I am Rong Jie Lin and I currently hold the position of Head of Models, Process & Studies at BNP Paribas Cardif. 

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Financial markets and institutions in 2019, followed by a Master’s degree in Statistical and actuarial sciences in 2021, both from the School of Banking, Finance and Insurance at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. 

During my Master’s studies, I had the opportunity to enter the insurance industry as a Life Reserving Actuary at Helvetia Insurance, initially through an internship that quickly turned into a full-time position. Shortly after graduating, I also qualified as a certified actuary, officially joining the professional actuarial body. 

After one year at Helvetia, I decided to take on a new challenge by joining BNP Paribas Cardif, where over the past four years I have had the opportunity to grow progressively through roles of increasing responsibility: from Capital Management Actuary to Local Solvency Actuary, then Head of Solvency Process, and ultimately to my current role as Head of Models, Process & Studies. 

My academic journey at Università Cattolica has been a key driver of my professional development. Its strong focus on combining theory and practice allowed me not only to build solid technical skills—through tools such as Excel, R and Python—but also to develop a comprehensive view of assets and liabilities, which is now central to my role. 

What I carry with me to this day is above all the ability to adapt to constantly evolving environments and to approach new challenges with a structured, analytical and long-term perspective. 

I decided to pursue the M.Sc. in Banking and finance at Università Cattolica after completing my undergraduate studies in Economics at the same university, motivated by the opportunity to combine a solid academic path with an international experience. 

Through the dual degree with UNC Charlotte, I spent a year in the United States, supported by a scholarship.  

One of the aspects I valued most was the strong connection between theory and practical application, which proved particularly useful during my job search and in the early stages of my career, helping me approach interviews with confidence and adapt quickly once I started working. 

After graduating, I joined Bank of America in Charlotte as an Analyst in Asset Liability Management. Starting my career in the U.S. is something I strongly connect to the opportunities and preparation provided by this program. 

Overall, this experience allowed me to grow both academically and personally, giving me the tools and confidence to begin my professional path in an international context. 

I have very fond memories of my university years. The environment, the strong sense of collaboration between students and professors, and the opportunities to gain international experience — which I was able to take advantage of while preparing my thesis in the United States — made that time truly special. The intensity of the academic work and the many group projects played an important role in preparing me to face professional challenges, including in an international setting. 

I currently work as a Risk Modelling and Methodologies Professional at UniCredit.

I decided to move to Milan to study Banking and finance at Università Cattolica because it is one of the most prestigious universities in this field in Italy. 

This specialised degree gave me two opportunities to study abroad. First, I was awarded a scholarship to spend one term at Stanford University. Later, I was selected for an Erasmus exchange at Université Paris-Dauphine. The programme also gave me the chance to put theory into practice, particularly through empirical analysis using econometric models. Last but not least, I found my first job in the financial industry thanks to the University’s placement network. 

Today, I work as a Junior Portfolio Manager at Anima SGR. My main responsibilities include analysing specific asset classes, such as corporate hybrids, covering selected industries such as utilities and telecommunications, and supporting the senior manager in defining investment strategies, selecting suitable investments, and allocating each fund.

I entered the insurance sector in 2003 and, after spending a few years in an actuarial team, I decided to return to university and enrol in the degree programme in Statistical and actuarial sciences in order to deepen my knowledge of the quantitative aspects of the insurance world. 

Balancing work and study was a challenge, but it was well worth it. Subjects such as probability, actuarial mathematics, statistics and financial mathematics all play a role, in different ways, in my current work on the calculation of life insurance mathematical reserves. 

I had the opportunity to apply in practice what I was studying, and I realised that the theory covered during the programme is not far removed from the reality of working in a company. On the contrary, it provides valuable critical insight. In this respect, I especially appreciated the work of some professors who actively seek to bring the university and the professional world closer together, offering an approach that is truly distinctive. 

My thesis, which focused on innovative statistical models in non-life pricing, later led to the publication of a statistics book that I hope will be useful to students by offering a more systematic view of the subject. For me, it also became the starting point for further research activity. 

I currently work at the Italian branch of the British insurance  group Aviva, within the Life Statutory Reserving office.

My name is Giorgio Spedicato, and I work as a Data Scientist at UnipolSai Group, following previous experience in the actuarial departments of Aviva and AXA Assicurazioni, where I worked on Non-Life Pricing and Reserving. 

I studied at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore from 2001 to 2006. I later qualified to practise as an actuary both in Italy, in 2007, and in North America, where I have been an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society since 2013. I also earned a PhD in Actuarial Sciences in 2011. 

I would not be where I am today without Università Cattolica – School of Banking, Finance and Insurance. The School gave me an excellent theoretical and practical foundation in statistics and actuarial sciences, allowing me to develop a strong interest in all the subjects taught and to engage closely with the professors. It was an excellent starting point for my doctoral studies and for my subsequent professional career. 

The M.Sc. I attended provided both specialised training and a broad understanding of how businesses operate. This allowed me to enter the job market immediately and to qualify as an actuary. 

In my professional life, I have consistently applied what I learned during my studies. The courses were taught by passionate professors who combined strong academic knowledge with practical insight, and the case study work helped me develop the ability to apply what I had learned in a creative and effective way. I also had the opportunity to spend a semester overseas in Sydney, Australia, where I enriched my study plan with advanced postgraduate courses. 

I am now a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where I work with clients in the financial and insurance sectors around the world. 

I have always been interested in quantitative and mathematical topics, which led me to enrol in the M.Sc. in Statistical and actuarial sciences in 2008. I chose Università Cattolica because it was one of the few universities in Italy offering this type of programme, and because of the presence of leading actuaries within its faculty. 

The programme gave me the opportunity to  combine theoretical and methodological disciplines, such as probability and statistics, with economic and business knowledge related to the financial and insurance sectors. This unique mix of skills was essential in helping me pass the state exam to qualify as an actuary and, together with the academic network, made it easier to enter the job market. It also enabled me to develop my thesis on the application of advanced probabilistic models in non-life insurance, which was awarded the prestigious international SCOR Prize in 2010. 

I currently work at the Group Head Office of Generali, where I am responsible for developing the models used to monitor capital requirements across the Group’s companies worldwide, in line with the topics I studied during my degree and explored in my thesis.

From an early age, while growing up in the United States, I developed a strong interest in the financial industry and set my sights on a career in investment banking. 

As part of my academic journey, I chose the M.Sc. in Banking and finance taught in English because of the quality of the faculty and the breadth of the curriculum, which offers a comprehensive understanding of the many facets of the financial world. 

My experience during the two-year programme was engaging and stimulating throughout. I developed strong analytical skills, presentation abilities and problem-solving capabilities, as well as the ability to work effectively in teams through the various group projects completed during the programme. 

After graduating, I started my career as an M&A Analyst at a well-known Milan-based corporate finance boutique. In September 2014, I joined the International Graduate Programme at UniCredit Corporate and Investment Banking, gaining experience in the Financial Institutions Group, Debt Capital Markets and Leveraged Finance in London. At the end of the programme, I joined the Financial Institutions Group Italy and Southern Europe as an Analyst. 

In my professional experience, I have come to fully appreciate the value and relevance of the knowledge acquired during my studies at Università Cattolica School of Banking, Finance and Insurance, which allowed me to enter the world of investment banking with confidence and effectiveness. 

The M.Sc. offered by the School allowed me to deepen my understanding of the financial industry from a theoretical perspective, while also applying what I learned in practice through group projects and individual assignments. It is a programme that strikes an excellent balance between theory and practice. 

During my studies, I spent a semester at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (USA), an experience that allowed me to further develop my knowledge in the field of finance. This institution is now also one of the School’s dual degree partner universities. 

Overall, I would describe my experience at Università Cattolica School of Banking Finance and Insurance with one word: opportunity — the opportunity to grow both academically and personally, and to benefit from the many paths the University offers its students.

The two years of the programme were both exciting and demanding, with numerous group projects based on challenging real-world cases. Combined with a strong theoretical foundation, these experiences allowed me to deepen my understanding of the dynamics of financial markets and intermediaries. 

The small class sizes, together with the wide range of seminars and events on financial topics offered by the School and the University, were extremely valuable in helping me recognise emerging opportunities and understand the challenges facing the financial industry. 

Another key strength is the opportunity to study and work abroad. Spending six months at Kozminski University in Warsaw allowed me to broaden both my financial knowledge and my cultural perspective. 

I currently work at Credito Fondiario S.p.A., where I am involved in both the Capital Markets team and in special projects and new deals.

The degree programme in Financial markets and institutions is one of the flagship programmes at Università Cattolica School of Banking, Finance and Insurance. The relatively small number of students allows for a deeper exploration of financial topics and, above all, close interaction with professors, who bring a high level of expertise and professional experience. 

This programme also gave me the opportunity to gain international study experience, from the London School of Economics (LSE) to the Frankfurt School of Finance. 

During these two years, I also discovered the value of student associations. Through the association I am part of, we developed a number of educational and training projects in collaboration with leading experts in the financial sector.

I joined the School of Banking, Finance and Insurance right after finishing high school. During my Bachelor’s degree, I developed a real interest in financial markets and intermediaries, also thanks to the passion and expertise of the professors, who were always approachable and available. 

My experience at Università Cattolica was very positive overall. Whenever I needed support, whether from the library or the student services office, I always found people who were helpful and attentive. I enjoyed my Bachelor’s so much that I decided to continue with the Master’s degree in Banking & finance. 

During the M.Sc., I was able to build on what I had already learned and take on more advanced and specialised courses. These gave me both strong theoretical foundations and practical skills, thanks to case studies, group work and individual assignments. I also became familiar with the tools and software commonly used in the sector and developed solid teamwork skills. 

My study abroad experience at the University of Utrecht, together with the job interviews I attended, made me realise the high level of preparation the School provides, as well as the strong interest that companies in the banking, financial and insurance sectors have in its graduates. 

I graduated on 12 April and had already started working two days earlier, on 10 April, at Marsh, one of the world’s leading insurance brokerage and risk management companies.