About

Having successfully worked in the public sector, Mariel Picado transitioned into a role at Florida Ice and Farm Company (FIFCO), adapting to the commercial needs of the private sector with relative ease. In 2005, Picado, as manager of legal services, was tasked with the creation of an independent legal department for FIFCO. She quickly showed that the legal skills acquired in the public sector were not only directly transferable, but also allowed her to thrive amidst the commercial challenges she now faced. Under her management, the legal function at FIFCO moved from a model that was excessively reliant on external law firms for all legal service provision, with minor oversight by senior managers, to an in-house model predicated on providing strategic legal advice to senior executives of the company. Similarly, Picado is also responsible for the simplification and efficiency of FIFCO’s legal processes in addition to incorporating “SERVILEX”, a highly innovative system which ensures all legal service transactions are executed with minimum error. Picado’s impressive provision of legal advice has allowed her to step outside of a purely legal role and even be impactful upon FIFCO strategically. In 2015, she became an integral member of FIFCO’s executive committee, and her reporting line changed to see her report directly to the company’s director. Armed with this new dimension, Picado has played an invaluable role in FIFCO’s expansion processes, including the efficacious execution of eight acquisition transactions, which have opened FIFCO up to new markets and product creation. Lastly, Picado is able to temper her demanding work life with a creative side that influences her approach to work: ‘On a personal level, I am a painter and I have had the opportunity to participate in several solo and group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally. I try to incorporate the creativity and sensitivity required in art in the profession, achieving comprehensive development as a person and as a professional’.