CLO Carolina Rincon Cortes Found Her True Self in Law

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Carolina Rincon Cortes is transforming. The Colombian-born attorney, chief legal officer (CLO), mother, wife, and leader at global payroll and financial services company Ontop is only just beginning to learn that she is, in fact, incredible. Rincon has spent so much of her legal career, both in Colombia as well as in the US, doubting herself and wondering if she really has what it takes, that she missed the fact that she was doing it all along.

You wouldn’t know about the doubt the CLO has been lugging around all of these years. She’s engaged, gregarious, and jokes that she’ll never need a therapist because she can basically turn conversation into a session by openly sharing her feelings and thoughts with just about anyone who’ll listen. She’s someone who feels full of energy, even over Zoom. You get the impression that Rincon has known what she was made for since she was very young, and that every step forward in her life and career was a confident one.

But it’s important for future legal leaders, for lawyers, and for professionals of any ilk to let go of that nagging feeling that, somehow, you aren’t enough. It dogged Rincon for years, and it shouldn’t have. But in coming to Ontop, the CLO has finally realized that she is enough. She is, and has been doing, great work for the bulk of her career.

“I’m in another period of change in my life,” Rincon explains. “I’ve always been someone deeply interested in and well-versed in the law, but now I’m evolving—I want to build things, to help grow a business and make it thrive. That shift really began when I joined Ontop.”

In fact, Ontop’s legal team is Rincon’s proudest accomplishment to date. Since joining Ontop in 2021, she has built the legal department from the ground up. Rincon describes the process as a reflection of the experiences she’s had throughout her own career. She intentionally sought out people not necessarily with the same experience or background but who are respectful, kind, disciplined, approachable, and eager to be part of an out-of-the-box team.

The CLO remembers back to her early law firm days in Colombia and a law partner who seemed to go out of his way to inflict pain on his young associate. The negative experience would sow doubt in the lawyer about her abilities that would stick with her for years.

“When you’re a young attorney, there are moments when what you need most is thoughtful guidance—a steady hand that not only supports you through the learning curve but also helps you build the confidence to stand on your own,” Rincon explains. “It’s a very vulnerable position to be in. I think that’s why I’m so sensitive about being a leader now. I don’t want to repeat any of those mistakes I saw as a young associate.”

That sensitivity and commitment to doing better comes from the example set by others. Rincon takes a moment to highlight the incredible women who shaped her career—those who empowered her with their trust, guided her with their wisdom, and believed in her potential even when she doubted herself. “Their leadership, encouragement, and example gave me the confidence to navigate challenges, find my voice, and grow into the professional I am today,” she says.

She specifically points to her mother, Patricia Cortes, as well as Natalia Encinales, Carolina Fandino, Silvia Barrero, Sofia Yague, Liz Flores, Ines Morales, and Keren Brin—all of whom played a crucial role in her career.

“I’ve always been someone deeply interested in and well-versed in the law, but now I’m evolving—I want to build things, to help grow a business and make it thrive.”

Carolina Rincon Cortes

One would think Rincon would have proven herself to herself earlier in her career. She earned her dual degree in law and political science in Colombia, and then did it all over again when she and her future husband moved to the US. Her LLM is from Cornell Law School, and she is currently licensed under the New York State Bar.

While working at PAG.law, she helped countless startups navigate the US venture capital ecosystem, assisting with capital raising, corporate structuring, and more. She brought in her own clients and leveraged her extensive Colombian network to support their expansion into the US market.

But that’s the most insidious thing about impostor syndrome: the more one accomplishes, the faster the goalposts seem to move. Yet in coming to Ontop, Rincon has found the support of her organization and her leader, Julian Torres. More importantly, she’s discovered a sense of acceptance that she is as capable as those around her believe her to be.

Rincon is responsible for overseeing all legal and regulatory matters, ensuring Ontop’s operations remain compliant across multiple jurisdictions, and supporting the company’s rapid international expansion. Rincon’s extension experience at the intersection of technology, finance, and global regulations made her an ideal candidate for the CLO role. But she’s grown in so many ways over the past four years as a business leader, a mentor, and a champion of the next generation of leaders.

Part of Rincon’s continuing education has come through the transformative experience of becoming a mother to her two children. Reflecting on her own growth, the CLO shares that she sees parts of her journey in her son, Nicolas—the process of learning how to express oneself with confidence.

While she now jokes that she’s the kind of person who will talk to you for an entire airline flight, Rincon emphasizes that becoming that person took time, self-awareness, and effort. Finding her voice was not instantaneous; it was a conscious, evolving process—one that continues to shape the professional and parent she strives to be.

“I had people in my life who helped me come out of my shell, and I hope I can be that person for my own team,” Rincon says. Additionally, along with her family, Rincon credits her strong Catholic faith for helping her continue to grow and be the kind of mother, wife, attorney, and leader she hopes to be.

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