Team size: four

What are the most significant cases or transactions you and your team have been involved in?

Covid-19 impacted the continuity of the business. Governments issued regulations that changed the way of working. Walmart operates in multiple countries; therefore, it has been challenging to interpret regulations from different authorities as they were not standardised. We had to file many appeals, and we have been under scrutiny, being threatened to get fined and to close our stores. Remote work involved longer hours and switched the way management operates. I used an empathetic and transparent approach to my team to understand their needs; when people feel supported, they keep their motivation high, essential for the company’s success. Our legal department was reactionary in responding to changes, and it has been advising on legal and economic matters and on risk management.

What do you think are the biggest risks facing your industry now and how are you preparing your team and organization to deal with them?

Significant risks facing our industry relate to political changes, technology, and trust in our teams. In Costa Rica, there has been the election of a new government. We hope that the new president will enact laws to reactivate the economy. In El Salvador, we have been facing problems with the government that has been issuing regulations without the consent of the private sector, in a brief time frame, making the fulfilment of obligations very complex. Another essential matter is working closely with the chambers of commerce, making action plans to overcome the impact of bills becoming enforceable law. Technology quickly progresses, and customers are turning into e-commerce. The legal department needs to understand modern technologies and find easy and quick technical solutions. Lastly, remote working has impacted how we work and interact with each other, making it crucial to have a relationship of trust with employees.

Even in the best-case scenario, COVID is likely to have far-reaching ramifications. How are you safeguarding the long-term health of the business?

Walmart has implemented policies that put the safety of its customers and employees first. Vulnerable people have been asked to shield with fully paid salaries. Frontline employees have been provided with safety equipment and trained on new protocols. Workers with symptoms have been invited to isolate at home receiving full wages. Remote work has been implemented for those who can perform their duties at home; we delivered office equipment to their house allowing them to work comfortably. Symptomatic employees have been supported with medical kits and medicines. When employees are guaranteed safety, customers feel safe and value our company positively. Internal clients want a fast response from the in-house team. Our experience as professionals is precious. We need to understand the business and the impact of our decisions rather than describe what a law article says.