What was your route to the top? I was hired in 2008 soon after the Jaguar and Land Rover businesses had been sold by Ford Motor Company to Tata Motors Limited. There was no North American legal department left, and I worked to determine whether and how to build up a full-fledged legal function to cover this region. My title initially was Corporate Counsel but once I established an approved business case to expand the department and proved myself capable of handling the role, my title was updated. The path that led me to getting the job was not what you would expect. First, I had no prior in-house experience and had spent my legal career up to that point in litigation and transactional roles in other sectors. Some of my prior clients were automotive manufacturers and their ad agencies, but I had so much more to learn about the auto industry. Second, I had no connection to anyone at Jaguar Land Rover when I applied “cold” in response to an online job posting. I felt an instant rapport with all of the company executives I met, and I am so grateful that they decided to take a risk on my potential to grow into the role. Since then, I have built up the legal department into a high-functioning, efficiently-staffed support to the business, with four attorneys, three paralegals and one product analyst.

What keeps you up at night? (i.e. What are your biggest business-related concerns?) Given the complexity of our business and the multitude of potential legal risks, I am concerned about how best to provide coverage to and communication with business stakeholders in the most cost-effective, value-added way. Whatever the issue at hand, I aim to find a strategy and solution that mitigates legal risk while still helping the business teams reach their objectives.

Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you started out in the legal profession? When I started out, I wish I had confidently understood that common sense, judgment and people skills play as much a part in helping one's legal career as do intellectual legal skills and industry experience. Although I knew there were many pathways in the legal profession, I didn't understand all the possibilities and the importance of remaining open to discover that unexpected next step.

What is the most valuable career advice anyone has ever given you? A friend's dad reminded me of the following: never lose sight of what you are good at, and at the same time, of what expertise you wish to develop further. That awareness will help you to first, play to your strengths and enjoy yourself at work and second, invest your energy in the right areas of development that could expand your career options. Continuing to focus on your own development also keeps you from getting complacent. That same sage person reminded me to put myself in the shoes of my management to always understand the pressures they are under. All of this advice has been tremendously helpful.