Meet the 2026 Candidates for CAS Leadership – Nicole Harrington

This year’s CAS election features two accomplished Black actuaries stepping forward to serve at the highest levels of the organization. As part of the election process, both candidates shared insights to help members learn more about their perspectives and leadership vision.

Nicole Harrington – Actuarial Director, Progressive Insurance, Cleveland, Ohio, United States.

On why she is standing for election to the CAS Board of Directors 

Over my 20-year career, I have watched our profession navigate several inflection points as new data and technology reshaped how we understand and manage risk. The next decade will determine how integral actuaries remain to risk and insurance decisions in an analytics- and AI-driven world. I am running for the CAS Board to advocate for actuaries and our profession, and to help ensure the CAS continues to develop and support members in ways that keep us relevant, trusted, and influential in this next chapter. 

On the CAS’s opportunity to provide value to its members and the industries they serve

I believe the CAS is uniquely positioned to connect what employers need with what candidates and members are seeking. Employers want actuarial talent that can pair technical rigor with practical judgment and effective communication. Candidates and members want careers that remain engaging and viable, where they can use their expertise with purpose, have real impact, and continue to thrive as the work evolves. The CAS sits at the intersection of these needs through its education, research, professionalism, credibility, and community. I want to help build on the current strategic direction by improving how we support candidates and members, how we prepare for what is next, and how we reinforce the value we bring to the industry. 

On the alignment of CAS services and programs with the professional arcs and interests of its members 

Lifelong development is at the core of why I want to serve. Early in our careers, we need a solid analytical and technical foundation, community, and a credentialing process that is demanding but relevant and efficient. Midcareer, we need broader business context, leadership skills, and the ability to apply new analytics and AI tools with judgment and professionalism. Later in our careers, we want meaningful opportunities to mentor, influence strategy, and shape where the profession goes next. I want CAS programs and offerings to reflect that full arc, so candidates and members can see a clear path to grow expertise, stay current, and lead through change. 

On the value of volunteering and getting involved 

Through my career and volunteerism within the actuarial profession and my local community, I have seen how powerful it is when people with different perspectives and experiences help shape our work. It strengthens our pipeline, broadens how we think about risk, and improves the impact we have on the industry, customers, and communities we ultimately serve. On the Board, I would support efforts that expand awareness of the actuarial profession, improve the experience for candidates, and create more ways for members at all levels to see themselves as partners of the CAS, both shaping its direction and drawing strength from its mission, educational resources, and community. 

On how her career experiences have uniquely positioned her to contribute to the CAS Board of Directors

My experience has also prepared me to contribute in a practical way to the CAS Board. In my roles across reserving, ratemaking and product management, I have seen how employers rely on actuarial insight and our credentials to support decisions across the business. I understand what they expect from our qualifications and how important it is that CAS education and programs stay connected to real business needs. In parallel, my board service and volunteer roles in the community and within the profession have given me hands-on experience with strategic planning, governance, and making decisions that balance ambition with finite resources. Serving on the CAS Board would allow me to draw on my experiences, insights, and commitment to our profession to help the CAS honor its legacy while developing agile, forward-looking actuaries who can build expertise, lead with confidence, and grow, adapt, and lead in a changing industry. I would be honored!

On what she wishes she knew when she started and advice to her former self 

What I know now, and wish I had known when I started out, is that too many people spend the early part of their careers playing smaller than they were meant to. We wait for permission to speak up, permission to lead, permission to think bigger. One of my favorite Beyoncé lines is, “ …never seen a ceiling in my whole life… ” and I believe that one of the first ceilings many of us face is the one we place on ourselves. At this point in my life, I don’t believe there is anything I cannot do, even if I have to do it scared…Of course, mindset alone is not enough. A mentor once gave me advice I still carry and that’s to have “relentless perseverance” . That, combined with doing every single thing, big or small, with excellence, changed I move through both my career and my volunteer work. If I could tell my younger self anything, it would be this: stop shrinking, stop waiting, and stop asking for permission.

CAS Fellows and Associates who have been members for at least five years can cast their votes from June 30th to July 28th 5pm EST. Read more about the candidates.