I worked as a Senior Risk Officer of an Australian mortgage firm for five years. As a Risk Management professional, I have learned that managing risk is best done through careful planning. This mindset has trickled into every aspect of my life. I find it difficult to proceed with any major decision without conducting a SWOT analysis, making mind maps, and consulting experts if needed.

Risk management has become integrated into my personal life. Now that I am on my fourteenth day into my self-improvement project, it is worth noting how I have shared risk management practices in my life. By uncovering my skills, I became aware of my abilities, which are crucial in furthering progress. By learning HOW I can develop my career with resources I already have access to (spoiler alert: advanced degrees and money are not initially needed), I am able to plot my next course of action to improve my circumstances. By empowering myself as a woman, I am able to act on my mission to blaze a trail by inspiring myself (because everything begins in the self) and eventually, inspiring others. And by attending a disaster risk conference, I am able to learn how to approach risk in my daily life through preparedness and a change in mindset.

On a personal level, it is crucial to shift my approach to risk management from response to preparation.

Anticipating and planning are important in personal development. Disasters come in the form of struggles which are usually preventable. This is why I advocate careful assessment and calculation before making any major decision. I approach failure rationally, because I know that life is not perfect and there is still a chance to fail especially in circumstances beyond my control, such as relationships, friendships, the weather, the traffic situation, etc.

It is important to rise above the chances to fail by making the necessary precautions and preparations to minimize or transfer the risk to fail.

I am thankful for this opportunity to be exposed to the scale of Risk Management today in disaster management, crisis management, and big data. By listening to distinguished speakers from the public, private, and international development sectors, I was able to see that risk management at its very core is all about planning and preparation. If it is feasible to plan for disasters, wars, and even disease outbreaks, then it is practical to be a calculated risk-taker in my personal life. After all, it is when the risk pays off that life becomes a sweeter deal.

***Comments are welcome at speakoutsam@gmail.com***