When I first started out in regulatory, I worked for a well-known doctor brand — and let’s just say I was the queen of markup. Almost every piece of copy that came my way got a big fat “no” with my notorious red pen. During a major packaging update, I noticed something strange; I was no longer receiving artwork to review. When I asked a brand manager (and dear friend, hi Melis!) if the project had been canceled, she said “No, we just took you off the routing because you always say no to everything.”

Ouch! That moment struck me. I promised to change — and I did. I learned that “no” isn’t helpful on its own. It needs context, a reason, and ideally, a few alternatives. That shift made me a better partner to the brands I worked with.

As I grew, I unlocked the next level: risk assessment. Sometimes “no” is still the answer — but when the business understands the risk and chooses to move forward anyway, that’s strategic. Now, I love helping brands navigate those decisions with clarity and confidence.

Lesson learned: “No” doesn’t have to be a dead end. With the right approach, it can be the start of a smarter path forward.

"Regulatory needs to think beyond compliance and help the business manage risk."