What was your route to the top? Prior to joining BIC® in October 2015, Ms. Langley held several positions at Diageo PLC, a global leader in beverage alcohol with iconic brands in spirits, beer and wine, including Director and Senior Counsel of Diageo North America, General Counsel of Diageo Guinness USA and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd. based in Accra, Ghana. Ms. Langley joined Diageo in 2008 following positions as an Associate at Shipman & Goodwin's Corporate Department, specializing in corporate law, commercial financing, restructurings, workouts and reorganizations, as an Associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges' Business Finance and Restructuring department, specializing in complex chapter 11 reorganizations, chapter 11 liquidations, and out of court workouts and as an Associate at Paul Hastings' Corporate Finance department.

What keeps you up at night? (i.e. What are your biggest business-related concerns?) Big changes that impact the legal profession keep me up at night: Issues ranging from corruption in developing nations to corporate reputation, labor issues, technology and regulation landscapes are top of mind for me. But, the most significant to me today, is the rapid rate at which technology is advancing. General Counsel need to keep a firm grip on governance, compliance and evolving technologies, risks and opportunities.

What is the best leadership advice you provided, or received, and why do you think it was effective? The best advice I received was in response to my concerns about being a woman/diverse and the associated career advancement challenges. The advice was to embrace my differences and to “Own it.” It wasn't until I “owned” my differences and embraced my authentic self and the skills, talents and gifts I brought to the table that I realized that my difference was not for exclusion but in fact allowed me to reach my full potential and provide my organizations my unique perspective, different way of thinking to contribute to a common mission. It also allowed me the privilege to create more paths and opportunities for the advancement of women.

Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you started out in the legal profession? Be bold and Fearless. Don't be afraid of the unknown. Say yes and figure it out along the way.

What is the most valuable career advice anyone has ever given you? 1.) Lean in to your Fear. 2.) Everyone who crosses your path, matters.