and supporting high-stakes client projects using modern tech stacks. Focused on optimizing code efficiency and data accuracy.
Corebridge Financial
Gained critical experience in valuation and financial modeling. Assisted in quarter-end reporting, analyzed variance in data sets, and presented findings to senior leadership.
Liberty Mutual Insurance
First exposure to P&C reserving. Analyzed data trends, supported rate filing preparations, and automated manual reporting processes using VBA.
Feedback from the colleagues, professors, and friends I've had the privilege to walk this path with.
A timeline of risks taken, exams passed, and lessons learned along the way.
I grew up in Zimbabwe, where I first fell in love with numbers. At O-Level I noticed that maths was the subject that made the most sense to me. I enjoyed sitting with a problem for a long time, trying different ideas until the answer finally appeared. For A-Levels I chose Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry because I thought I would become a medical doctor. As I went deeper into my studies, I saw a clear pattern. The subject that kept pulling me in was maths. I enjoyed past papers, calculating, and seeing how one small idea could solve a big problem. Resources were limited. Internet was slow, textbooks were shared, and information about careers like actuarial science was almost impossible to find. Still, I held on to the dream that maths could take me further than my surroundings suggested. I knew I would have to look for opportunities beyond what was right in front of me.
Leaving Zimbabwe for the United States was a huge change. I moved to the Midwest and had to adjust to a new culture, new accents, and winters that felt like another world. At the same time I was learning how the education system worked, managing money, and keeping up with visa rules. Those early semesters were tough. I failed some exams, doubted myself, and sometimes felt very alone. Instead of giving up, I decided to look for people who had already done what I was trying to do. I started messaging actuaries and students on LinkedIn, asking for advice about exams, resumes, and internships. Many people were kind enough to respond. Some reviewed my resume, some did mock interviews with me, and others simply shared their stories. Slowly, those conversations turned into real chances. I began to get interviews, then internships, and I started to see a path forward. Every setback taught me something about hard work, humility, and asking for help.
Today I work as an Actuarial Analyst. My daily work includes building and checking models, working with large data sets, and helping my team understand how different risks might affect the future. It is challenging, but it is also the kind of work I once dreamed about back in Zimbabwe. Out of this journey, ActuaryKuda was born. I created it to share the things I wish I had known earlier: how to choose exams, how to apply for scholarships, how to talk to professionals, and how to manage life as an international student. I want a student in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, or anywhere else to open a page, watch a video, or read a post and think, “If he did it, maybe I can too.” My goal is simple. I want to use my story to make someone else’s path clearer. Whether it is through mentoring, sharing resources, or answering questions online, I hope to build a community where students support one another and believe that an actuarial career is possible for them as well.
Progress: 5 Passed.
See TimelineDeep dives into actuarial concepts, career advice, and transparent conversations about the industry.
Curated scholarships, top companies,tools, and communities.
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For Black students in US/Canada. Awards range from $1,500 to $5,000+. Includes mentorship and bootcamp.
Apply NowFor Latino/a students. Offers both Academic scholarships and Exam fee reimbursements.
Apply NowFor Black, Latino, Native North American, and Pacific Islander students.
Apply NowSupporting LGBTQ+ students. Focus on leadership and community involvement.
Apply NowSouth Asian Network of Actuaries. Includes exam reimbursement and mentorship.
Apply NowUp to $10,000 for underrepresented students pursuing Property & Casualty careers.
Apply NowSupporting Asian actuaries in their professional journey through scholarships.
Visit SiteNational African American Insurance Association. Focus on industry leadership.
Apply NowAsian Pacific Islander American Scholars. Broad STEM focus, applicable to math majors.
Apply NowUp to $10,000 for full-time undergraduates who have passed at least two exams.
Apply NowFor college seniors. Nomination by professor required. $3,000 award.
Apply NowRecognizing undergraduates with a passion for the career. $9,000 award.
Apply NowGeneral Risk Management & Insurance scholarships. Large number of awards.
Apply NowFinancial aid for students in Insurance/Risk Management provided by The Institutes.
Apply NowAwarded to college seniors who have passed at least one exam. Life focus.
Apply NowVarious awards for active members of the Gamma Iota Sigma fraternity.
Apply NowSupporting students with a demonstrated interest in insurance careers.
Apply NowCanadian Institute of Actuaries scholarship for Indigenous students.
Visit AFCActuarial Students National Association (Canada) scholarships for conference attendees.
Visit ASNAFor students from Caribbean nations (Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad) pursuing exams.
Apply NowHardship grants and scholarships for students globally taking IFoA exams.
Visit IFoASpecific scholarship for University of Iowa students focusing on P&C.
Apply NowOntario Conference of Casualty Actuaries awards for local university students.
Apply NowVarious entrance scholarships for Mathematics/Actuarial Science students.
Apply NowSpecific bursaries for Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies students.
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