Show notes
My guest for Episode 105 is Barry Swartzberg, ASA, B.Sc., CFP, FASSA, FFA, Executive Director and Co-Founder at Discovery Limited. The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.Barry and I covered the following topics:✅ Barry’s motivation for becoming an entrepreneur ✅ The vision behind Discovery Limited ✅ Starting a business during the fall of Apartheid ✅ The shared-value insurance model ✅ Shaping South Africa’s insurance and financial services landscape✅ Barry’s biggest entrepreneurial challenges ✅ What it takes to be a successful entrepreneur ✅ Transitioning from entrepreneur to intrapreneur ✅ Areas where actuaries can add value beyond insurance ✅ Tips for the next generation of entrepreneurs Time Markers3:50: Risk-seeking culture in South African actuarial community.5:42: First actuarial role as product development actuary.13:00: Motivation for becoming an entrepreneur and co-founding Discovery Limited. 18:20: Addressing unaddressed gaps in the South African insurance market (demand-focused approach).21:14: Value creation during political turmoil (post-Apartheid era).24:59: Discovery Limited’s shared-value insurance model (medical savings accounts, incentivized wellness programs and risk savings).33:14: Developing a system to track diet and exercise before the era of big data.37:39: Adapting behavioral mindset in managing health, motor, banking, and retirement risks.47:20: How Barry contributed to Discovery’s success as an executive.51:44: Notable challenges for Discovery Limited (entering the US market).55:05: Getting companies to scale, risk-taking, ideation, sales, pricing, marketing, and implementing marketplace feedback.1:01:02: Non-traditional opportunities for actuaries (managing supply and demand of electricity).1:04:30: Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs. If you are seeking to explore entrepreneurship, you want to watch this.My Website: maverickactuary.com