My fearless moment | Scott Haugh

Scott Haugh, chief financial officer, American Enterprise Group

I left a graduate program in English after eight years to pursue a career as an actuary. Leaving academia for corporate America seemed very traumatic to me at the time.

I had to set aside a lot of regret, anxiety and disappointment in myself to move forward and embrace uncertain prospects. At the same time that I was trying to be fearless, I was convinced that I was choosing a safe, less riskier path (financially speaking) and turning my back on my true self.