BarkerGilmore, an in-house legal and compliance executive search, coaching, and advisory firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Paulette Dodson as Strategic Advisor and Coach.
With a track record of providing guidance to executive leadership and boards, Paulette’s role extends to executive coaching, succession planning, and diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting for the firm’s clients.
“Paulette brings a wealth of expertise to our firm. Her experience of successfully navigating complex challenges and transformations, including IPOs, acquisitions, and leadership changes, speaks volumes about her strategic acumen,” said Bob Barker, Managing Partner of BarkerGilmore. “Paulette’s role perfectly aligns with our mission to empower our clients with the best-in-class coaching and advisory services. We eagerly anticipate the outstanding contributions Paulette will make as a Strategic Advisor and Coach and are excited to embark on a journey of shared success.”
Before joining BarkerGilmore, Paulette served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Alight, Inc., a global human capital and business solutions provider. Her strategic leadership was pivotal in guiding the organization through enterprise-wide business initiatives, legal operations, and large-scale transformations. As a key advisor to the C-suite and board, Paulette led the organization through significant milestones, including an IPO, multiple acquisitions, global divestitures, and long-term outsourcing relationships.
Before Alight, Inc., Paulette served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of PetSmart, Inc., where she guided the board and company through leadership changes and a leveraged buyout. Additionally, she led a transformative strategic review and organizational transformation of PetSmart Charities, then North America’s largest animal welfare organization. She also held various roles at Sara Lee Corporation, including General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Counsel for North America.
Paulette’s impressive board affiliations include her appointment to the Board of Directors of Portillo’s Inc., a renowned fast-casual restaurant chain known for its Chicago-style menu, as well as Trupanion, a well-known pet insurance provider. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors of Mather since 2011, where she currently chairs the Corporate Governance Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee. Paulette also contributes her expertise to the board of the United Way of Metro Chicago.
Her contributions have earned her prestigious accolades, including the Anti-Defamation League’s Women of Achievement Award in 2022. The Legal Aid Society recognized Paulette’s dedication to promoting diversity in the legal profession and her pro bono work with the prestigious Avery Access to Justice Award in 2012.
Paulette’s educational background includes a J.D. from Cornell Law School and a B.A. from the City College of New York.
Founded in 2006, BarkerGilmore is a boutique executive search, coaching, and advisory firm dedicated to building high-performing and diverse legal and compliance teams that drive business success.
Our distinguished team of professionals, including renowned General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officers, alongside expert executive search consultants, sets us apart. The combined national reach, established industry relationships, and proven CustomFitSM assessment process ensure we excel in executing the most demanding and high-profile searches. Our team’s broad industry experience empowers us to assist clients in recruiting and developing top-tier talent effectively.
We measure our success by our high client satisfaction rates, exceptional search completion rates, strong diversity track record, and impressive stick rates.
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