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 In-House Counsel Interview


Inspiring Women in Law: Interview with Gloriana Picado

January 16, 2025


‘My experience in law firms taught me the importance of client service, something I apply every day in my role as an In-House lawyer’
 

Latin Counsel has had the pleasure of interviewing Gloriana Picado, an inspiring figure in the competitive and challenging world of law.

She currently holds the position of Legal Director Hispanics at Kraft Heinz, where she has been able to combine her important professional career with the valuable role of mother.

From her beginnings as an associate at BLP Costa Rica, Gloriana has worked her way up through the ranks at Kraft Heinz, starting as Senior Counsel for Latam Exports, then as Legal Director for Latam North & South, and finally assuming her current role as Legal Director Hispanics, covering Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Venezuela.

Latin Counsel: What inspired you to pursue a career in law and how has that motivation evolved over time?

Gloriana Picado: Since I was a child I had a strong family influence in law, as both my father and my older sister are lawyers and I always grew up with that motivation. I always admired both of their careers and they inspired me to follow a similar path - by choice. I remember being in high school and going to my sister’s graduation from her master’s degree and proposing to myself that I would be there a few years later. When it came to making the decision to choose the career, it seemed like a natural thing to follow. The motivation is still there, both my father and sister continue to inspire me in their careers and are role models for me.

Latin Counsel: If you had the opportunity to choose a different career, would you still choose Law? What other fields would you have considered?

Gloriana Picado: I would definitely still choose law as a career considering the times we live in. I don’t know how it will be in the future, but at the moment we are living in I would choose the same career again. It is a career that is quite dynamic, you can work in all industries and it is constantly evolving. Also, personally, I love finding solutions to the problems we face, and law is a great way to do that. It even allows me to tap into my creative side when it comes to implementing these solutions. 

Latin Counsel: What do you think are the most important challenges currently facing the legal landscape in the region?

Gloriana Picado: I think we are in an uncertain moment due to the influence of digitalisation and artificial intelligence. Some believe that our profession, at least as we know it today, could be in danger of extinction, and there is a tendency to see digital tools as a threat. However, the approach should be to use these digital tools to support and complement our profession. The use of this type of tool could be very useful to free up operational time for more strategic things.

Latin Counsel: Could you share your journey to becoming an In-House lawyer, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped your career and influenced your decision to go In-House?

Gloriana Picado: I started working since my first year of law school. I initially started at a law firm looking at corporate matters; later on, in the midst of a global economic crisis, I moved to another firm as a paralegal on intellectual property and regulatory matters, where I later became a lawyer and stayed for a total of 7 years. This was a crucial stage in my career, as it was there that I formed my technical foundations as a professional, and learned a lot about quality and service standards, response times, and client contact. I worked with people with whom I got used to giving my best at all times, as this was the environment in which I worked. It was there that I learned to form a critical and strategic style, but at the same time being an executive and practical in times of high pressure. After seven years I decided to take a major step in my career, and sought to broaden my focus (so that I did not have to focus solely on intellectual property and regulatory issues), in a global company in the food industry where my work would also have an international scope. It was then that I joined the Kraft Heinz team, initially as legal counsel and now as Legal Director, which has been a wonderful opportunity and in retrospect the best and most momentous professional decision I have made in my career.

Latin Counsel: How does your experience in a private law firm compare to your role as In-House Counsel? What key differences have you found?

Gloriana Picado: Both experiences have been excellent and enriching. The first one allowed me to specialise, it allowed me to understand how the legal and business world works, working with the most important companies in the region and being part of the most relevant transactions in the market. It also allowed me to work with firms in different countries, and to understand the legal complexities of the countries in the region. Finally, I could say that it gave me a very client service orientation, which has now given me a different perspective when dealing with my ‘internal clients’ at Kraft Heinz.

On the other hand, the in-house experience has been truly transformative both professionally and personally. Firstly, it has opened my eyes in many ways, it has demanded the best of me every day, it has broadened my spectrum of expertise in different jurisdictions in the region, it has allowed me to really understand how a company of that calibre works, to understand and speak their language (and to understand the legal service as a complement to the business). I think the latter, and the fact that the in-house clients are not lawyers per se, has greatly enriched my knowledge outside of legal as well, and has allowed me to have a more focused mindset on the business and financial aspects of the company, thus making me a much more holistic lawyer. Finally, I believe that in a company, everyone, regardless of function, is working towards a common goal, which is also clearly defined and allows us to work in the same direction.

Latin Counsel: How have you seen the role of women in the legal sector evolve since you started your career? Do you think we are moving towards gender equality?

Gloriana Picado: I think there have been positive changes, however, there is still a long way to go. I think there are some law firms where you see more and more women in management positions, and where these issues are taken into consideration, in my own country I see it a bit more. But there are many jurisdictions where the gap is still quite evident. I have also participated in various international lawyers’ conferences where there is a lack of female presence, but I think we are evolving. In the in-house world I see much more female presence than in the law firm world, but I don’t know if this is a perception of my environment or a reality. Although I have worked with men in the past, my team is currently made up only of women, although this has not been intentional. However, I am aware that this is an exception and should not necessarily be the norm, as inclusion is about equal opportunities.

Latin Counsel: What is the corporate culture like at Kraft Heinz and how does the company encourage support for women in leadership positions?

Gloriana Picado: Inclusion and diversity is one of the priority issues at Kraft Heinz. In the Hispanic region, support for women in leadership positions has existed for many years. For example, we currently have more than 40% women in leadership positions and we constantly have programmes to support women leaders as well as support their development. In general the focus on diversity, not only with women, is a priority issue for the company and one of the fundamental pillars.

Latin Counsel: Do you look at directory rankings (Chambers, Legal 500, Etc.)?

Gloriana Picado: Yes, we do look at the rankings, of course, but they are not our only parameter. We take it as a kind of guide, but we do not choose based on that alone. We also rely on the experience we have with firms, recommendations from experts or other lawyers, and we don’t use just one firm per jurisdiction, which allows us to know the quality of the work and thus diversify.

Latin Counsel: As a young and dedicated mother, what strategies have you found effective in balancing your professional responsibilities with your personal life?

Gloriana Picado: Surrounding myself with a great team with which I can delegate better and which allows us to support each other and of course a support network without which it would not be possible!
It has not been an easy task. Knowing myself as a professional mother has been a challenge for a couple of years now, which I am still figuring out. I try to keep in mind that, although the most important role I have is undoubtedly being a mother, my professional career is also a big part of who I am, and something that I really enjoy and complements me. I think we are fortunately in times where we can understand that the wellbeing of the mother is key to the wellbeing of our children, and doing what we love is an essential part of this. First, Kraft Heinz has an excellent maternity policy, which I think is one of the best in my country, where I was able to enjoy 6 months of maternity instead of 4 which is the legal requirement. Also, after the 6 months you can work 100% from home for another 6 months, and I think that this first year in this way makes an absolute difference - and even eases the transition for the post-maternity return.
On the other hand, we currently have hybrid remote work, which allows me and my husband to split the days we are at home so that we can be more present in our son’s life. I take advantage of Friday afternoons to be with him or to do things that will allow me to be more dedicated to my son during the weekend. I think it is important to establish schedules within the routine (as far as possible) where I can be totally dedicated to my son, and maximise my time working so that I don’t have to be both at the same time. I think it is also important to be clear that we are doing the best we can in both areas, and to be compassionate with our efforts, as sometimes women tend to be very hard on ourselves and we are trying our best. 

Latin Counsel: What methods do you use to stay informed about legislative and regulatory changes affecting your sector?

Gloriana Picado: We use various methods, we rely on the reports that our firms send us. We think it is very important that the firms are aware of these changes and that they are the ones who inform us - in time. We are also part of chambers which help us to keep up to date.

Latin Counsel: How important is networking in your position and what strategies do you use to cultivate professional relationships?

Gloriana Picado: Networking works a bit differently when you are In-House than when you are at a firm, as we don’t have many forums or events. However, it is important to build relationships with others in-house and benchmark with them. In general I love connecting with people, and I always try to look for common ground and build relationships from there.

Latin Counsel: What advice would you offer to young women aspiring to enter the legal profession, especially in your region?

Gloriana Picado: To young women entering the legal profession I would tell them not to be afraid to keep blazing the trail and making a difference, because that is the only way to move forward, and to see themselves as equals because even though we are still a minority, we don’t have to feel less strong because of that. On the other hand, I would tell them not to be afraid to express their opinion, to focus on their strengths rather than their weaknesses and that our role, like that of any lawyer, should be to try to find a solution rather than an ‘easy’ way out by saying no and avoiding risks.

 

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