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Luisa Lopez knows work. She specialized in labor and employment law straight out of law school starting at a large law firm in Washington, DC. “I was immediately drawn to the human element and variety of issues to solve,” Lopez says. “It’s a dynamic field where the laws are constantly evolving and vary from one place to the other.”
No two days are the same. The only constant in this lawyer’s work is her approach to strategic business advice, problem-solving and collaboration. Eighteen years later, Lopez leverages those skills at the National Geographic Society as vice president and senior associate general counsel for labor, employment, and ethics.
“At the Society, ethics is everyone’s responsibility.”
Luisa Lopez
Upholding Ethics at a Grant-Making Powerhouse
The National Geographic Society strives to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world through the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling.
Since 1888 the organization has awarded thousands of grants to bold individuals in 140-plus countries. Today the Society has an extensive portfolio of grant and investment programs within six focus areas: Ocean, Land, Wildlife, Human Histories and Cultures, Planetary Health, and Space. And the work of these impact-driven programs is made possible by thousands of grantees—called “National Geographic Explorers”—operating on every continent. That underscores the importance of Lopez’s role championing ethics at the Society.
“I help advance our ambitious mission by promoting an ethical culture that extends through every layer of the organization,” Lopez says. “I focus on fostering trust and open communication while creating channels for members of our global community to raise ethical questions or concerns.”
To understand what that means, it helps to know what’s involved when the Society funds these changemakers.
Maintaining Rigorous Standards
“As a grantmaking organization, Explorers are the heart and soul of National Geographic,” the VP shares. “They’re all over the world conducting a diverse body of work to exemplify our mission. They are photographers, scientists, educators, and conservationists.
“The unique part of my role is communicating the same set of standards to these key constituents and encouraging accountability,” she continues. “Whether they’re performing locally based field work, teaching photo camps, or sharing their scientific findings, they’re required to apply the same high standards of ethical conduct.”
For example, tactics like using food bait to photograph animals are prohibited, as the photos must represent the fauna, flora, fungi, landscape, and people in a natural environment. In other cases, explorers must comply with local permit or license requirements and refrain from corrupt local practices like bribery.
“I help advance our ambitious mission by promoting an ethical culture that extends through every layer of the organization.”
Luisa Lopez
As Lopez points out, a breach of these ethical standards could challenge the very core of what National Geographic stands for and has stood for over the past 136 years.
In her role, Lopez uses preventive strategies to raise awareness and promote ethical decision-making. This includes virtual onboard training courses and interactive Q&A sessions. “At the Society, ethics is everyone’s responsibility,” she says. “The collegial nature of our community aids this, as experienced grantees mentor new ones through community hubs, workshops, annual festivals, and even by sharing their real-life stories of overcoming ethical dilemmas in the field.”
A Life of Adaptation
Playing this unique role at National Geographic is something Lopez’s life and career arc prepared her for. And that start begins with her childhood.
Born in Bolivia, Lopez and her family moved to Canada when she was four years old to follow her father’s career as an engineer. After a few years there, they moved to Venezuela. By the age of nine, she landed with her family in the US.
“This shaped my cultural identity,” Lopez says. “Between summers back in Bolivia and living in new countries, I was often the new kid.” She says this taught her to study the context of everything and approach it with curiosity. “It’s really helped me in my career to be adaptable,” she adds.
Prior to National Geographic, Lopez held senior in-house roles in the media and technology sector where she worked on a series of mergers and acquisitions and workforce integrations. The experience was perfect for the lawyer whose own life involved a lot of change.
But Lopez does more than keep up with change; she embraces it and finds the opportunity. With this mindset, she’s successfully helped business leaders navigate workplace changes from advances in technology, new modes of communication, the #MeToo and social justice movements, a global pandemic, an evolving DEI landscape, and the future of work in a remote and hybrid world.
What’s more? Lopez offers an encapsulation of her primary lessons learned: stay curious. Have a growth mindset. Learn from your mistakes, but don’t let them define you. Turn off your inner critic and find the people who will say your name in a room full of opportunity.
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