HEATHER GRIFFIN
MERCER
TITLE: Principal
AWARD CATEGORY: Healthcare
AGE: 34
With a background in health and benefits, as well as energy industry consulting, Heather Griffin is an actuary in the Mercer Houston office, serving as lead consultant for several oil and gas companies in the area.
After finishing the rigorous process of obtaining her Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Griffin pivoted from pension actuary to health and welfare consultant and actuary. Griffin says the support from her family as well as her firm was instrumental in the transition.
"It was a leap of faith and a bit scary, but I was supported by great mentors and colleagues which helped make the transition easier. The ability to speak to broader consulting issues for my clients is something I really enjoy and I hope provides additional value to them," Griffin says.
The flexibility in career path is one of the big things that attracted Griffin to a career in consulting, she says.
"You are not constrained—you don't have to be just a pension actuary, just a health and welfare consultant or just focused on benefits. You can create a custom portfolio of portable skills to use as a consultant, client or entrepreneur. What other profession allows for that?"
When asked what the award means to her, Griffin answered with characteristic optimism.
"More pressure!… (Just kidding.) I think it means I have been very lucky thus far and that preparation in many places met the right opportunities. It means that this is still just the beginning and that hopefully you find new and exciting opportunities to continue on a trajectory of growth."
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