More Than a Numbers Game

A woman wearing glasses and a winter coat pauses near the entrance to the NJ PATH trains in a train station.

Donna Matthews, in the Oculus Transportation Center at the World Trade Center, near her office in lower Manhattan. (Photo: Karsten Moran)

By Rebecca Maxon

Donna Matthews, BS’13 (Metro), studied accounting, but her role as the underwriting account service manager at Zurich, North America, transcends mere numbers.

“I left FDU with the intention of becoming a CPA, but as I graduated and understood the full workload of some CPAs, I realized it wasn’t for me. I tried auditing within Zurich, which was a great opportunity, but it wasn’t fulfilling, so I sought out other options,” Matthews says.

“What do I do as a manager beyond accounting? I would say everything.”

Matthews’ service team is the crucial link between underwriters and insurance brokers, focusing specifically on insuring construction companies and managing their risks. “The underwriters perform the actual risk analysis. Then, the job comes back to my service team, to put together a quote or policy.”

Her attention to detail and innovative mindset are both key aspects of Matthews’ management style.

She takes a holistic approach to team bonding and building, recognizing the unique personalities within her team and dynamically adjusting her leadership approach based on each member’s learning style.

Group activities have included a cooking class at Eataly Downtown, located in One World Trade Center, just like the Zurich office.

“We recently did a Jeopardy game for the team,” Matthews says. The questions covered topics related to their work, such as the different forms they use and what they can and cannot insure. “They say that insurance isn’t sexy, so we try to make it fun.”

She also encourages underwriters to take team members to lunch or to attend broker events. Sometimes they even visit construction sites to see projects before they break ground.

“What excites me most is that I’ve been able to build a team of people who trust me with their careers and rely on me to help them do their work. They get me excited to come to work every day. After being with the company for over ten years, I can truly say this is an organization that supports growth in whatever direction I’ve chosen. I’ve held multiple roles, but this one by far has been my favorite.”