Q&A with American Indian Heritage Committee Member Derik Goatson

The SEC's success in achieving its mission is due in large part to the agency’s ability to attract, hire, develop, and retain a high-quality, technically proficient, and diverse workforce. Any SEC employee can voluntarily participate in workplace affinity groups that plan educational and cultural programs and help facilitate inclusiveness throughout the agency.

The SEC periodically features a Q&A with an employee involved in one of its affinity groups to understand how they strengthen the agency's diversity and inclusion efforts. To commemorate Native American Heritage Month, Derik Goatson, an attorney-adviser in the Division of Corporation Finance and a member of the agency’s American Indian Heritage Committee (AIHC), shares his background and insights.

Q: You’ve been at the SEC for about a year. Can you share a little about your background and what brought you to the agency?

A: I have been practicing law for seven years. I worked at a firm for three years that represented tribal governments and businesses. Tribal agencies have characteristics of both state and federal agencies, and they regulate all facets of tribal commerce and resources. When the pandemic hit, the United States invested billions of dollars to expand internet access to the most isolated communities within our country, which includes tribal lands. I worked at the Federal Communications Commission during this time, concentrating on funding and regulating telecom infrastructure on tribal lands. But I have had an interest in capital markets and infrastructure funding since law school, and found my way to the SEC through Division of Corporation Finance Director Erik Gerding. I took a securities course from him during law school and maintained contact with him.

Q: What sparked your interest in joining the AIHC, and what do you hope to achieve during your time with the group?

A: I am proud of my tribal affiliation. Specifically, I am a proud member of the Navajo Nation. Both of my parents are Navajo, and they taught me traditional teachings of my people. I hope to share these teachings and my culture with others while learning about the traditions of others, and I hope to expand opportunities for others to learn about tribes and their cultures. There are currently 574 federally recognized tribes so there is a lot to learn, even for me.

Q: What unique perspectives do you bring to the AIHC to help enhance diversity, accessibility, equity and inclusion both internally at the agency and externally in the community that we serve?

A: I bring the perspective of a tribal member who grew up in a rural area on and near a tribal reservation. The Navajo reservation spans across three different states and it is mostly rural. The largest reservation city has fewer than 10,000 people in it. Yet there is a strong presence of community among its members due to their shared history and culture. This perspective is what I bring to the AIHC.

Q: At the SEC, we emphasize the importance of mentorship, sponsorship and internships as conduits for creating personal and professional opportunities. Is there a person, experience or event that was pivotal to helping you get to where you are today?

A: I would not be at the SEC if it were not for Director Gerding. During law school, he encouraged me to focus on economic development issues on tribal lands. Most tribal attorneys focus on gaming, resource management, and administration. Accordingly, I took many courses that focused only on transactional issues. These courses proved helpful early in my career, especially tax law, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcy. I disliked all those courses, but I am glad I took them in retrospect.

I also had two mentors who are Tribal members of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. One was my clinical professor, Carla Fredericks. She practiced securities litigation and transactional law before becoming a clinical professor. The other mentor was the managing partner at my first job, Tom Fredericks. He specialized in water law and oil-and- gas law. Both mentors showed me that it is possible to work in business law while working for the benefit of Tribal communities.

Q: What barriers have you encountered on your career path, and what advice might you give to help others overcome similar barriers?

A: I think a major barrier I have constantly faced is a lack of procedural direction and know-how. I knew I wanted to be an attorney, but I didn’t know how to prepare for the LSAT or the bar exam. I didn’t know what to study even though I knew I wanted to work in tribal economic development. I didn’t know where to secure funding for prep courses, application fee waivers, and internship grants. I didn’t know the difference between types of employment options and career paths, including non-profit positions, in-house positions, firms, government agencies, and anywhere in between. No one in my immediate or extended family is an attorney. My parents are the first generation in their families to learn to speak English. I had to go out and find answers to my questions. I had to learn to find the right people and ask them questions.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

A: I like playing soccer and swimming. If I was completely indifferent to salary, I think I would want to be an ocean lifeguard. I also enjoy reading and creative writing. I am currently re-reading the Lord of the Rings after visiting the Shire set in New Zealand.