Legal counsel | PepsiCo Türkiye
Pelin Tekin
Legal counsel | PepsiCo Türkiye
Could you share with us the story of your path to becoming an in-house counsel? What motivated you to choose this career path?
In 2015, I graduated from Sainte Pulchérie French High School, and in 2019, I completed my legal education at Kadir Has University Faculty of Law. After my legal internship in 2020, I became legal counsel at PepsiCo Türkiye. I have always seen myself as a versatile lawyer, keen on exploring diverse legal realms rather than confining myself to one area. Working at a global company has always been my dream, and PepsiCo has been the most rewarding step towards realising my aspirations.
Beyond my consulting duties, I played a significant role in advancing the company’s simplification and digitalisation agenda by establishing the PepsiCo Legal Türkiye Website. I also contributed to the expansion of the website, enriching it with content related to the compliance department. Thanks to our collaboration with the compliance department, the projects I led have been acknowledged as best practices within the company.
Outside of my legal responsibilities, I am dedicated to improving my skills in social and artistic fields. I completed my piano education at the ITU State Conservatory and continue to nurture my artistic talents.
Currently, I am involved in various projects aligned with the company’s sustainability agenda while pursuing undergraduate courses in international trade management.
In your role as an in-house counsel, what are the main responsibilities and tasks you handle on a day-to-day basis?
In my current role, my responsibilities cover corporate law, distributor disputes, compliance, competition law and procurement law. Additionally, I actively conduct anti-bribery and anti-corruption training sessions at PepsiCo.
What are some of the key challenges you have faced as a rising star in-house counsel, and how have you overcome them?
As an in-house counsel, some key challenges I have faced include dealing with complex legal issues, handling multiple tasks, and making sure legal decisions match business goals. To overcome these, I have focused on learning, seeking advice from my team and foster strong communication across departments.
Legal counsel | PepsiCo