What led you to taking an in-house job at Nasdaq?
My interest in capital markets grew at S&C, and when the opportunity to join Nasdaq arose, it was the perfect intersection of capital markets and regulatory work. As a company, Nasdaq has such a unique mix of interests to consider – it’s a self-regulatory organization mandated by the SEC to protect investors, while also being publicly traded itself. It’s a global company and one that’s very purpose-driven. We champion inclusive growth by helping to power economies and contribute to a more sustainable world. My role allows me to participate in that greater purpose.
How would you describe the day-to-day aspects of your role?
My role sits at the intersection of a few aspects of Nasdaq’s business, which is what I love about it. On the regulatory side, I’m the legal relationship manager for the U.S. listings team. I support the team reviewing IPOs to make sure the company meets our standards for listings. I also work on public policy affairs, and am the legal lead for our ESG team, which puts together our sustainability and ESG reports. (On a related note, we just submitted our comment letter on the SEC’s proposed ESG disclosures. I have to give a shout out to the S&C team that put together the Implications of SEC’s Proposed Climate-Related Disclosure Rules webinar this spring, which was very helpful for us as we tried to unpack how the proposed changes would affect Nasdaq and listed companies!) I also work with the marketing and advertising team on everything related to listings, and serve as the Corporate Secretary for the Nasdaq Foundation, which works to advance diversity in investor engagement.
What has been most rewarding about your role at Nasdaq?
I was part of the women-led team that formulated Nasdaq’s board diversity proposal, advising the team on legal strategy, rule language and media relations. Announced in August 2021, the proposal stated that each of our listed companies must have at least two diverse board members or explain why it does not. I worked with our executive team to lead and draft the proposal, reviewed and edited media statements, and engaged with the media, regulators and external stakeholders. It’s an important step forward for advancing diversity and enhancing transparency, and I am proud to be part of it.
What are the biggest challenges you face there?
Juggling multiple roles. There are a lot of different parts of my job, and S&C prepared me well for that. When you’re handling multiple deals in private practice, you have to be mindful of managing your time and prioritizing, and it’s a similar exercise for me and the different lines of business I support at Nasdaq.
