SINCE JANUARY 2013, MARIANNE SHORT HAS SERVED AS EXECUTIVE vice president and chief legal officer for UnitedHealth Group, a diversified health and well-being company committed to introducing innovative approaches, products and services that can improve personal health and promote healthier populations in local communities. The company ranked as No. 6 on the 2017 Fortune 500 list.

Headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, UnitedHealth has operations in all 50 states and more than 125 countries.

LEGAL TEAM: The U.S.-based legal, compliance and regulatory affairs team includes approximately 1,400 employees, including 300 attorneys.

According to Short, the majority of those employees are located in Minnesota, Connecticut, California, Wisconsin and Illinois, but the company also has attorneys and staff located in other parts of the United States, as well as in other countries, including Brazil, India, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Portugal.

OUTSIDE COUNSEL: Short notes that in 2010 UnitedHealth Group implemented a preferred outside counsel program that helped the company identify law firm partners in practice areas including litigation, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property and employment and benefits matters. The company has 40 preferred firms that handle the majority of its outside legal work across all practice areas. Through Oct. 31, 2017, approximately 75 percent of the company's outside support was provided by the preferred law firms program. According to Short, the preferred firms include large international firms, boutique, minority and women-owned firms and ones with regional expertise.

DAILY DUTIES: Short is responsible for overseeing all aspects of legal, regulatory and compliance matters across the enterprise. She also is part of the office of the chief executive and serves as chair of the United Health Foundation, which focuses on improving access to quality, cost-effective medical care and enhancing community well-being. In addition, Short chairs the Charitable Giving Committee, which helps to raise funds for communities where UnitedHealth Group employees live and work.

ROUTE TO THE TOP: Short has never shied away from new challenges. After graduating from Boston College Law School, Short worked as an attorney at the Minnesota Attorney General's Office in 1976-77 and then joined Dorsey & Whitney as an associate and trial lawyer, becoming a partner in the firm in 1982. Short served as a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals from 1988 to 2000, writing more than 900 opinions in virtually every area of civil and criminal law.

Short returned to Dorsey & Whitney in 2000 and served as the firm's managing partner from 2007-12, becoming the first woman to hold that position. However, she also continued her litigation practice, serving as co-chair of the firm's appellate and health litigation practice groups. UnitedHealth announced the appointment of Short to her present positions in December 2012.

PERSONAL: Short, 66, was born in Minnesota and married Ray Skowyra in 1980. Skowyra is a business and technology consultant. The couple has two sons, Nicholas J. Skowyra, 28, and R. Louis Skowyra, 35. In her free time, Short likes to downhill ski, run, hike and relax in hot yoga classes.

LAST BOOK READ: Short recently read "Leonardo da Vinci," a biography by Walter Isaacson.

WHAT KEEPS HER UP AT NIGHT: Short cites cybersecurity concerns and the ever-changing political and regulatory landscape.

PRIORITIES: Short notes that she wants to keep pace with her business colleagues, support her legal, compliance and regulatory affairs team and live in sync with the UnitedHealth values: integrity, compassion, relationships, innovation and performance.

When asked what she likes the most about her job, Short writes, "Daily, I have the privilege of working with intelligent, compassionate and dedicated colleagues towards our shared mission 'to help people live healthier lives and make health care work for everyone'."