Francois Duguay, Executive Vice President & Chief Actuary, Optimum Life Re

David Segal, Founder of DAVIDsTEA and Mad Radish
Retail Visionary and Branding Expert

Building a successful business is amazing. Watching a business fail is hard – but honest failures can make you stronger. The worst fate in business, argues David Segal, the founder of DAVIDsTEA, is purgatory, when every day is a battle to make ends meet and gain an inch of ground.
As both an entrepreneur and an investor, David has experienced purgatory first-hand. And he’s identified three primary causes of purgatory: your product, your people and your ego.

In this compelling talk, David takes audiences through the five criteria that make for a compelling product; the most important qualities to look for in your people (hint: it’s not about skills or experience); and tips on how you can put your own ego aside to move your business forward. An energetic and passionate speaker, David brings his concepts to life with real-world examples, including tales from his own experience leading a $200 million brand.

Duane Zappitelli, FIC, Vice President, Sales and Distribution, Serenia Life Financial

A case study presentation on Duane’s experience at Serenia Life, growing their independent distribution channel to spark impressive growth through a name change, technology updates, product enhancements, and cultural changes. A remarkable story of transformation.

Paul Mlodzik, Marketing, Brand and CX Executive, Mlodzik Consulting

Rear Admiral Brian E. Luther, USN (Ret.), President & CEO, Navy Mutual Aid Association

LIC’s traditional annual banquet is a chance to enjoy fine dining, develop old and new friendships in the industry, and hear a light-hearted State of the Association address as the leadership changes from outgoing LIC Chair Francois Duguay, Executive Vice President & Chief Actuary, Optimum Life Reinsurance, to incoming 2023 Chair Steve Shaffer, President and CEO, Homesteaders Life.

Many thanks to our Banquet Sponsors: Parkway Advisors, Trilogy Actuarial Solutions, thinktum, iPipeline, ManageMy and LIDP.

Steve Shaffer, President and CEO, Homesteaders Life

David Ben inspires people to strike the word “impossible” from their vocabulary. A master problem-solver, David uses his training as a former tax lawyer, a graduate of the London School of Economics, and a world-class magician to make perplexing problems in business simply disappear.

Recognized among the world’s premier magicians, David was the sole protégé of one of the greatest sleight-of-hand artists of the 20th century, and has performed throughout North America, Mexico, England, and Japan. He has also developed special effects for theatre, film, and television productions, written six books, set up a performing arts foundation, curated a major museum exhibition, and programmed performances for an international arts festival.

Described as “one of the most influential magicians of his generation” by the Financial Post, David loves to share his passion for creativity, problem solving, innovation and mentorship. He is the author of Advantage Play: A Manager’s Guide to Creative Problem Solving.

Jean-Martin Aussant, Senior Vice-President, and Jan Erik Warneryd, CIO, Optimum Quantvest Corporation (OQC)

Recent economic events have made markets more uncertain than ever. This session will go over various fundamental economic indicators, discuss how to approach the markets as 2023 unfolds, and assess the consequences for insurers’ portfolios.