As the Chief Legal Officer at Teradata, Margaret Treese (who goes by Molly) has carved a distinguished career in the high technology and services industries. With an extensive background in corporate law and governance, she has become a valuable source of strategic advice for senior management and Boards of Directors.
Her high level of expertise covers various legal disciplines, including Corporate Law, Governance, Securities and Disclosure, Global Sales and Procurement Legal Support, Strategic Partnerships and Transactions, Acquisitions, Divestitures, Spinoffs, and Ethics & Compliance.
In addition to her legal prowess, Molly is celebrated as the creator and co-Executive Sponsor of Teradata’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Program, showcasing her commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. In addition, her passion for fostering cross-functional collaboration and furthering business objectives in a global, diverse, and multicultural environment has propelled her to the forefront of the legal services industry.
Success at Teradata: Protecting the Company and Empowering Diverse Top Talent
Molly shares her unique definition of success from two perspectives: as a company leader and from a personal and professional standpoint.
From the viewpoint of a Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Molly believes that success lies in adding business value. From a legal perspective, this value is generated through risk management and mitigation efforts that protect the company from harm, such as robust compliance programs, disclosure controls and procedures, training programs, dispute resolution, and contract management. Additionally, Molly’s focus on establishing strong corporate governance practices that promote integrity and accountability throughout the organization is crucial to laying a foundation for long-term business success.
Molly believes that supporting the company’s growth engines is also vital, which entails modernizing contract management by partnering with sales teams to expedite the closure of customer contracts fueling revenue growth, expanding the strategic partner ecosystem, and developing the M&A pipeline. Furthermore, creating a comprehensive ESG program that focuses on profitable sustainability for customers, acting with integrity, fostering a people-first culture, and promoting solid corporate citizenship is essential to Teradata’s stakeholders. Lastly, generating and protecting the company’s innovations and intellectual property is significant for a high-tech firm like Teradata.
On a personal and professional level, Molly measures her success by her impact on the people she has mentored and supported throughout her career. She finds great joy in making a positive difference in employees’ lives, professionally and personally, and believes that paying it forward is one of the most significant gifts we can offer one another.
At Teradata, Molly has created numerous opportunities for growth and development, including:
- Implementing a cross-functional strategic initiative model within the Law Department to provide rising stars, including women and under-represented minority team members, the chance to lead project teams in a relatively flat organization.
- Mentoring women and other future leaders, sharing valuable lessons learned throughout her career journey; and
- Standing up the company’s award-winning ESG program, with a focus on empowering a diverse group of top talent to drive success.
Trusting in the Future: Molly’s Decision to Pursue the CLO Role and Her Belief in the Company’s Success
When Teradata reached a critical milestone in its history, launching as a public company in 2007, Molly was presented with the unique opportunity to serve as the Chief Corporate and Governance Counsel. She seized this chance, inspired by her trust in the people within Teradata, to drive the company’s future success and offer her the opportunity to learn and grow as a leader.
Years later, Molly faced another career-defining decision: to remain in her established position at the company she helped take public or pursue the CLO role. Recognizing that maintaining the status quo was not viable given her drive as a lifelong learner, she took a risk and strived for the top legal position. This trust-based decision put her in a place to either advance within the company or leave it altogether.
Molly chose to stay with Teradata and pursue the CLO role because she was determined to continue her leadership journey while contributing to the company’s growth and success. Her unwavering faith in her abilities and desire to make a lasting impact ultimately shaped her decision to embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Several factors influenced Molly’s decision to pursue the CLO role. Firstly, she was driven by a desire to make a difference within the Law Department, assisting the team in reaching their full potential. She envisioned creating a solid strategic plan for the “Law Department of the Future,” aligning it with the company’s goal of being a modern and relevant connected multi-cloud data platform for enterprise analytics. This vision entailed modernizing processes, tools, and skill sets and fostering collaboration across various legal subject areas.
Secondly, Molly’s firm belief in her ability to positively impact the company’s future stemmed from her extensive knowledge of the business, strong relationships, and trust established with people throughout the organization. Additionally, her vision for adding value through developing a leading ESG program and a more modern and relevant Law Department played a crucial role in her decision.
Lastly, the newly appointed CEO, Steve McMillan, reinforced Molly’s faith in the company’s future direction with his direct, no-nonsense approach, deep market knowledge, business acumen, and core principles. In addition, Molly and the CEO shared a common belief in the importance of continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making when tackling business challenges. This shared vision further solidified her choice to stay and pursue the CLO role, ultimately contributing to the company’s ongoing success.
Overcoming Obstacles: Strategies for Success in a Demanding Business Landscape
Molly wholeheartedly believes that challenges indeed make individuals stronger and advocates for stepping out of one’s comfort zone to achieve optimal growth. Embracing new challenges in both personal and professional spheres often entail discomfort and occasional missteps. However, by persevering through these obstacles, it’s Molly’s conviction that individuals can gain valuable wisdom and experience to benefit themselves and their organizations.
She acknowledges that challenges can stem from personal ambitions or external factors. A prime example from her professional journey highlights how she transformed a roadblock into a positive outcome. When the company decided to close its headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, where Molly had been based throughout her career, she faced numerous obstacles.
These included effectively performing her job without being near most business leaders, balancing an increasing need for work travel while remaining an involved parent and wife, addressing negative perceptions about her capabilities due to her location, and advancing her career from that now-remote location.
Molly stepped out of her comfort zone to tackle these challenges by taking several proactive measures:
- She positioned herself to work on a particular high-profile project alongside her regular responsibilities, which involved collaborating with leaders from different business functions and presenting to the CEO.
- She actively “rebranded” herself by using various methods, such as updating her LinkedIn profile, getting a professional headshot, and publishing thought-leadership articles, to counter misperceptions.
- She strategically planned trips to the new San Diego headquarters and actively networked during her visits to maximize the value of those journeys away from home.
Being a woman leader in the technology sector is another constant challenge Molly has faced throughout her career. Very few women were in leadership positions in this industry at the beginning of her journey. However, progress has been made over the years, particularly at her company, where more than half of the executives reporting to the CEO are women, including the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Product Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief People Officer, and Molly herself as Chief Legal Officer.
From her experience in this demanding environment, Molly has gleaned several invaluable lessons:
- She advises seeking and nurturing relationships with mentors, both women and male allies.
- She suggests assembling a “board of advisors” with sponsors who can provide encouragement, support, challenge you in a safe space, and advocate for you within the company and the marketplace.
- She emphasizes taking charge of one’s growth and development by leaning into strengths and stepping out of comfort zones.
Finally, she stresses the importance of paying it forward in various ways: being an ally, mentor, and sponsor for other women in the company, using one’s voice to advocate for inclusion, speaking up for those not included in meetings or projects, and offering kindness and empathy to women facing struggles, particularly those juggling professional careers, motherhood, and personal life.
Molly’s career journey exemplifies that growth and development stem from venturing into uncomfortable situations, engaging in difficult conversations, and pushing oneself beyond current expertise and skillsets. Another crucial lesson she has gleaned from such challenges is the importance of leaning into one’s strengths.
By understanding and articulating one’s core purpose, values, and unique attributes, individuals become empowered to advance their career aspirations and contribute to the greater good that arises from their efforts. In addition, this focus on self-awareness and growth enables professionals to overcome obstacles and continuously strengthen their abilities in an ever-evolving business landscape.
How Teradata is Helping Organizations Unlock Valuable Insights through Analytics
Teradata, a leading multi-cloud data platform for enterprise analytics, is dedicated to transforming the way businesses operate and people live through the power of data. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the company holds a global presence in 31 countries with over 7,000 employees as of the end of last year.
On any given business day, Teradata’s analytics environments benefit more than three million users across a wide range of industries worldwide. These sectors include retail, financial services, insurance, government, public services, healthcare, life sciences, eCommerce, digital media, entertainment, manufacturing, hospitality, telecommunications, travel, transportation, and utilities. By leveraging the power of Teradata’s advanced analytics solutions, organizations can unlock valuable insights and drive innovation in their respective industries.
Teradata’s Path to Success: How Molly’s Expertise Contributed to the Company’s Growth
Molly, known as a “governance guru,” has honed her expertise in corporate governance for public and private companies and non-profits throughout her impressive 25-year in-house career. Her knowledge in this domain has significantly contributed to the success of Teradata’s Board of Directors, enabling them to follow best practices and steer the company through various transformations and corporate challenges within a highly competitive and dynamic industry.
Owing to her guidance, Teradata’s robust governance practices have earned high rankings from rating agencies and have fostered positive shareholder engagement feedback. In addition, Molly’s skills have been indispensable to the company’s growth and success as the driving force behind the establishment and management of this process.
Molly’s expertise in ESG has been instrumental in establishing Teradata’s top-rated ESG program, aligning with stakeholders’ interests and the company’s overall strategy. This program has positioned Teradata as a differentiated leader in the industry, having been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 14 consecutive years and featuring on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for eight years and the Dow Jones Sustainability North American Index for 13 years in a row. Such accolades instill confidence in customers, assuring them they partner with a responsible global corporate citizen committed to integrity and sustainability.
Furthermore, Teradata’s ESG program accelerates the company’s focus on leveraging the power of Teradata analytics to address customers’ most challenging sustainability problems, driving the company’s growth.
In addition to her ESG expertise, Molly has cultivated a reputation as a trusted people leader. Her commitment to nurturing and developing top talent within the Law Department and across the company has bolstered Teradata’s roster of exceptional talent, ultimately aiding in the company’s business transformation.
Making a Difference, One Career at a Time: Molly’s Mentorship and Support in the Legal Industry
Molly’s significant contributions to the legal industry primarily revolve around her role as a successful woman leader in the highly competitive and traditionally male-dominated realm of high technology. Her leadership journey has been distinctive, with numerous individuals supporting her. Driven by a firm conviction to “pay it forward” and a passion for serving others and the “greater good,” she consistently seeks opportunities to mentor, support, and develop professionals within the legal industry and beyond.
Believing that positive changes in the legal sector can be achieved by enhancing just one legal career at a time, Molly takes pride in having made a difference in multiple jobs throughout her professional journey.
Molly’s professional contributions to the legal industry also include showcasing the importance of authentic leadership, characterized by trustworthiness and a commitment to maintaining integrity while keeping an eye on the future. In addition, she demonstrates how a leader can strike a balance between being firm and direct—by engaging in difficult conversations that foster growth and making tough decisions efficiently—while embodying empathy and inclusion.
By maintaining close connections with others, actively listening to learn, and acting with humility and vulnerability, Molly exemplifies a leadership style that fosters growth and development in the legal industry. Furthermore, she openly shares her personal and professional challenges throughout her career, providing valuable insights and inspiration to those striving to succeed.
Tracing the Roots of Molly’s Journey as an Influential Attorney
The beginning of Molly’s journey as an influential attorney in the industry can be traced back to her pivotal roles in the spinoffs of two significant companies. She initially served as in-house counsel for a multi-billion-dollar subsidiary of AT&T, which later spun off to become NCR Corporation, a publicly traded Fortune 500 entity. Following this, in 2007, while still employed at NCR, Molly played a crucial part in the formation and spinoff of Teradata Corporation.
These remarkable opportunities provided her with invaluable hands-on experience in all facets of public companies, significantly accelerating her career trajectory and cementing her status as a distinguished attorney in the field.
Trust and Respect: The Most Significant Recognition for Molly’s Leadership
Among the numerous accolades and achievements in Molly’s illustrious career, she holds the trust and respect she has earned from senior business leaders in the highest regard. The unwavering confidence placed in her by the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors is a testament to her exceptional capabilities and leadership qualities.
Equally significant is the recognition Molly has received from her Law team at Teradata. Having worked in the department for an extended period and later promoted to lead this remarkably talented group, she transitioned from peer to leader gracefully. The trust and respect she has garnered from her team stand as profoundly meaningful and rewarding acknowledgments of her leadership and expertise.
The Road to Teradata: Uncovering the Diverse Experiences that Shaped a Leader
Molly’s life can be encapsulated by the Swahili word “Twende,” which translates to “Let’s Go!” This term was introduced to her during a family safari trip in Tanzania, celebrating her father’s 80th birthday. The word resonates with her as it embodies her passion for life, her sense of adventure, and her courage in exploring the world and its diverse cultures.
Molly’s educational journey has been diverse and fulfilling as a lifelong learner. Her academic path took her from a small midwestern public high school to the University of Virginia for her undergraduate degree, followed by a semester abroad in Paris. She then pursued a law degree at George Washington University School of Law. Later in her career, she had the extraordinary opportunity to attend Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, which she describes as a truly transformative experience.
Family has always been central to Molly’s life. As one of three siblings, she grew up in a close-knit family that valued spending quality time together. Their shared experiences included beach vacations, ski trips, camping adventures, and visits with extended family members scattered across the East Coast.
With a passion for reading, Molly particularly enjoyed delving into books passed down from her mother’s book group, and she developed a love for cooking and entertaining. After obtaining her law degree, she embarked on a backpacking adventure through Southeast Asia. She even hiked to the Annapurna base camp in the Himalayas, reaching an altitude of over 17,000 feet.
Molly began her legal career at the large multinational firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, working in their Washington, DC, and New York City offices. Then, as a junior lawyer, she transitioned to an in-house position for an AT&T subsidiary headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. During this chapter of her career, she and her husband expanded their family, and they are now proud parents of two children, Vivi, 22, and Ell, 25, after 30 years of marriage.
While at NCR, Molly made a significant career move, shifting from corporate law to leading the Teradata Division Americas law team. During her tenure in this role, she took another leap of faith, driven by Teradata’s innovative technology and people, to assume the Chief Corporate & Governance position at the newly spun-off public company. Her journey with Teradata has spanned 15 years, a testament to her adaptability and the incredible opportunities she has seized throughout her career.
Finding Fulfillment in Multiple Aspects of Life: Molly’s Approach to Maintaining Balance
Maintaining a well-rounded life is crucial for Molly, who believes that achieving balance should be assessed over more extended periods rather than daily. She identifies several essential aspects of her life that contribute to her sense of wholeness:
- family
- purposeful leadership at Teradata
- giving back to her community
- living a healthy lifestyle
- nurturing friendships across the globe
Wellness plays a significant role in Molly’s life, as she began practicing meditation during the COVID pandemic and has continued the mindful practice since then. Additionally, she enjoys staying active by hiking, biking, skiing, and practicing yoga, allowing her to connect with nature and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
One of Molly’s most significant sources of fulfillment is her involvement with a non-profit organization she co-founded in Dayton, Ohio, named Secret Smiles of Dayton. The entirely volunteer-driven organization focuses on providing beds, cribs, and bedding to children in need within the community. To date, Secret Smiles of Dayton has impacted the lives of over 8,000 children, and that number continues to grow.
For Molly, incorporating music into her daily routine serves as a powerful counterbalance to the stress that her professional life might bring. By engaging in moments of movement and “dancing it out,” she can reset her perspective and alleviate pressure. In addition, she has a passion for live music and is an avid Rolling Stones fan. Molly even produced a documentary about Chuck Leavell, the band’s keyboardist, who is a respected classic rock and blues leader.
Regarding keeping her team motivated, Molly emphasizes celebrating successes throughout the journey and setting ambitious goals for multi-year projects requiring extensive collaboration. This approach fosters an environment where team members have ample opportunities to shine, grow, and receive recognition, a significant motivator for many. Additionally, Molly underscores the importance of fair compensation, aligning pay with performance, and cultivating a solid culture marked by trust and mutual support.
Balancing Work and Life: How Molly Juggles Her Busy Schedule?
As the Chief Legal Officer at Teradata, Molly oversees various legal functions for the company. Her responsibilities span from corporate governance and strategic transactions to commercial contracting, intellectual property creation and protection, ethics and compliance, data privacy, litigation, and dispute resolution, and securities law compliance and disclosures.
Additionally, she serves as the Corporate Secretary of the Board and the Executive Sponsor of Teradata’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Program. Finally, as a member of the Executive Leadership Team reporting directly to the CEO, Molly plays a crucial role in managing the business, executing the company’s strategy, and fostering a culture that empowers everyone to bring their whole selves to work.
In her daily work routine, Molly sets a plan of action to accomplish her tasks and drive the company forward. However, she recognizes that each day can bring unexpected challenges, enlightening conversations, and occasional emergencies. As a result, she consistently incorporates agility and discernment into her planning to ensure that she can adapt to the ever-changing landscape of her role.
Molly’s typical day begins with her supportive husband bringing her freshly ground pour-over coffee in bed. Then, after catching up on overnight emails and Teams messages, mainly from colleagues in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, she heads to her home office for an early conference call. As a global company, Teradata’s team members often adjust their schedules to accommodate colleagues worldwide.
Her morning calls cover various topics, such as Law Leadership Team planning sessions, Teradata Corporate Citizenship Council meetings, one-on-one discussions with her direct reports or fellow Executive Leadership Team members and working on the Law Department’s strategic initiatives. These initiatives are aimed at modernization, business integration, value leadership, and fostering the growth and development of the department’s talent.
Molly ensures she spends time in the office face-to-face with her team on a regular basis, so she often heads into the office mid-morning. Her daily tasks span a wide range of topics, such as managing corporate crises like the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent exit of Teradata’s operations in Russia, setting success metrics for modernizing sales contract processes, meeting with mentees, preparing agendas for board meetings, and offering guidance on Ethics & Compliance matters under investigation and responsible use of exciting new technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (AI).
She also maintains a regular cadence of one-on-one “reach-out discussions” with Law Department members to check their well-being, offer assistance, and inquire about their families.
Finally, in the later hours, Molly carves out quiet time for reflection, brainstorming, and writing. Upon returning home, she loves cooking and sharing a candlelit dinner with her husband, followed by a walk with their two pug dogs. Before ending her day, Molly returns online to prepare for the next day, meditates, and finally gets a well-deserved rest.
Achieving and Surpassing Dreams: Reflections on a Fulfilling Journey
Reflecting on her achievements, Molly acknowledges that she has accomplished and surpassed her dreams. Her father instilled in her the belief that goals should be big enough to be intimidating. Embracing this philosophy, she has consistently put herself in situations that promote learning and growth. The outcome has been advantageous and fulfilling in her personal and professional life.
However, Molly emphasizes that her journey is far from over. She remains committed to dreaming big, striving for continuous improvement, and nurturing success for herself and those around her.
Navigating Teradata’s Bright Future and Inspiring the Next Generation of Lawyers
Looking to the future, Molly envisions a bright path for Teradata, with a strong focus on harnessing the power of data analytics to address their customers’ most complex business challenges. She emphasizes the importance of the legal team driving positive outcomes for the company by embracing a data-driven approach, ensuring that they remain modern, relevant, and valuable to the company and its customers. Their strategic initiatives aim to achieve these goals, focusing on results rather than staying busy.
For those aspiring lawyers, Molly offers valuable advice:
- Pursue dreams that are big enough to be intimidating and dare to step out of your comfort zone.
- Lead with authenticity, as vulnerability can be a source of strength.
- Practice “smart” trust to build trust with others.
- Leverage your strengths while continually focusing on personal growth and development.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Molly is a shining example of a modern and strategic, forward-thinking leader who balances a successful career with personal passions. Her dedication to continuous growth and her strategic, data-driven approach has been pivotal in guiding Teradata’s bright future.
With her authentic leadership style, she inspires not only her team but also the next generation of legal professionals. One cannot help but admire Molly’s ability to innovate, adapt, and excel in an ever-changing business landscape. Her contributions to Teradata and the wider legal community will leave a lasting impact.
