Who is the most important mentor you've had thus far in your career? Why?

While attorneys usually have mentors who are also attorneys, my most important mentor has been a one-of-a-kind businesswoman named Paula Simaan, National Manager of Lexus, who taught me how to be more than an attorney but also a businesswoman. During my time as Lexus's first dedicated in-house counsel, I partnered closely with Paula to understand the company, its people, and its processes. Together, we built a brand new role with brand new processes. Paula taught me how to operate within the corporate environment both effectively and efficiently. She taught me about corporate communications, change management, and strategic decision-making. As a leader, she was always thoughtful, humble, and hard working. Through her example, I learned many valuable business lessons and skills that make me a well-rounded corporate attorney today.