Teresa Wynn Roseborough, a Woman of Excellence

By Jacqueline Holness

Simply the Best: For more than 10 years, the highly anticipated  Women of Excellence awards ceremony has recognized world-class women from the Atlanta area who have displayed the highest level of leadership, whose commitment to excellence is empowering, and whose achievements are unparalleled. This illustrious award has to date been presented to hundreds of Atlanta’s brightest and most accomplished women, CEOs, Presidents, business owners, corporate executives, and entrepreneurs to celebrate their profound influence within their communities. 

Among this year’s honorees is Teresa Wynn Roseborough of The Home Depot.

Teresa Wynn Roseborough is executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of The Home Depot. Prior to joining The Home Depot, Roseborough was MetLife’s deputy general counsel and a partner at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. She also served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel of the Justice Department.

Her Charge: My primary responsibility is to support the highly talented associates who work within the legal, risk management, and government relations functions of The Home Depot. Together, we work to make sure that the company has strong relationships with its vendors and suppliers and complies with the myriad of laws and regulations that impact our operations. We also endeavor to shape government policy in a way that best promotes the interests of our customers, associates and shareholders. Keeping a team of talented associates excited about their work, engaged in the business, enriched by professional experiences, and able to bring their best selves to work every day is a challenge I enjoy.

Her Challenges: The most challenging and interesting cases I had the privilege of working on were definitely the series of matters called Bush v. Gore. Working doggedly day and night through state and federal court systems with a team of lawyers from across the country and at my then firm, now Eversheds Sutherland, on momentous legal questions impacting the presidency of the United States and the right to vote was an incomparable experience. Although my client did not prevail, I am very proud of the excellent work our team produced.

Her Ascension: I am mindful every day of the debt I owe to those who came before me and who built the ladders I have been able to climb. I am also mindful that we are not talking yet about ancient times. School desegregation, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act all happened in my lifetime. My parents instilled in me a deep love of and commitment to education and worked to make sure that my brother, sister, and I had the opportunity to attend the best possible schools. They also taught us by their example the importance of giving back. I have also been blessed along the way with teachers and mentors who cared about my success. Given what others went through to make sure I had the opportunity to succeed, nothing I have encountered qualifies as a “difficulty.”