About
Maddalena has over 10 years of experience within Insurance and Banking in a variety of positions in Life Insurance, Banking and Investment markets across the UK, Asia and South Africa. She holds a BSc Actuarial Science & Statistics, BSc Honours Actuarial Science and is currently completing an MSc Comp Sci with AI from the University of York, UK. She is a Fellow of both the UK Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and US Society of Actuaries. In 2018, she also obtained the Certified Enterprise Risk Actuary designation. Maddalena has lived in 4 different countries and has experience running her own small business in the UK. She is passionate about Insurtech and building technology products.
Work
Insurance Professional (Actuary, FIA, CERA, FSA)
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Ah-ha moments as a founder!
I had been pivoting with so many ideas and continuously failing very badly It was only until I found Itay on a mentorship platform that my start-up trajectory transformed. Starting a start-up can be a daunting journey, and like many of you, I struggled to determine what to focus on and what would be the right actions to progress. I had always wanted a mentor, I remember watching my friends get these amazing mentors straight out of uni and I used to wonder how could a total stranger have such unwavering belief in me But everything changed when I found a Itay. His guidance helped me make significant progress - landing a spot in a prestigious insurance accelerator, securing 5 design partners, and launching an MVP for users. It all started when I attended Itay Forer's workshop on "Finding Product-Market Fit" (https://maven.com/itay-forer/fin...). Sceptical at first, I was soon captivated by the workshop's ability to simplify complex ideas and break them down into actionable steps. I learned to focus on solving real problems for a specific target audience. This became the cornerstone of my business. It also taught me to embrace iteration and learn from customer feedback, fostering resilience in the face of setbacks. You see when you learn from Itay the metrics that you see others chasing become a by-product of your dedication to being excellent, not only as a founder but in the products you build for users and how you treat those around you. But what truly set Itay (who became my mentor after) apart was his unwavering belief in my potential. His support nurtured my confidence as a founder, enabling me to overcome self-doubt and take bold steps toward progression. Every week I used to think this guy (Itay) is going to cancel a session, how on earth could someone at his level bear to see another one of my Wordpress websites with objects flying in from the corners of each screen!!! My experience with Itay transformed my perspective on how to run a startup/idea/project early on and about the importance of PMF. If you're struggling as a founder, you came across this post for a reason Sometimes to get to the next level on your path you need some guidance. In a world where we as founders are taught that you have to be and know everything I urge you to take this opportunity to experience the teachings of such an exceptional leader! So don't be afraid to seek out a mentor who can offer invaluable guidance, support, and inspiration. The right mentor can be the game-changer you need to supercharge your start-up dreams into reality.