Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd - Georgia Sievwright

In this Internet age, HP will distinguish itself by what we do ( strategies and actions ) and how we go about our work ( our character and soul ). We will succeed by preserving the best of HP, and reinventing the rest.

• Our inventiveness: HP will create impetus for, support and celebrate invention and innovation… a fresh perspective… boundless curiosity… an indefatigable spirit
• Our relevance: HP will drive technology trends that will simplify and enhance business and daily life ( how about your morning paper delivered to your printer? )
• Our goal: HP will be a winning e-company with a shining soul.

The Company: HP was founded in 1939 and is a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home. The main focus is on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of e-services.

World revenue was over $ 42 billion in 1999. This included revenue from Agilent Technologies, now a separate entity. Agilent consists of HP's test and measurement, semi-conductor products, chemical analysis and health-care solutions business.

HP employs more than 85,000 people worldwide, located in sales and services operations in every continent. World headquarters are located in Palo Alto, California.

HP Canada was founded in 1961 and today employs more than 1,300 people. The company operates out of 21 locations, including Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal, and the Canadian headquarters in Mississauga. Net revenue in 1999 was $ 1.9 billion.

HP is particularly proud of its global Garage Program launched in early 2000. The HP Garage Program aims to assist Internet start-ups, dot-coms, Applied Services Products ( ASPs ), e-service providers and trading communities to accelerate market launch, preserve capital and prepare for hypergrowth. The HP Garage Program provides a rich, robust set of tools and services to help start-ups build, run, market and finance its service for a fast time-to-revenue.

Garage Program qualifiers can receive " BUILD-IT " and " RUN-IT " support and toolsets to assist in establishing a start-up infrastructure, access to Internet portals to assist with lead generation, application integration and content integration, and a rich variety of financing options including up to $ 2 million (US) with an additional six-month payment deferral.

Other key projects include initiatives to help businesses sell on the Web and adopt new channel strategies to market products and services.

HP boasts one of the largest Intranets worldwide. Included on the site is a worldwide legal home page with helpful information on HP policies, a department listing of all lawyers and the services they offer and several education and litigation management tools. Lawyers can also access several sales tools including ESP ( the Electronic Sales Partner ), and an on-line guidebook for sales personnel. Says Georgia, " ESP has the added benefit of allowing the lawyers ( who have developed it and keep it updated ) to understand and remain in tune with product offerings and sales and service-related issues ".

Title: Vice-President, Law and Corporate Relations

Age: 43

Outside Counsel: Most legal work is performed internally. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP assists with major commercial transactions and anti-trust matters. Goodman and Carr LLP have handled several major real estate deals. McCarthy Tétrault have provided technology advice.

Expectations: In-house counsel have to love people, be team players, and be inventive and creative. They are expected to not only work closely with business teams, but be part of them. They must be providers of " win-win " solutions. They must be " intrapreneurs " and capable of continually providing added value. This includes leading initiatives aimed at reducing costs, avoiding undue risk and fostering the growth and success of business ventures.

Outside counsel are retained for their reputed top-notch expertise. In addition, they must be available, responsive and prepared to invest time in becoming as familiar as possible with HP's business. A spirit of partnership is key.

The Law Department: HP Canada's law department consists of two lawyers, including Georgia, plus a law department co-ordinator. The second lawyer works mainly with business teams focused on HP's consumer business initiatives, channel strategy, leasing, credit matters, and all French language issues. The co-ordinator is responsible for litigation management, corporate filings, law library management and general department business.

Georgia acts as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for HP Canada and works closely with business teams focused on large corporate enterprise transactions. Her responsibilities extend far beyond the realm of what is "strictly legal ". She is a member of the Pension Committee and has overall responsibility for the editorial content of the HP Canada Web page. Her Corporate Relations portfolio includes responsibility for HP brand image and awareness, media relations, internal communications, government and industry affairs, and - last but certainly not least - corporate philanthropy.

Major Commercial Ventures: In April, HP teamed with Canada Post to launch " Digital Sender ", an application that allows companies to upload documents to the Canada Post PosteCS® Web server electronic delivery system - a fast, easy, secure, cost-efficient and reliable alternative to traditional courier and fax deliveries.

June saw the introduction of the National Bank's Click-On Markets, a multi-supplier e-commerce wireless Internet portal designed to allow Canadian companies to buy products from their suppliers electronically. HP Canada, a strategic partner in the new venture, will promote the service which is being offered initially to National Banks' commercial clients.

Continuing in its quest to bring Internet solutions within easy reach of everyone, HP has now teamed up with BCE Emergis to offer a turnkey version of the Emergis e-procurement solution in both Canada and the US.

Management Challenge: Rapid-fire change is the order of the day. In keeping with her leadership role in corporate communications, Georgia recognizes the importance of ensuring that all members of HP Canada, no matter what their role or rank, are sufficiently informed of developments and key issues. Being part of a global company means constant, round-the-clock activity. More and more transactions are international, with events taking place across several time zones.

Management Style: Georgia candidly admits that she resembles the quintessential " Energizer Bunny ", always full of energy and enthusiasm. As a leader, she believes that team members need to be empowered. " It is important to share the good deals, to keep people interested. "

Each of her staff has a development plan that is reviewed and updated regularly. Georgia endeavors to give everyone access to what they need to be a success. This includes technology, training and consideration of work-life balance issues. " We all have to do more with less - employees must balance business risk, business urgency and business priority. To stay current and aware of the latest business and legal issues, staff must invest proactively in training, compliance reviews and relationship management. "

Career: Georgia began her law career in-house with IBM Canada in 1985, after articling with a Toronto law firm. She joined HP Canada in 1988 as General Counsel and was promoted to her current position of Vice-President a decade later in 1998. Since 1995 she has been responsible for Corporate Affairs, including public relations, corporate image, media relations, internal communications and corporate philanthropy.

Georgia truly embodies the HP Canada " shining soul ". Much of her time outside the office is devoted to countless boards and committees focused on a variety of philanthropic ventures. She is a frequent speaker on a wide range of topics including leadership, the advancement of women in the business world, and the role and added value of corporate counsel.

Family: Georgia is married to Johnnie-Mike Irving and has a son, Campbell, age 5.

Reading: Currently reading David Gilmore's Between Houses. Particularly enjoys business magazines including Forbes, Fast Company, and Fortune and management publications focused on leadership and emotional intelligence. Likes to read mystery novels to relax. Enjoys listening to motivational CD's in the car.

Relaxing: Georgia's main hobbies are skiing, and cottaging in Muskoka. Most of her leisure time is devoted to spending quality time with family and friends on the weekend.

Lori D. Brazier, LL.B., M.B.A., is a partner with Catalyst Consulting, a national consulting firm serving law firms, corporate law departments and users of legal services. Catalyst Consulting has been designated the Preferred Supplier for Legal Services Consulting by both the CBA and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association.