Tina V. John of Rocket Companies Named Joyce Ivy 2025 Leader of the Year

The Joyce Ivy Foundation announced today that it is honoring Tina V. John, Executive Legal Counsel and Secretary of Rocket Companies, Inc., as its 2025 Leader of the Year. Ms. John joined Rocket in September 2020, shortly after the company’s initial public offering and has been instrumental in building out the public company legal function including leadership of corporate governance, securities and compliance with SEC and NYSE requirements. 

The Joyce Ivy Leader of the Year award honors a woman who represents the highest level of professional accomplishment and character to serve as a role model for the Foundation’s Summer Scholars program participants. The Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars program annually provides scholarships for 80 high school women of exceptional potential from across the Midwest to attend pre-college academic summer programs. Summer Scholars expand their horizons at some of the nation’s most rigorous colleges and universities, including one of Ms. John’s alma maters, Barnard College.

“Joyce Ivy admires not only the impressive trajectory of Tina John’s legal and corporate career, but also her steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of diverse and ethical leadership in the Midwest,” said Brittany Knight, Executive Director of the Joyce Ivy Foundation. “We hope that our Summer Scholars can see their future selves in Tina’s story, if they dare to dream big.”

Originally from Ohio, one of the states from which Joyce Ivy supports Scholars, Ms. John  earned a B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a J.D. degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She considers attending Barnard College a pivotal moment in her life. Ms. John quickly embraced the diverse community and sophisticated learning environment with New York City as an extended campus. She began her legal career in New York at A&O Shearman (formerly Shearman & Sterling LLP) before returning to the Midwest. She worked at the Cincinnati office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP and then at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. as Director, Assistant Corporate Secretary during the company’s comprehensive governance transition and brand reinvention. 

Ms. John has spoken on panels related to ethics in the boardroom, leadership perspectives, and diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal industry. She is currently a member of the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of Michigan, Co-Chair of the In-House Counsel subcommittee of the American Bar Association’s Corporate Governance Committee, and a member of the Detroit Chapter of the Society for Corporate Governance Professionals. In 2024 she received the Judge Simon H. Rifkind award for distinguished public service.

“The work that the Joyce Ivy Foundation does to guide exceptional young women towards their future educational goals is inspiring. I’m honored to be named Leader of the Year and look forward to being a mentor to these young women as they write their next chapters,” said Ms. John.

The Joyce Ivy Foundation plans to partner with Rocket Companies on future internship programs at Rocket’s Detroit headquarters.

Tina John will be honored at the 20th Annual Summer Scholars Send Off, which will be held in Lathrup Village, Michigan on Saturday May 17, 2025. She will address gala guests and the 2025 Summer Scholars as they prepare to leave for their programs. Joyce Ivy also looks forward to reuniting Scholars from past cohorts as part of this year’s special anniversary celebration. Event tickets are available on the Joyce Ivy website and those interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Brittany Knight at brittany.knight@joyceivyfoundation.org.

Past recipients of the Joyce Ivy Foundation Leader of the Year Award include: Kate Trumbull, Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of Domino’s (2024); Dr. Jennifer Carlson, Professor at Arizona State University (2023); Lisa Corless, President & CEO of AF Group (2022); Rosalind Brewer, CEO of Walgreens (2021); Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, Michigan Supreme Court (2020); Faye Nelson, Michigan Director of the WK Kellogg Foundation (2019); Dr. Janet Reid, Chief Executive Officer of BRBS World (2018); Jocelyn Benson, Chief Executive Officer of Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) (2017); Susan L. Blount, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Prudential (retired) (2016); Valerie J. M. Brader, Executive Director of the Michigan Agency for Energy (2015); Lisa A. Payne, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Taubman Centers, Inc. (2014); Lucy Clark Dougherty, Vice President and General Counsel of General Motors North America (2013); Deanna Mulligan, CEO of Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (2012); and Kim Schatzel, Dean of the University of Michigan – Dearborn College of Business (2011).