DeVona Wright Cottrell joined GMR Marketing as the chief legal officer and general counsel in August 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. From day one, she’s made a positive impact as an inspiring leader who is constantly amplifying others and mentoring within the industry, said her staff.
“DeVona jumped head-first into culture-building, leading and mentoring at GMR,” said her staff. “All will agree that she is a visionary leader, a values-driven collaborator, and a tireless advocate for women.
GMR Marketing is the experience agency making unforgettable stories born of humanity. The firm is an artistic combination of behavioral intelligence, experience design and sensorial technologies that pair together to create an immersive world for people to explore and experience something they will never forget.
In her three years at GMR, Wright Cottrell has built strong partnerships between departments while dedicating time to focus on the firm’s DEI mission statement – to foster a balanced and inclusive culture where everyone can bring their whole self to work; where diverse perspectives are seen, valued and supported and where all employees have the opportunity to grow, thrive and lead.
“She works passionately to develop best practices, identify strategic solutions and resolve legal issues,” said her staff. “She has a proven ability to identify and leverage strengths of team members while developing strong relationships at all organizational levels.”
Wright Cottrell was instrumental in the firm’s achievement of obtaining the ISO 27001 Certification, which is an international standard for information security management. Lisa Cieslak, GMMR’s CFO, said that Wright Cottrell was a huge asset to the leadership team. “She continues to raise the bar on the legal services her team delivers to our business,” said Cieslak. “Not only is she a great lawyer, but she has a keen business sense and is a great people leader.”
Wright Cottrell’s impact reaches beyond the agency. She serves as president and founder of SWSIC, a women’s investment club, focused on increasing financial literacy in the African American community. As a Milwaukee native, Wright Cottrell is a diligent volunteer and mentor in the area and was recognized as one of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s top power brokers of 2023.
If there is one bit of advice she could give to her younger self, Wright Cottrell said it would be to press forward, dream big, work hard and build your bench. “There are endless possibilities to success as you will define it, so continue to build bridges and partnerships while leaving a lasting positive impact on each person that you encounter,” she said.
For the impact she has created at GMR and in the Milwaukee community, Wright Cottrell has been named a titan.
