In a recent interview with Corporate Counsel, Zabrina Jenkins, former General Counsel for Starbucks and current adviser to CEO Laxman Narasimhan, reflected on her in-house career. Her path to Starbucks was by no means linear, she stated, emphasizing the importance of embracing various experiences without making premature judgements about their inherent value.
“While it may not seem valuable at the time, you would be surprised at how much a certain experience will then pay off and help you in the future,” Jenkins noted. She joined Starbucks in 2002 as assistant general counsel, later becoming vice president, deputy general counsel. Her respect for the rule of law and her broad mix of legal experience has allowed her to expertly navigate a multitude of legal pressures in the corporate world.
During her tenure as General Counsel, Jenkins demonstrated profound leadership and steadfast commitment to integrity. Her path, marked by extraordinary resilience and resourcefulness, continues to inspire many within the legal profession.
Jenkins’s full perspective on her in-house career at Starbucks can be found in her interview here.