A Unique Journey, a Rewarding Destination

By Torie Wells

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 21, 2026) — Sketching Donna Brown’s globetrotting career on a map would reveal a winding path from Albany to Manhattan to Indianapolis — which would then traverse countries with stops in Mexico, France, Singapore, Thailand, China and Taiwan.

Brown’s work took her all over the world, but her ultimate career destination was to serve as a chief financial officer (CFO). Brown ’78 set that goal, she said, at a time when there were few women in leadership roles in finance. 

“While I did not have female mentors to emulate early in my career,” said Brown, “I was fortunate to work in an environment where I could carve out my own path and eventually help other women advance their careers.” 

Her trailblazing career began decades earlier when, as a high schooler in Westchester County, Brown was looking for a business school not far from home. A friend’s father was an accountant, and Brown enjoyed math, so that job piqued her interest. Brown spoke of her education and early career while proudly wearing a purple shirt from the University at Albany. She says she thoroughly enjoyed her time at the University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting, and credits that preparation for a career that began in Manhattan and later moved to Indianapolis. 

Over that nearly 40-year career, Brown gained experience throughout the financial field with roles in accounting, internal and external auditing, financial management, and leadership. 

“I just felt that if I tried different paths and different things, it would eventually get me to where I wanted to be,” said Brown. 

That happened in 1995 when, at the electronics company then known as Thomson (later to become Technicolor), Brown took her first of several CFO positions, overseeing billions of dollars in annual revenue. Her success, she says, is due in part to her determination and desire to collaborate and embrace change — especially as she adapted to shifts in company ownership. She was also willing to travel and, at one point, flew to company headquarters in Paris once a month for a week at a time. That experience, along with work trips to other countries, sparked a lifelong love of travel. 

After her private-sector career, Brown served as CFO for the Indiana Public Retirement System, until she retired in 2017. In each leadership position throughout her career, Brown took employee development and mentoring seriously. Many members of her team went on to success in their fields. She continues mentoring today through volunteering with Junior Achievement, where she speaks with elementary students about her career and shares opportunities available to them. 

Her desire to help students realize their dreams is why Brown and her husband, Ted, established the Donna F. Brown ’78 Scholarship at the Massry School of Business. The Browns said they understand, firsthand, that paying for college is a challenge for many. It is, in part, why they decided to fund a generous scholarship and to make a planned gift commitment as part of the Inspire the Next campaign, a $30 million fundraising effort for the Massry School of Business. 

“If we can increase access to education for capable students and enable them to … pursue their goals and dreams, we feel like that’s money very well spent,” said Brown. 

“Each of us is grateful for the education that we received,” said Ted Brown, a retired attorney. “That education was the foundation for our respective careers and we just want other students to have the same opportunity we had.” 

Barbara Origene ’25 received The Donna F. Brown ’78 Scholarship in 2025 before graduating — a semester early — with a bachelor’s degree in accounting with two minors. 

“I made so many connections. I networked a lot with professors, with friends, and I was able to be involved in so many different activities which I would never imagine myself being a part of,” said Origene, who came to UAlbany to pursue a career in business. The scholarship allowed her to focus on that dream: “It allowed me to be part of extracurricular activities that can make me successful at my career, strengthen my skills, my leadership skills.” Origene was a resident advisor, a member of Albany Business Leaders Emerging, and an intern for KPMG. She will continue paving her career path this fall when she starts her master’s degree in taxation at Massry. 

Looking back on her own career, Brown said she thinks sometimes the journey can be just as interesting as the destination. She encourages students, just beginning their careers, to bravely embrace opportunities along the way: “Take advantage of different job opportunities, learn new things, build your skill set, and you’ll know when you find the right career path that excites you.”