Eight years following her graduation from Fordham Law School—after having established herself, first, as a staff attorney with the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C., and, second, as an associate at Pepper Hamilton LLP—Deneen Donnley ’92 decided to take a risk. Knowing the potential for failure (as well as for success) for startup companies, she accepted the role of general counsel at ING Direct USA, an e-commerce center in Wilmington, Delaware. Ten years after that, she took another risk, relocating to San Antonio, Texas, where she joined the United Services Automobile Association (USAA).
Her risk-taking paid off. Currently, Donnley serves as chief legal officer, general counsel, and corporate secretary for USAA.
“Much of my success has depended on my being willing to take risks at a time when many of my colleagues were on a different path,” said Donnley.
To navigate her less-traveled path, Donnley combined her intelligence and diligence with her proclivities for strong leadership and effective communication. From 2000 to 2010, she served at ING Direct as senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary. In these roles, she managed legal and compliance matters for the $90 billion company, in addition to helping develop and implement its direct banking model. From 2010 to 2015, Donnley managed legal matters for USAA Federal Savings Bank as its general counsel and secretary. In 2015 she was promoted to executive vice president for USAA’s chief legal office, where she currently manages legal and government-industry relations matters for the company, which currently has more than $261 billion in owned and managed assets, $30 billion in revenue, and more than 12 million members.
Of course, any great success story like Donnley’s is not without challenges. Like so many hardworking American women, Donnley aspired to success both within the workforce and within the home.
“Work-life balance was the primary challenge I had for the first 20 years of my career,” said Donnley, who gave birth to her daughter one year after her graduation from Fordham Law. “The challenges of managing my home life while I was also a senior executive for a growing bank was a significant challenge.”
Luckily, according to Donnley, her leadership position helped her to be heard by her boss and colleagues. Donnley reminded her predominantly male team that after-hours meetings and out-of-town travels pose problems to caretakers of young children.
By the time Donnley transferred to USAA, her daughter’s new driver’s license lightened her childcare responsibilities. However, remembering her many years of struggles to balance parenthood with her career, Donnley has sought to establish a more flexible environment for her team.
“We are always looking to continue enhancing our family-friendly environment,” said Donnley of USAA. The company boasts an attractive parental leave policy, which provides up to 12 weeks of leave for eligible mothers, fathers, and adoptive parents. USAA is also embracing flexible work schedules and locations for its employees, where feasible.
Donnley said that, so far, chief legal office employee feedback has been great, and productivity has been as high as ever—further proving that more companies should support parents and caretakers.
After all, according to Donnley, motherhood has been her greatest triumph.
“My daughter is the proudest accomplishment of my life,” she said. “To raise and give to the world an accomplished daughter who has a strong voice and good values has been the most incredible thing.”
Donnley said that the advice she gives to her daughter is the same as what she would give to students, especially to women students, at Fordham Law—a school that, according to Donnley, promotes the values of openness, integrity, and intellectual curiosity.
“Don’t look for the easy way,” said Donnley. “Don’t always look for the conventional way. Have a voice, speak up, be bold, and be willing to take risks.”
During the 2018–2019 school year, Fordham Law School is celebrating 100 Years of Women.