Cho Eui-joo

Cho Eui-joo, 46, CFO at the Prudential Life Insurance Company of Korea, is the first female actuary in Korea. An actuary serves various jobs including developing new insurance products, fixing premiums, analyzing profit and loss, and managing risks. When the Ministry of Gender Equality selected female pioneers in each field to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the nation, she was listed as one of the 70 power women.

"There was not a single female actuary around the 1990s, so I thought I had to demonstrate my ability to get equal treatment. I studied ardently to pass the exam to be an actuary."

Cho landed at Prudential Life Insurance in 1990 and played a pivotal role in developing various insurance products. "An actuary should have insight into social trends in order to develop a new insurance product. Women tend to be more calm and meticulous than men, so I think the job better suits women." she said.

It is also her job to manage risks in order to brace for unexpected factors like the global slump last year. She warns her customers to be fully prepared all the time. "Customers also should brace themselves for unexpected crisis as we live in an aging society and can face early retirement and death anytime," said Cho.