Caroline Oyler: FACES of Memphis
She’s no stranger to hard work. With grit and determination, she’s become the highest ranking female at Papa John’s International, Inc. as Chief Legal Officer. Meet Caroline Oyler!
Caroline Oyler, Chief Legal Officer for Papa John’s International, Inc., has earned her way to the top as the highest ranking woman in the organization. She began her journey with Papa John’s in April 1999 and has served in various roles, including leading the Human Resources department for most of 2009 and overseeing the government relations function. But she’s not all rigor and legality. Outside of work, she spends time with her family and friends and is heavily involved in Louisville’s public school system.
Like every other mother, wife and professional, she faces challenges balancing personal and professional life. So, just how does she do it? We spoke with Caroline to find out. Meet Caroline Oyler, one of our FACES of Louisville.
Recently, you were promoted to Chief Legal Officer. Tell me more about the position and what you do.
I handle global responsibility for all of Papa John’s legal matters. We are currently located in about 45 countries and all 50 states. We run the gamut in terms of legal issues that we deal with. We have litigation, intellectual property issues, different kinds of transactions, employment issues, international and franchise issues. It’s a very interesting job to say the least.
We have other in-house lawyers here, too. There are seven total including me. We also have paralegals and support people on the team.
What was your journey like to get to this spot?
I’ve been practicing law for 28 years. I graduated from the University of Virginia Law School, then started my practice at Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. I was there for nine years, and I’ve been at Papa John’s for 19 years.
Seeing the company grow and expand a lot over the last 19 years has been great. I joined here as a lawyer and actually ran the Human Resources department for about a year. Then, I just worked my way up in legal.
It’s the highest position held by a woman in the organization. In a male dominated industry and position, what does that mean for women in leadership positions?
I like to think it’s encouraging for other women. I hope it makes them realize they can perform at the highest levels within the company. If I can mentor or encourage any female or male along the way, I am very happy to do that.
How did you feel when you learned of this promotion?
It was a recognition of loyalty and hard work within the organization. To be at the very top in an organization is something you work for in your career. It was very gratifying to be recognized for that.
What were some of the first goals you set or accomplished in this position?
It hasn’t been long since the promotion. But as the top legal role, we’ve accomplished a lot. I made a couple of hires of attorneys that will help build the bench for the future of Papa John’s legal department. I hope that will be part of my legacy.
We’ve made a lot of headway on our franchise department and put processes in place to continue that evolution. The culture of the legal department is very good and we have a very collaborative and cohesive legal team, but we also have a lot of fun together. We dress up for Halloween, have Fantasy Football contests. We like to celebrate our wins, which is something that’s really important to me.
Internationally, we’ve made a lot of strides and expanded into a lot of countries. Our team played a big role in that expansion.
Pizza isn’t exactly eating “clean,” but the concept has been a major trend and lifestyle change for so many. Explain more about Papa John’s Clean Label. What was the thought process behind it?
It’s been a brand journey that we’ve been on for a long time. We’ve made improvements and strides every year with our clean label. There are no artificial flavors or colors in our products, and we only use antibiotic-free chicken. For every product we sell, we are true to our clean label promise to customers.
We wanted transparency in our food. We list all ingredients on our website. Customers can go online and read about ingredients and use our nutritional calculator. We are big on transparency.
It’s been a work in progress since the beginning, and we will continue working.
If you could go back 10 years, what advice would you give yourself?
Believe in yourself. Be your biggest advocate. Don’t be afraid to take on new challenges. Be authentic and surround yourself with people who support you and believe in you in both your personal and professional life.
You’re heavily involved in the JCPS school system. Can you tell me more about your involvement and passion for Louisville’s public schools?
I have three children and both of my parents were educators. My mom was a teacher and my dad was a principal, so I’m a supporter of the schools. They have worked for me and my children really well.
My kids were always involved in school activities and sports, so a lot of our free time was spent going to games and school events. It’s been rewarding to be a part of the school community and meeting other parents.
Talk about your involvement with Pleasure Ridge Park High School. How did that influence your interest in the community?
I grew up in the South End and still live in the area. I graduated from Pleasant Ridge Park High School, and all three of my kids went there. My whole family still lives in the South End and the Pleasure Ridge Park area. We all stay very involved in the community.
You have a busy schedule. How do you balance it out between your career and family?
My husband and family are all supportive of my career. We have a huge support system of great friends and family. Personal relationships are very important to me.
It’s never perfect, but I’m proud of the fact that I have three children and have been able to make it work over the years. It’s hard sometimes – I don’t have a lot of free time – but I try to be organized and plan ahead. I try to take care of myself as well. I think that’s important.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
From a professional standpoint, I think it would be that I worked part-time for 10-11 years.
When you have downtime, what are three guilty pleasures you enjoy?
I enjoy eating and cooking. Watching anything on Bravo. I also enjoy a big glass of wine!
What is your favorite self-care activity?
Working out. It’s part of my routine at home. I also enjoy a good pedicure and a nice girls trip every so often. I think it does me good. And I like to read. I’ve been in a book group with a lovely group of women for almost 20 years. That has been very gratifying for me.
Finish this sentence: If I had a superpower, it would be …
Physical strength. That would be really fun to lift a lot of heavy things, and it’s different. I could go around and lift cars up or something.
What’s on your personal reading list?
I read a couple of books on vacation. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. I enjoy mostly fiction – I think it’s the escapism.
If you were not in your current job, what would you secretly love to do?
Teacher. I’ve thought about that. I think it might be fun and rewarding.
What are three lighthearted or frivolous things you can’t live without?
Lipstick – the joke is I’m putting lipstick on all the time – coffee and shoes.
Thank you, Caroline, for sharing with us, and thank you to Christine Mueller for the beautiful photos!
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