Would you tell us about your career journey?

This may come as a surprise, but becoming an attorney was never in my mind growing up. I wanted to be an investment banker (even before I knew that was the name for that career). In college I studied finance and economics and immediately went to work as an analyst with an investment bank, Citi. I loved it! I loved the challenging pace, the challenging work, getting to know a business and how to make it better. Most of all, I loved doing deals!

After a few years I realized if I wanted to keep advancing in my career, I needed to get a graduate degree. The chief financial officer at Citi had become a friend and informal mentor of mine so I spoke to him about pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He said an MBA would be good, however, I should consider getting my Juris Doctor. He noted that I worked mostly with attorneys and that it would give me more professional options. That may be the most generous conversation anyone has ever had with me professionally. I went to graduate school, enjoyed the challenge and got excited for a legal career that allowed me to leverage my financial education and experience.

I started my legal career at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Corporation Finance. It was a wonderful place to work — high work ethic, low egos — and even as a new attorney I was working on deals that were on the cover of the Wall Street Journal. Following a few years at the Commission of deep and focused experience, I joined a private law firm to broaden my legal experience. I will be honest, I never loved private practice, but I learned a lot and it was a means to an end. My goal was always to get back to being in house with a business. Soon enough an ideal opportunity presented itself to go in house with a client.

Since 2005, I have held roles of increasing responsibility in multinational public companies in the consumer space, technology, government and defense, industrial, and commercial. I achieved general counsel in 2015. Being a general counsel had been everything I thought and hoped it would be. I leverage both my legal and financial expertise to be a trusted advisor, help a business be better, lead a global team and champion talent. I also serve on three advisory boards. The Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership, whose mission is to positively shape and influence how corporations are governed. Diversity Lab, an incubator for innovative ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in the law industry. And the Association of Corporate Counsel National Capital Region Leadership Academy, a best-in-class leadership program specifically tailored to provide the next generation of in-house counsel leadership skills and tools.

My career journey has been intentional and challenging, and I have loved (almost) every minute of it. 😊

What’s a favorite hobby or pastime?

Sailing! I took sailing as a class in school when I was in the 9th grade and fell in love with it. I started racing performance sailboats immediately and have done so ever since — all types and sizes and all over the world. I have crewed on others’ and owned my own performance sailboats. It is how I met some of my dearest friends, how I got clients when I was in private practice law, and how I was able to see the world when I was young. Recently, I have segued to more cruising than racing (it’s a bit more comfortable 😊) and still get out on the water for vacations, holidays, weekends and evenings. Patrick (the love of my life) and I have a Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 and go sailing with Miles (our rescue dog) on the Chesapeake Bay every chance we get.

What’s your favorite book or movie?

“To Have and Have Not” by Ernest Hemingway

What song gets you hyped up?

Almost any song if it’s live and loud.

What would be the title of your autobiography?

“Challenge Junkie”

What’s something that inspires or motivates you?

Identifying, developing and championing talent. Furthering someone else’s success is what gets me up and going in the morning.

What’s the best advice you ever received, professional or otherwise?

Oh wow, I have received a few great pieces of advice (“Pick a boss, more than a job.” “It’s more important to be effective than to be right.” “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable”). But if I had to choose the best advice I have ever received … Be authentic.

What’s one piece of advice you frequently give?

Be true to yourself. It’s harder than it sounds. There are always influences and expectations from society, educators, colleagues, mentors, family and friends about, well, everything. If you really are true with yourself, the choices you make will always be the right ones.

KBR recently launched pilots of the All In employee community. What does it mean to you to be “all in” for inclusion at KBR?

Every life has equal value. No matter where you or your family are from, what you look like, who you love, who you worship — no exceptions — every life has equal value. That also means that everyone should be included equally. All In to me is KBR walking the talk that every life has equal value. For sure, “We Are a Team of Teams.” Everyone that walks this earth has special gifts and talents. The great joy of teamwork is identifying each player’s gifts and organizing the team to best leverage those for maximum impact. That’s total inclusion. When I think about building teams, I usually start by envisioning what victory looks like, and also what it will feel like. For me, this sets an internal expectation and commitment, and with that comes a positive energy to make the team win a reality.