by Jonathan Starling
Za’Nyah Khan’s mom told her to aim for the moon and above – and she hasn’t let her down.
Ms Khan, 20, is planning for a career as an actuary, but her background in astrophysics sets her apart from the field.
With a Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies CG Alan Peacock scholarship and a Belco STEM Education Awards scholarship under her belt, she is studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in astrophysics at the University of Leicester. This summer, she worked as an actuarial intern at Athene.
As a child, she wanted to be an astronaut, and she has fond memories of studying the solar system at Bermuda High School for Girls.
Thanks to the support of her parents Janice Sealey-Khan and Rakeeb Khan, Ms Khan said her path was “written in the stars” from an early age.
Her mother was her biggest role model, and one of the “coolest and strongest women” she knows.
“My mom always said that I can aim for the moon and beyond because I literally can,” she said.
“And that’s what gave me the confidence to go into such a male-dominated field without a care in the world.
“I think it’s important to allow your kids to dream because you never know how far that may take them.”
The University of Leicester was not her first choice, but after researching she found that it was the perfect school for her. The city hosts the UK’s National Space Centre, as well as Space Park Leicester, and the lecturers are all leaders in their fields.
She’s been active in university life, including sports, where she’s participated in swimming at water polo, pole fitness and pickleball. In the 2025-26 academic year, she was active in the Student Union as a representative of the School of Physics and Astronomy.
Ms Khan used that role to support Year One students and improve communication between the university and students, and was also involved in getting the Minerva Group, which supports women in physics and mathematics, brought back to the university.
She has also had the opportunity to intern with NASA at the Cooper Island tracking station, and participated in the launch of a cube satellite as part of NASA’s TROPICS (Time Related Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats), designed to observe tropical cyclones with the hope of enabling researchers to better predict whether a storm is likely to strengthen from a category four to a five.
“Hearing the T-10 countdown in person made me feel like I was in a movie,” she said.
She noted that, coming from BHS, she wasn’t used to being the only woman in the room, an experience that, while intimidating, made her more confident and driven to succeed.
She has interned at Athene, a life reinsurance company, as well as Willis Towers Watson, a property and casualty insurance consulting company.
Her plan is to become an actuary, where she can use her skill sets in astrophysics and coding.
There are many similarities between the world of physics and reinsurance, she said.
Although the theory and type of math is different, the same baseline skills are needed, and her coding skills have proved useful in her internships.
After completing her degree, she plans to complete a master’s in astrophysics before returning to Bermuda to take her actuarial exams.
“I love all things numbers, including math and coding, and the actuarial pathways allow me to do those as a job, while living in Bermuda, so it’s perfect.
“After interning at WTW, my love for actuarial science was cemented. Everything just seemed to click, and I love the corporate atmosphere. I think I fit in well.
“A part of it was also, when growing up, I never envisioned myself in that type of role. It was always something I associated a man doing, not a woman of colour like me.
“I was pleasantly surprised, though, when I started interning at these companies and I saw just how diverse the industry had become, and I wish I knew that when I was younger.
“There are so many impressive women that I now look up to and it motivates me.”
