______________________________________________________________________________________ Kristin Rinaldi | Arxada
at Arxada. On my team, that’ s not just lawyers but all the other legal professionals who are supporting the business and creating value for the company,” she points out.
When she discusses legacy, Kristin focuses on reputation and alignment.“ I hope to leave a legacy of a legal function where the culture is one of business partnership, first and foremost. Where Legal is respected, strategic and future-ready,” Kristin envisions.
That culture rests on discipline and structure.“ A clear operating model where there are standards and decisions are taken that help the company move in the right direction faster while mitigating risk,” Kristin notes.
Connection and support go hand in hand to me
Focus at work
Kristin approaches pressure the same way she approached competitive tennis: focus on the point in front of you, then move on.
Kristin played tennis for Millburn High School in New Jersey and then at Colgate University. Over time, her focus shifted, but sports, particularly pickleball, which she plays regularly today, remain part of her rhythm.
Kristin keeps exercising as a daily habit.“ Exercising really helps me.” Physical consistency, like mental focus, shapes how she shows up to demanding work.
From tennis, Kristin borrows a simple principle that guides both leadership and law.“ While what you’ re doing at any given time is the most important thing, and you should do it with focus and do it well. When it’ s done, you must leave it behind and must not dwell.”
Her idea of success has evolved since her early career years, when achievement meant personal output.“ Success would have been measured more in terms of my individual contributions, a document I drafted,” Kristin reflects. Today, she measures success by the team’ s influence and the value it delivers to stakeholders.“ Helping our stakeholders, which includes our board, our leadership team, and our workforce, navigate risk, strategy, and transformation,” she explains.
She accepts that progress means missed points along the way.“ Setbacks may happen. Not every point can be won,” she highlights. At Arxada, Kristin leads her team with the same momentum she brings to every match: intention, resilience, and forward motion. Each challenge demands full focus, and then it’ s time for the next point. ■
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