Boris Noumedem, Data Scientist at BNP Paribas Cardif

Boris Noumedem received a special mention for his thesis at the 2021 edition of the prize for the best actuarial thesis. He joined ENSAE Paris through a double degree agreement with ISSEA. He is now a data scientist at the Datalab of BNP Paribas Cardif.

1. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER BEFORE ENSAE PARIS AND DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT SITUATION? WHAT DOES YOUR POSITION CONSIST OF?

I joined ENSAE in my second year in 2019 through a double degree agreement between ENSAE and ISSEA (school of statistics in Cameroon). During this first year, I strengthened my knowledge in statistics and programming thanks to the multidisciplinary teachings found at ENSAE. In the third year, I opted for a specialization in actuarial science coupled with a competence in Data Science that I was able to develop through the M2 Data Science at IP Paris. Since February 2022, I have been working as a data scientist - actuary at the Datalab of BNP Paribas Cardif; precisely, on a daily basis, I support the actuaries and data scientists of the subsidiaries in the development of risk models.

2. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ENROLL AT ENSAE PARIS? WHAT DID YOU GAIN FROM THIS SPECIALIZED MASTER'S DEGREE AND WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS COURSE?

ENSAE offers a good course in applied mathematics as well as in economic and social sciences. We were able to acquire solid technical skills through the different projects we worked on throughout the year. ENSAE offers diversified specialization paths in 3A, with the possibility of double degrees with other schools such as business schools, engineering schools...

3. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR TIME AT THE SCHOOL? FOR WHAT REASONS (AND TO WHAT PROFILE OF PEOPLE) WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE ENSAE PARIS TRAINING?

I chose ENSAE Paris because of the diversity of the courses and the theoretical foundations that are taught there. This degree allowed me to strengthen my interest in mathematical modeling of problems and gave me practical tools to solve them.

4. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE INTERESTED IN ACTUARIAL SCIENCE?

What particularly caught my attention at ENSAE was the school's strong commitment to the theoretical framework, where the proper formalization of a problem precedes its resolution. In my opinion, ENSAE is the ideal school if you are passionate about finding solutions, if you are looking for solid skills applicable in various fields.

5. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE THREE STRONG POINTS OF ENSAE PARIS?

While applied mathematical skills are undeniable to be an actuary, a good ability to understand the environment and analyze it is just as important, so don't stop educating yourself and read beyond the math courses.

6. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ACTUARIAL SCIENCE?

I worked on the topic "From the community to the individual: quantifying to understand the impact of actuarial practices on mutualization" to contribute to a better understanding of the foundation of insurance, which is mutualization. If the intuitions around mutualization are well developed, the quantification and the analysis of the consequences of its absence have remained very little addressed in the literature.