Sarah Nelsen leads a team responsible for Hormel Foods’ intellectual property, which includes more than 2,500 registrations in approximately 175 countries. A member of the Austin-based food company’s legal team since 2008, Nelsen was a key player in the recent acquisition of the snack nuts company Planters. Valued at $1 billion, it stands as the largest M&A deal in company history. At Hormel, Nelsen has developed and oversees an internal claims review board, which ensures that all marketing, advertising, social media, and public relations efforts are compliant with applicable laws to protect the company and its intellectual property. “Sarah leads by example and believes in the importance of lifting others at work and in the community,” says Dean Peters, senior communications manager at Hormel.