Legal seam size: ~250  

During the past year, what are your teams’ proudest accomplishments?  

The Coca-Cola Company is a networked organization. To leverage the power of that network, we focus on being integrated business partners, in addition to our role as legal advisors. It is a transformation that starts with us. In October, we brought our entire legal organization together in Atlanta for the first time in years. Being a truly global team where people collaborate across countries and time zones, it was so great seeing each other face-to-face. For many colleagues, this was the first time they met in person, even though they work closely together on a daily basis. Of course, we had inspiring speakers and workshops prepared, but I honestly think there was equal value in the time spent between sessions. When you sit down for lunch, enjoy a laugh, or share a Coke with someone, you build a connection, which reaches far beyond that one moment. It is the reason we are still feeling the energy from the event in October, and it is why I think an investment in culture is also an investment in the business.  

What strategic priorities are guiding you and your team in 2024?  

Our North Star is that we are business partners with strong legal expertise. This shapes our work in many ways. For example, if we are collaborating with a software developer, while we are not expected to know how to write code, we do need to understand how their work aims to advance our growth strategy so that we are best positioned to be true business partners. Similarly, that same developer did not go to law school, so it is our job as lawyers to clearly explain the legal context and consequence of a situation. Because we work across the enterprise, we are also in a unique position to not only provide insight into legal strategy and questions but also help connect the dots and advise on broader business strategy.  

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, you are passionate about?  

Public service is why I became a lawyer, and it has been in the background of everything that I have done. Personally, I am involved with several organizations, including Cool Girls and Junior Achievement. Both focus on providing kids and young people what they need to be empowered and succeed, regardless of their background or challenges. Without the ability to impact the communities where I live and where I work, I would not really be an effective lawyer. It is one of the reasons why I have stayed at The Coca-Cola Company for so long, because my values are aligned with the company’s values of making a difference.