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When Michael Consedine ’94 looks back on his time as a law student, he doesn’t describe a carefully mapped path to global leadership. He describes uncertainty, curiosity and a willingness to take opportunities as they came.

That message was front and center when Consedine, now executive vice president and global head of government and regulatory affairs at Athene, returned to Widener University Commonwealth Law School to speak with students about his career in insurance regulation, public policy and global finance.

Introduced by Dean andré douglas pond cummings, Consedine was recognized as a clear example of what can begin at Widener Law Commonwealth. A 1994 graduate, his career spans early work in Pennsylvania state government, service as Pennsylvania insurance commissioner, leadership at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and senior roles shaping insurance regulation on a global stage.

“This meteoric career rise started in these hallways,” cummings said. “Michael Consedine is one of ours.”

“You’d think with a bio like that, I had it all figured out when I was sitting here as a 1L,” Consedine said. “That is about as far from the truth as you might imagine.”

Consedine’s story begins in Harrisburg at a time when the law school was still establishing its presence. Students were competing with graduates from more established institutions, often without the benefit of a deep alumni network. What they had instead, he said, was something that proved just as valuable.

“We didn’t have that huge alumni network,” he said. “But we had a grittiness. You had to be out there, be scrappy, work harder, and be a self-starter.”

That mindset would shape the rest of his career.

After earning his juris doctor, Consedine completed a judicial clerkship and initially considered becoming a district attorney. But an early realization about the demands of that path, combined with a timely opportunity in state government, led him in a different direction. He joined the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, an agency he admitted he knew little about at the time.

Rather than turning away from the unfamiliar, he leaned into it.

“I didn’t know what I was getting into,” he said. “But I asked: Where can I learn? Where can I get meaningful experience? Where can this lead?”

That decision became a defining moment.

At the Insurance Department, Consedine developed a deep understanding of insurance regulation, a field that often operates behind the scenes but plays a critical role in the broader economy. Over time, that knowledge became a highly specialized skill set that set him apart.

“I found an area that gave me a niche set of knowledge and expertise, and that started opening doors,” he said.
Those doors led to leadership roles at the highest levels of the profession, including serving as Pennsylvania insurance commissioner, where he oversaw one of the largest insurance markets in the world. He later became chief executive officer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, working across state, federal and international regulatory systems

His career eventually expanded onto the global stage.

Consedine went on to serve in senior international policy roles before joining Athene Holdings, Ltd., where his work now sits at the intersection of insurance, capital markets and global finance in coordination with Athene’s parent company Apollo Global Management. His day-to-day responsibilities include engaging with regulators across jurisdictions and helping guide strategy in an increasingly interconnected financial system.

During a fireside chat led by third-year student Natalie Solano, president of the Business Law Society, and second-year student Kaylee Caprari, president of the Federal Bar Association, Consedine walked students through how that evolution happened, emphasizing that what may seem like a niche area of law is often far more influential than it appears.
“It’s part of the global flow of capital,” he said, explaining how insurance supports long-term investments in infrastructure, energy and retirement systems. “It’s all connected.”

He also highlighted how the foundational skills developed in law school continue to shape his work, even at the highest levels.
“The legal writing, communication, advocacy, the ability to get in front of decision-makers and make a coherent, credible argument, this is the training ground for that kind of work,” he said.

At the same time, Consedine addressed how the legal profession is evolving, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence. While AI is transforming how lawyers approach research and drafting, he said it will not replace the need for judgment, expertise, and the ability to navigate complex human dynamics.

“What is the game changer is where you have a niche area of expertise, a subset of knowledge that is valued,” Consedine said. “That is job security.”

Throughout the conversation, students engaged with questions about career paths, transitions between public and private sectors, and how to build a meaningful career in an increasingly global legal landscape. Consedine’s responses returned again and again to the same core idea: careers are not built all at once, they are built through a series of choices, often in moments that do not feel significant at the time.

He also spoke candidly about stepping into rooms where he once felt out of place, even as his career advanced, and how that sense of humility continues to shape his approach.

For Consedine, one of the most important lessons from his journey is the value of staying open to opportunity, especially when it does not align with a preconceived plan.

“You can be a student who is a good student, who takes a job with a state agency nobody’s ever heard of,” he said. “And that can open a lot of other doors.”

He closed with a message that felt both practical and encouraging, especially for those still figuring out what comes next.

“I’m grateful for Widener for giving me those skill sets and allowing me to take my shot,” Consedine said. “And I encourage you all to take yours.”