When you meet Helen Anderson, you quickly sense her blend of humility, drive and genuine desire to make a difference — not just at Mutual of Omaha, but in the lives of young people considering their futures.
Anderson’s transition from a music major to an actuary showcases how curiosity can lead to unexpected and fulfilling career paths.
In high school, she discovered her talent for math was matched only by her gift for music.
“If you show talent in math, you get pushed toward engineering or teaching,” Anderson said.
Neither felt right, so she pursued a piano performance degree at the University of Nebraska Omaha. But Anderson realized music wouldn’t be her career path. A conversation with her parents led her to actuarial science, a field she hadn’t even known existed.
“Once I started doing research, I was sold. It’s a profession where hard work pays off, and you are in control of early career advances,” Anderson said.
In 2018, Anderson started at Mutual of Omaha as a summer actuarial intern and quickly moved into a full-time role. During her tenure, she’s worked various roles in Group Product Pricing as well as Financial Planning and Analysis. Currently, she’s focused on Paid Family and Medical Leave product pricing in Workplace Solutions.
Anderson’s purpose-driven approach enriches Mutual of Omaha beyond numbers. She’s focused on broadening access to the actuarial profession, especially for students who might not otherwise discover it. Additionally, she regularly participates in career panels at local high schools and universities, sharing information about actuarial science with the next generation.
“If I’d known about this profession in high school, I probably would have pursued it from day one,” she said.
That realization inspired her to champion Become an Actuary Day, a program that introduces high school students to actuarial science and diversifies the recruiting pipeline for Mutual of Omaha.
Anderson’s vision is rooted in her own experience.
“From my perspective, the actuarial profession continues to face challenges achieving representation across race, sex and socioeconomic backgrounds,” she said. “While progress has been made, there remains a noticeable gap in diversity that reflects broader systemic barriers to entry and advancement within the field."
By creating awareness early, Anderson hopes to help students see new possibilities for themselves.
In September, Anderson led the first Become an Actuary Day at Mutual of Omaha, attended by 39 students from four metro-area high schools. The day was filled with activities, tours, presentations and small group conversations between actuaries and students.
Afterward, one participant shared, “I liked the amount of information that they gave us. This really gives you a good idea to what being an actuary is actually like.”
A school counselor noted, “Thank you for setting up this event, and I hope that you continue to do it yearly moving forward.”
“I remember being so confused about what I should choose for a career at 17,” Anderson said. “It was really neat to see students at this event realize, ‘Oh, I do like math. I do get excited when I solve a problem.’”
Purpose, passion and perspective
Anderson’s approach to work is refreshingly honest.
“I don’t know that I would necessarily describe myself as being passionate about being an actuary,” she said.
However, she said she loves problem-solving and the variety and balance the profession offers.
“You have financial stability and the freedom to pursue your interests outside of work,” she said.
Outside the office, Anderson is still an avid pianist and enjoys gardening and cooking. She supports Fontenelle Forest and values time spent in nature.
Anderson is already thinking about the next Become an Actuary Day, hoping to expand its reach and impact.
“If seven out of 39 students show an interest in the field, that’s an entire summer intern class for us,” she said. “That’s a solid number.”
Anderson is eager to incorporate feedback and keep building relationships with students, knowing the true impact may only be visible years down the road.