Courtney Morin, 2026 Outstanding Women in Business Recipient

Courtney Morin
VP, Actuarial & Underwriting
Northeast Delta Dental

Courtney Morin, FSA, MAAA, joined Northeast Delta Dental in 2004 after earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, with majors in mathematics and economics. Courtney is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Her responsibilities include rate development and management, pricing, product design, and reserving for individual and group dental and vision products. In the community, she serves on the board of advisors for Stay Work Play NH, is vice chair of the board of directors for Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, and is a cross-country coach at Auburn Village School.

Q. What first appealed to you about becoming an actuary? Where did that interest come from?

It’s an interesting story, especially to me now because my daughter just completed driver’s ed.

When I was growing up, our driver’s ed teacher was also our math teacher at the high school I attended. One day he went off on a long discussion about actuaries — how it was such a great job, what actuaries do, how they get to do math all day and calculate risks.

It stuck with me, because I was so strong in math and science. Later, when I was looking at course catalogs for college, I kept seeing actuary in the math section, so I started looking into it more seriously.

I really enjoyed statistics and probability in high school, so I knew I wanted to look at math classes in college. When I read more about what actuaries do and realized I could work with risk analysis, probability and statistics all day long, I was excited by that. I know it doesn’t excite a lot of people, but it excited me.

Q. Beyond the certifications and exams, were there other challenges you faced along the way?

My biggest challenge in going through the exam process and getting certifications was continuing to live my life while I did it.

During the exam process, I got married and had three children. Before I finished my exams, my youngest two, who are twins, were babies. I was on maternity leave when I found out I had passed my last exam.

The most difficult thing was finding the balance between taking the time to study for the exams and get through that process while still doing the things I liked to do: going on vacation, growing up, doing things with my family and being human.

Q. How important is mentorship to you?

I definitely would not have gotten through the exams without mentors. I think it’s super important to continue to pass along any knowledge I have that can help somebody else.

At Northeast Delta Dental, we have a great open-door policy. Whether it’s somebody stopping in to get advice, or being able to support longer-term leadership programs, there are opportunities to help.

I’m on the board of trustees for Leadership New Hampshire, so I help make sure that program can continue to be available for people.

Mentors are super important. I wouldn’t say I have anyone right now whom I’m mentoring formally, but I’m no stranger to helping mentor people as needed.

Q. What advice would you give future business leaders?

When I was first given my official leadership role, someone gave me some advice along with a little statue of a lamb and a lion. They said, “This is how you lead. You lead like the lamb and the lion. You have the courage of a lion but the compassion of a lamb.”

The lion represents having the confidence to speak up, make difficult decisions, take risks and stand firm in your values. But at the same time, you need to have empathy, listen to people, treat people with respect and understand that leadership is also about helping others succeed.

Leaders know when each is needed. You don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. It’s really about finding the balance between the two.