Guided by Family, Driven by Ambition: Heather Fox’s Inspiring Story

Growing up in Valley Stream, NY, Heather Fox ’91CBA was deeply influenced by her parents—a caring, stay-at-home mother who later worked outside the home to support Ms. Fox’s education, and a dedicated father who worked in law enforcement. Their values provided a strong foundation that guided her through her years at St. John’s University and into a thriving career.

“My parents loved Lou Carnesecca ’50C, ’60GEd, ’00HON, and we always had St. John’s basketball games on the television in the house,” she explained. “I’m only half joking when I say that it had some influence on my decision to attend.”

An Economics major, Ms. Fox took most of her classes in the morning so she could return home to work part time as a bank teller in the afternoon. “The school was super supportive of that, and my professors were always available to me. I loved attending St. John’s because of the great stories the faculty would share,” she said. “Whether it was a course in economics, criminal justice, or something else, the professors were fantastic. I remember how engaging the classes were and, for the first time, I really enjoyed school. That was the catalyst for my lifelong desire for learning.” 

She graduated from St. John’s cum laude and then attended law school in Boston, MA. After earning her degree, she began practicing law in Boston before a critical career pivot. 

“I figured out early on that I didn’t want to practice law in a law firm,” she said. “Fortunately, a high school friend who worked at AIG suggested I try insurance.”

She interviewed at AIG and was offered a senior underwriter position in the financial lines section in New York. Soon after, she felt the pull back to the legal side. 

“At the time, the underwriting unit I worked in didn’t have a formal legal structure to support it, so I built one out and ended up becoming the General Counsel for the financial lines business,” Ms. Fox said. “Then, the Chief Executive Officer of financial lines said to me, ‘Lawyers usually just give advice, but you seem to really want to make the decisions—how would you like to return to the business side and be our Chief Underwriting Officer?”

Ms. Fox accepted the position and stayed with AIG until 2009, when she decided to move to the insurance broking side of the business. This role, which was closer to her home, also gave her more family time, while still being professionally fulfilling. 

“My kids were in elementary school, and I had the opportunity for this role that was challenging with growth opportunities, but I was also able to be a class mom,” she said, explaining her move to ARC Excess & Surplus, LLC, a wholesale broker on Long Island. “I had the best of both worlds for that time in my life.” 

Ms. Fox was named Insurance Professional of the Year in 2022 by the New York City Association of Insurance Women for her leadership and support of women in the insurance industry. She is a cofounder and board member of The Bridge Transcends, Inc., a not-for-profit networking organization that supports the advancement of women in the financial lines insurance industry. She is also a current member and past President and Trustee of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), where she received the organization’s 2021 PLUS Founders Award.

In 2023, she transitioned back to the insurance carrier side of the business when she joined Zurich Insurance Company, where she currently serves as Chief Underwriting Officer of Zurich North America. In this role, she leads the company’s Technical Underwriting team. 

“It was time for a new challenge, and Zurich offered me the opportunity,” she said. “I’m enjoying utilizing the skills I developed over the course of my career, whether it be underwriting, legal, compliance, or claims, and continuing to learn new things every day.” 

A desire for continuous growth and balance has shaped Ms. Fox’s journey. Through it all, the unwavering support of her parents remained a guiding force, influencing her career and her perspective on success.

“When I look back on my life, I feel so fortunate to have had my parents’ support,” she said. “My parents worked so hard to put me through college and law school. They wanted for me the things they wanted for themselves—and that’s a really beautiful thing.”