Kim Rivera, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel of HP, at the company's Palo Alto offices. May 5, 2017.

KIM RIVERA JOINED HP INC. IN NOVEMBER 2015 AND SERVES AS the group general counsel. "As the chief legal officer for HP, no day is ever the same as the last," Rivera says.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, HP is a global company with 49,000 employees located at more than 125 sites worldwide. Rivera says HP creates technology that makes life better for everyone everywhere.

LEGAL TEAM: According to Rivera, the global legal affairs organization has 375 employees, who are located at more than 30 global sites worldwide. Approximately half of the organization's employees are lawyers.

OUTSIDE COUNSEL: HP uses a host of different firms for support with mergers and acquisitions, securities, litigation, regulatory issues, affirmative recoveries, governance matters, antitrust matters and other practice areas. Rivera notes that HP's diversity initiative mandates that partner law firms maintain agreed-upon diversity levels for teams working on matters for the company.

DAILY DUTIES: Rivera says she spends much of her time ensuring that HP's business, brand and technology are protected. She also spends time working on strategic issues with the executive leadership team and the company's board of directors. "Teams within my organization, global legal affairs, negotiate sales contracts to sell to our partners and customers," Rivera says. "We also work hand-in-hand with product teams to turn ideas into products and service offerings that are the hallmark of innovative technology. During my day, I also try to find time to think strategically about the direction and future of my organization."

ROUTE TO THE TOP: After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1994, Rivera began her career as a litigation associate at Jones Day. Rivera went in-house in 2000, joining Rockwell Automation, where she served as vice president and chief litigation counsel and was then promoted to general counsel of the Automation controls and information group. In 2006, Rivera became the vice president and associate general counsel for The Clorox Co., where she oversaw labor and employment counseling and litigation. Prior to joining HP in 2015, Rivera served as chief legal officer and corporate secretary for DaVita Inc., a global Fortune 250 health care company. She worked at DaVita for six years.

PERSONAL: Rivera, 49, says she has a blended family. "Our youngest is 5 years old, and she keeps us on our toes," she says. When not working, Rivera likes to spend time with her family and loves outdoor activities, hiking and running. "I was training for my first ultra-marathon until I developed a foot injury," she says. "Now I drink more lattes and ponder how to continue training with a bum foot."

LAST BOOK READ: Rivera says the last book she read is "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

"I'm trying to learn new things," she says. "They say forcing our brain to learn outside the comfort zone helps neuroplasticity. This book has definitely made my brain work hard."

WHAT KEEPS HER UP AT NIGHT: Concerns that keep her up at night, Rivera says, are keeping up with technology and supporting the fourth industrial revolution; having the foresight and knowing where to invest resources; and determining how best to help reinvent legal, ethical, regulatory and political frameworks to remain relevant and effective. "But this is what I love about my job," she says. "I am fueled by finding solutions to complex issues."

PRIORITIES: Rivera says her priorities are focused on four areas: supporting the core of HP's business; helping drive growth areas in the company's business; delivering on milestones for future innovation in the business; and reinventing the organization's culture.

When asked what she likes the most about her job, Rivera says, "I love that challenge that my job brings and I appreciate the diverse group of people that I get to work with. … I also appreciate the platform that my role has lent me and the opportunity to affect positive change."

Rivera notes that with HP's diversity initiative that mandates outside counsel maintain agreed-to diversity levels for teams working on matters for the company, HP has helped spark a conversation in the industry.