Hiring American heroes

In the military, I led and worked with soldiers who had backgrounds and experiences very different from my own. We had to quickly come together as a team, enabling me to accomplish goals I never imagined. I transitioned my military experiences to my professional life, leading to my work at Zurich promoting equal opportunity in the workplace.

—Latrece Edwards, Head of Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance, Zurich North America

I was in the Navy out of high school in the Nuclear Propulsion Program. We were expected to speak up, regardless of rank, when something wasn’t right or needed to be changed. Today, I expect the people I work with to take similar initiative. Speaking up—and listening—are keys to our success.

—Jason Meador, Head of RCIS, Zurich North America

My role in an Army tank crew was about building relationships and trust. That experience has helped me accelerate in my career.

—Mike Esqueda, Program Manager, Contingent Workforce, Zurich North America

When a task is assigned in the Navy, you are expected to own it from A to Z. This may include reaching out to other departments for resources and working with senior personnel. This can sometimes be outside your comfort zone, but it taught me skills that have helped me accomplish my mission, including at Zurich.

—Opal Alston, Systems Engineer, Operations Management and Information Technology, Zurich North America