Women To Watch Awards 2026 honors Andrea R. Webster

Andrea R. Webster, affectionally known as Drea is an executive and transformational leader with a global perspective, known for driving innovation, operational excellence, and inclusive leadership across complex, multinational environments. As the Associate Director of Legal Innovations & Operations at Novartis, Andrea leads initiatives to modernize legal service delivery, enhance partnerships with global outside counsel, and integrate technology-driven decision-making throughout the legal function.

In this role, she has played a key part in transforming Novartis’s Outside Counsel Program, achieving measurable improvements in efficiency, transparency, and strategic alignment with law firms worldwide. Andrea’s leadership is characterized by her ability to turn strategy into action. She builds scalable governance models, champions legal technology adoption, and positions legal teams as proactive, value-driven partners to the business.

Her professional career includes leadership roles at Venable LLP and Greenberg Traurig LLP, focusing on practice management, operational transformation, and optimizing business processes. Across sectors, Andrea is known for designing frameworks that drive accountability, collaboration, and sustainable growth, while maintaining a sharp focus on people, culture, and long-term impact.

In addition to her corporate work, Andrea is a respected governance advisor and Registered Parliamentarian. She helps boards and nonprofits strengthen bylaws, improve decision-making, and ensure leadership continuity, equipping organizations to operate with clarity and resilience.

A defining pillar of Andrea’s leadership is her commitment to developing future-ready leaders. She has designed and led leadership development initiatives centered on strategic thinking, inclusion, and accountability, reflecting her belief that strong organizations are built through intentional investment in people and systems.

She is actively involved in civic leadership, serving on advisory boards and supporting community initiatives that promote social services, housing stability, and equitable access to opportunity. Andrea brings her professional expertise to community spaces, reinforcing her conviction that leadership must extend beyond titles and into tangible impact.

Andrea is currently pursuing her MBA to further strengthen her leadership and strategic decision-making skills, building on a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Iona University—where she honed her analytical and compliance expertise—and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia State University, which gave her a solid grounding in policy analysis and governance frameworks. This combination of advanced education equips Andrea to effectively address complex regulatory and governance challenges in her career. At the center of Andrea’s leadership philosophy is legacy. Inspired by her daughter, Autumn—a Tuskegee University graduate pursuing veterinary medicine—Andrea leads with a vision rooted in purpose, excellence, and empowerment.

“True leadership isn’t measured by position—it’s measured by the systems you build, the people you elevate, and the legacy you leave behind.”