There are different ways to be a great lawyer
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can choose to protect my client, or I can choose to protect my ego. I can’ t do both.” For Sarah Fortt, that choice is never theoretical. Legal and compliance leaders today navigate evolving regulations, disruptive technology, and relentless stakeholder scrutiny. Judgment and restraint are their core tools. Globally, businesses must align conduct and accountability in every market. At Ford, Sarah operates at the intersection of governance, compliance, and operations.
“ My job as chief compliance officer at Ford is to protect one of the most historically incredible corporate cultures in the world today. The corporate culture of Ford Motor Company is dedicated to doing the right thing. Part of my role is to help protect our employees who want to do the right thing and, through them, our customers as well.”
Whether sitting in the boardroom or working across cross-functional teams, she aligns legal frameworks with business priorities. It is a massive responsibility, shaped by a path that was anything but linear.
Finding the path
Sarah describes herself as“ someone who has enjoyed the journey. I wasn’ t quite sure what I wanted to do when I graduated from college,” she admits.
A professor suggested law, but first she worked for three years, including a key stint at a boutique real estate law firm. This firsthand experience made the legal role tangible. She then attended Yale Law School, seeking a defined path and purpose.“ I wanted people to know why I walked in the room.” Her deep connection to the law developed gradually.“ I call it an arranged marriage because my career did not start from passion.” She explains,“ It started from practicality, a desire to have a career, a clearly defined role, to be able to provide for myself and to be able to contribute.” Over time, that arrangement turned into a genuine calling.“ It became something that I found passion for when I recognized the ways in which my natural skill set could enhance my legal practice.”
There are different ways to be a great lawyer
Because of her journey, she rejects the idea that success follows a single blueprint.“ There are different ways to be a great lawyer, and just about anyone could become one with the right encouragement, training, and determination.”
Early on, Sarah saw how access and opportunity differ by identity.“ As a young, Black, queer woman, there had never been a Black female partner at my first law firm after law school. There was no path. I realized that following all the rules and achieving what senior people had done before me was unlikely.”
She didn’ t retreat. She recalibrated.“ I was going to have to think creatively about my career. But at the same time, I was never going to compromise who I am or how I view my dedication to the truth, to the right thing, to justice.”
At Gibson Dunn, corporate governance captivated her. Later leadership roles deepened her expertise and changed her view of leadership.“ Responsibility is a double-edged sword. Good leadership is sacrifice.” Her work at her last law firm before joining Ford strengthened her resolve.“ That’ s where I found how tough I can be when others won’ t do the right thing. I needed that experience to know how to hold the line.”
Governance in practice
Sarah joined Ford in January 2025, entering a legal function central to corporate decisionmaking. As corporate secretary, she works closely with the board, giving her insight into the company’ s commitment to ethics from the top. Her compliance duties require her to listen across the organization to understand risks and support the board.
Navigating a vast, multi-jurisdictional footprint requires a mix of deep conviction and humility.“ Because my roles are global, I must
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