Innovative Legal Leadership
95 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago -Innovative Legal Leadership is the podcast dedicated to the world’s most innovative General Counsel and their leadership teams. In this show, you’ll hear best practices in running a Fortune 500 inhouse legal department: the challenges, wins, roadblocks and what lies ahead.
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Episodes
Lisa Mather: Mars Wrigley — Preparing for the Unknown in a Polycrisis World
January 17, 2023 06:00 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBLisa Mather had no intentions of becoming a lawyer when she started college. But her first academic love of science drew her to environmental law and, ultimately, a successful career in legal. Lisa traversed the world with her two children while working at several international firms before taking her current position as Global General Counsel at Mars Wrigley in 2022. She shares her insights on being a career-driven mother, her passion for ESG efforts, and setting her team up for success i...
Sneha Desai: Stryker — Getting Comfortable With Your In-House Instincts
January 10, 2023 06:00 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBAs a younger legal counsel, the transition from law firm to in-house can certainly be a bumpy one. As the realization of daily expectations sets in, the workload volume can seem overwhelming. When Sneha Desai, Chief Legal Counsel of Global Litigation & Employment at Stryker, senses that anxiety in her juniors, she imparts the advice passed down to her: do what makes sense. Sneha talks with us about her early struggles in-house, her commitment to pro bono work, and the importance of empathy...
Dr. Elouise Epstein: Kearney — Revisiting The Changing Landscape of Legal and Procurement
January 03, 2023 06:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBThe pandemic forced the entire world to pivot on a moment’s notice, but perhaps no other industry felt the brunt of its impact like procurement. Procurement and legal have always had a rocky partnership. But the pandemic reset expectations by driving innovation, both in technology and relationships. Dr. Elouise Epstein, Partner at Kearney and author of Trade wars, pandemics, and chaos, shares how procurement was forced to fast-forward its digital transformation in a world turned upside d...
Cynthia Lareine: PERSUIT — Bridging Client and Law Firm Values
December 27, 2022 06:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBCynthia Lareine, Director of Community Development at PERSUIT, fanned a fire in her resolve from a young age. The daughter of proud Nigerian parents, Cynthia endured discrimination from students and teachers alike while attending boarding school. Later, she handled her share of well-meaning depreciation and racial assumptions as a junior associate. Today, she’s applying the lessons she’s learned to help improve legal relationships and push the industry toward a brighter future. Cynthia sha...
Sabrina Nguyen: Danone UK & Ireland — Peeling Back Cultural Layers
December 20, 2022 06:00 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBFor Sabrina Nguyen , General Counsel and CCO at Danone UK & Ireland , the odds were stacked against her on day one. Born in post-war Vietnam, she and her mother spent three years in refugee camps before finding a new life in America. But after growing up among the farmlands of Missouri, she felt the pull back to her international roots. Sabrina shares the experiences of her career journey across three continents and the impact her cultural immersion has had on her work and with her teams. ...
Doug Barnard: CF Industries — Overseeing an IPO That Grew Faster Than Google
December 13, 2022 06:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBWhen Doug Barnard , Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at CF Industries , joined the company in 2004, he was already fighting an uphill battle. On the verge of bankruptcy, the owners of CF were determined to sell the company. But Doug saw an opportunity - why not take the company public? In 2005, Doug’s vision became a reality as CF Industries presented its IPO, turning CF’s fortunes around in the process. In this episode, Doug shares his experience participating in his ...
Thomas Barothy - Former UBS: A COO’s Shared Strategic Vision in Legal Operations
December 06, 2022 15:25 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBBig legal departments have plenty of brainpower, but any team without direction is doomed to underachieve. That’s why the powers that be at UBS asked Thomas Barothy to bring his financial management expertise to his current role with them as Chief Operating Officer of Legal. By painting a clear vision and implementing a proper strategy for his legal department, Thomas helped his supportive team reach their true potential. Join us as we discuss: Pivoting a financial background into lega...
Jackie Rice: MillerKnoll — Getting Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable
November 29, 2022 06:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBIn days past, in-house legal was traditionally seen as a “last resort” for up-and-coming lawyers. While that mindset is fading, corporate in-house legal teams are constantly exposed to unique challenges, especially when it's a small team stretched to its limits. Jackie Rice, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at MillerKnoll, tells us about her transition from a large team at General Motors to her smaller IP-focused team and setting them up for success. Join us as we discuss: Learnin...
Maurus Schreyvogel — Former Novartis: Operational Excellence in Legal
November 22, 2022 06:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBEarly on in his legal career at Novartis, Maurus Schreyvogel encountered a frustrating obstacle. The legal team had no tools, no technology, no access to knowledge, and consequently, they found themselves reinventing the wheel over and over. It was so frustrating, in fact, that he was prepared to leave the company. Instead, he was presented with a mission that convinced him to stay: Establish transparency and bring about positive operational change within legal. He has remained at Novartis...
Standard Bank Group: Rene Du Preez — Test Your Boundaries When Things Get Scary
November 15, 2022 06:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBAs a child of young parents, Rene Du Preez always felt she had to jump right in and give her all with everything she did. Rene started her career as the only female associate at her first South African law firm in the early 90s. Since then, the GC at Standard Bank Group has become an advocate and mentor for other African women breaking into the field. Rene shares with us how her experiences in investment and retail banking helped shape her as a leader and a champion for change in the A...
Alex Su: The Sh*twork in Measuring Profitability
November 08, 2022 06:00 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBWith nearly 100 thousand TikTok followers and over 5 million likes, Alex Su is one of several young professionals leading the charge for change in legal through social media. The Head of Community Development at Ironclad and columnist for Above The Law also caused a stir when his article, Profitable Misery, went viral this summer. In this episode, Alex shares his thoughts on technology, the hourly rate, and the “sh*twork" often attached to it. Join us as we discuss: The Profitable Mise...
American Family Insurance: Asya Alexandrovich - Be Faster than Change
November 03, 2022 05:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBAsya Alexandrovich developed a deep appreciation for the American legal system after immigrating to the U.S. as a young teenager. Her Ukrainian upbringing instilled resilience and determination that helped push her through the ranks of the in-house legal field. Today, as Chief Legal Officer for American Family Insurance in Madison, Wisconsin, she leads the charge in guiding her team to find solutions for their customers. Join us as we discuss: The Ukrainian-American dynamic in Asya’s ca...
PERSUIT: David Falstein - The Alternative Fee Arrangement Myth
October 27, 2022 05:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBThe ambiguous nature of legal work can leave clients skeptical when it comes to alternative fee arrangements. But by overcoming their fear of overpaying for legal aid, clients can actually get the value they deserve. David Falstein , VP of Customer Success and Strategy at PERSUIT , shares why he believes alternative fee arrangements will be the ultimate successor to the billable hour. Join us as we discuss: Debunking the uncertainty around alternative fee arrangements (13:34) Challenges ...
Jim Delkousis - PERSUIT: Curing the Billable Hour
October 19, 2022 16:54 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBThe billable hour is infamous for its toll on mental health in the legal field. Rather than promote innovation and inclusion, billable hours create undue stress by influencing unrealistic quotas and meaningless labor. By abolishing old behaviors, firms can attract talented and diverse associates who are eager to make a difference through out-come driven results. Nathan Collier, Director of Content Marketing at PERSUIT, joins Jim Delkousis for a candid conversation about billable hours and ...
Leslie D. Davis - NAMWOLF - Moving the Needle with Minority and Women-Owned Firms
October 13, 2022 05:00 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBFor this episode, we hop in the Innovative Legal Leadership time machine to revisit our conversation with Leslie Davis, CEO of the National Association of Minority & Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF). Minority and women-led law firms fighting for equal opportunities is a continuing struggle. Raising awareness and presenting clear strategies to eliminate the discrimination are essential to creating change. So, come along with us as we recap Leslie’s journey into law and how she’s moving the n...
LaTrece Johnson: A Tactical Look at Setting up A Legal Ops Function
October 06, 2022 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBLegal ops goes a lot deeper than managing templates and a list of law firms. A big focus of the function is on tracking data and determining what bits are useful for process improvement. In this episode, we chat with LaTrece Johnson, Head of Legal Operations at Palo Alto Networks, about the what, the why, and the how of setting up a legal ops function. We discuss: - The primary goals for setting up a legal function - Why the legal ops function is important - What success looks like for ...
BT Group Plc: Jeff Langlands - Treating Legal Like a Business
September 29, 2022 13:15 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBIt’s easy to overthink the little things. Sometimes, the corporate legal ladder can look like Mt. Everest, but something as simple as a positive attitude can help you reach the summit. You just have to be willing to escape your comfort zone and go for it. Jeff Langlands, General Counsel of Corporate, Digital, and Networks at BT Group Plc and Director of EE Limited, spoke with us about setting his stall out in becoming a GC. Join us as we discuss: Opportunities for “the next challenge” (1...
Elanco: Marcela Kirberger - Finding Success in Being Yourself
September 22, 2022 05:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBMoving your family across the world to pursue career advancement can be challenging, but the opportunity to impact people and move others to action can make it all worthwhile. And the more we learn about ourselves along the way, the greater the empowerment we can pass on to our teams. Marcela Kirberger, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Elanco, tells us how her global escapades have shaped her outlook on human relationships. Join us as we discuss: - Ident...
Rabobank: Philip Kirkpatrick - A Deal Fanatic’s Reflections
September 15, 2022 05:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBMany legal counsels find their early spark while mastering the art of the corporate deal. Those formative years can be critical in learning to acknowledge priorities and narrow the scope of your clients’ needs. Philip Kirkpatrick, Regional General Counsel - North America at Rabobank, tells us how his early days as a deal fanatic translated into his stance on authentic leadership as a GC. Join us as we discuss: Importance of transparency in your legal team (12:10) Foreseen challenges in...
Xero: Chaman Sidhu - Adopting Agility in an Innovative Mindset
September 08, 2022 05:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBWe’ve had the privilege of talking to several standout legal professionals who defied family expectations to take a path less traveled. Be it love for language or logic that launches these careers, pivotal moments often influence these pillars of the legal community to help bridge the gaps in their field. Chaman Sidhu, Chief Legal Officer at Xero, joined us to how her experience in high-growth environments shaped her growth and narrowed her approach to risk. Join us as we discuss: - Inno...
Robinhood: Christina Lai - Intentionality in Communicating With Your Team
September 01, 2022 05:00 - 45 minutes - 41.2 MBPreparing a legal team for a fresh IPO launch is exciting, but it also comes with its share of challenges. Communication is key, and authentic leadership is needed so that different perspectives can freely join the conversation. Christina Lai, Vice Presid ent, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Robinhood, tells us how her experience prepared her to lead her team into the future. Join us as we discuss: - Christina’s first-time experience helping launch an IPO (17:23) ...
Melio: Jonathan Polk - Get the Alligators Closest to the Boat
August 08, 2022 15:15 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBGeneral counsel shouldn’t be seen as an obstacle to the success of the company; and yet, they are often seen as the unnecessary evil when reminding the team about compliance. In this episode, we speak with Jonathan Polk, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Melio, to learn about his mission to find balance in legal while generating consensus around the things that help a company grow. Join us as we discuss: Balancing compliance with culture Building trust with the team and con...
Hopin: Irene Liu - The Use Case For Legal Technology
July 21, 2022 07:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBClient facing interactions can become more effective by including your legal team in the sales enablement process. Establishing relationships between product managers and legal professionals creates an ecosystem where project approvals and closing business deals happen quickly and efficiently. In this episode, we speak with Irene Liu, Chief Legal Officer of Hopin, about how her team enables business partners and the use cases for legal departments using legal technology platforms like PERSU...
Hoppin: Irene Lui - The Use Case For Legal Technology
July 21, 2022 07:00 - 42 minutes - 58.5 MBClient facing interactions can become more effective by including your legal team in the sales enablement process. Establishing relationships between product managers and legal professionals creates an ecosystem where project approvals and closing business deals happen quickly and efficiently. In this episode, we speak with Irene Lui, Chief Legal Officer of Hopin, about how her team enables business partners and the use cases for legal departments using legal technology platforms like PERSU...
Amyris, Inc: Nicole Kelsey - Defining A Mission For Your Legal Team
July 14, 2022 07:00 - 45 minutes - 62.5 MBUniting your team to create a mission statement encourages collaboration and consideration of different perspectives. This strategy sustains a presence across the company and allows your team to think about the impact they have both internally and externally. In this episode, we speak with Nicole Kelsey, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary at Amyris, Inc., about her passion for education, creating a brand for your legal team, and how watching To Kill A Mockingbird inspired her to become a la...
McKesson Corporation: Lori Schechter - Finding Fulfillment by Stepping Out of Comfort Zones
July 07, 2022 07:00 - 52 minutes - 47.7 MBBy stepping out of our comfort zone, we encounter diverse outcomes and have the potential to discover aspects of ourselves we had never considered before. That can look like striking up a conversation with someone new, attempting a recipe that seems above your skill level, volunteering to take on a project at work you’ve never done before, or even changing career paths. In this episode, we speak with Lori Schechter, EVP, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel at McKesson Corporation, about ...
Jim Moffat - JSM Advisors, Inc.: Finding Your Idea of Success
June 30, 2022 07:00 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBThey say there’s an outlier in every family, someone who makes different choices and treads a new path—like a business student in a family of doctors. Whichever career path we choose, we all grapple with similar questions; fighting the myth of work-life balance, identifying what it takes to lead, figuring out what success means to us, etc. In this episode, we speak with Jim Moffat, President, at JSM Advisors, Inc. and former CEO of Deloitte Consulting, about being his family's outlier, les...
Ron Gill - NetSuite: A CFO’s Relationship With General Counsels
June 23, 2022 07:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBCFOs and General Counsels can’t just rely on a strong relationship to predict spending, you have to have a system in place that takes the guesswork out of managing your organizations legal spend. In this episode, we’re joined by Ron Gill, Former CFO of NetSuite and current Operating Partner and Board Member at Lead Edge Capital. We speak to Ron about becoming a globally recognized CFO, relationships between a General Counsels and CFOs, and why he sees PERSUIT as a solution to legal spend pr...
Ron Gill: A CFO’s Relationship With General Counsels
June 23, 2022 07:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBCFOs and General Counsels can’t just rely on a strong relationship to predict spending, you have to have a system in place that takes the guesswork out of managing your organizations legal spend. In this episode, we’re joined by Ron Gill, Former CFO of NetSuite and current Operating Partner and Board Member at Lead Edge Capital. We speak to Ron about becoming a globally recognized CFO, relationships between a General Counsels and CFOs, and why he sees PERSUIT as a solution to legal spend pr...
Dr. Elouise Epstein - Kearney: The Changing Landscape of Legal and Procurement
June 16, 2022 11:12 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBThe repercussions from the beginning of COVID-19 will continue to be felt for years to come. While there have been and will continue to be many negatives from the pandemic, for some professions, it pushed their work into the forefront and emphasized how important their roles are in everyday business and legal functions. In this episode, we’re shifting gears away from speaking with General Counsel and legal teams to take a deep dive into procurement with Dr. Elouise Epstein, Partner at Kear...
Dr. Elouise Epstein: The Changing Landscape of Legal and Procurement
June 16, 2022 11:12 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBThe repercussions from the beginning of COVID-19 will continue to be felt for years to come. While there have been and will continue to be many negatives from the pandemic, for some professions, it pushed their work into the forefront and emphasized how important their roles are in everyday business and legal functions. In this episode, we’re shifting gears away from speaking with General Counsel and legal teams to take a deep dive into procurement with Dr. Elouise Epstein, Partner at Kear...
Marc Barbeau - Air Canada: Meaningful Careers & the Relationships that Make Them
June 09, 2022 08:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBWe all want meaningful work and to know at the end of the day, our work mattered. Impacting the next generation by engaging with them and passing the baton to them, while simultaneously figuring out how to evolve to the next step in our careers. In this episode, we speak with Marc Barbeau, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Air Canada, about lessons he’s learned in 30 plus years of law and why he’s thrilled for this next step at Air Canada. We discuss: How to look back a...
Marc Barbeau: Meaningful Careers & the Relationships that Make Them
June 09, 2022 08:00 - 38 minutes - 53.2 MBWe all want meaningful work and to know at the end of the day, our work mattered. Impacting the next generation by engaging with them and passing the baton to them, while simultaneously figuring out how to evolve to the next step in our careers. In this episode, we speak with Marc Barbeau, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Air Canada, about lessons he’s learned in 30 plus years of law and why he’s thrilled for this next step at Air Canada. We discuss: How to look back a...
Andrew Brereton - ServiceNow: A Tactical Look at Driving Transformation from Legal Ops
May 26, 2022 07:15 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBFor most organizations, the legal function is long overdue for transformation—and legal ops is best placed to drive that transformation. In this episode, we speak with Andrew Brereton, Vice President of Legal Operations at ServiceNow, about the what, the why, and the how of driving value and transformation for the legal organization from legal ops. We discuss: Why legal ops is vital to driving value and transformation Early initiatives that build a foundation to deliver on transformation...
Andrew Brereton: A Tactical Look at Driving Transformation from Legal Ops
May 26, 2022 07:15 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBFor most organizations, the legal function is long overdue for transformation—and legal ops is best placed to drive that transformation. In this episode, we speak with Andrew Brereton, Vice President of Legal Operations at ServiceNow, about the what, the why, and the how of driving value and transformation for the legal organization from legal ops. We discuss: Why legal ops is vital to driving value and transformation Early initiatives that build a foundation to deliver on transformation...
Ivan Fong - Medtronic: Leadership & Clarity in Crisis
May 19, 2022 10:49 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBIvan Fong holds pu blic service in high regard. The son of immigrants (his parents fled China during the communist revolution), Ivan experienced the advantages and opportunities of living in the United States firsthand. Public service is his way of giving back to the country that gave his family so much. His time at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and as a clerk to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor also provided an incredible grounding in law and government relatio...
Katina Thornock - Providence: How to Grab a Seat at the Table
May 12, 2022 07:15 - 39 minutes - 36 MBWhen Katina Thornock was a young associate, she was fortunate to have the mentorship of strong female shareholders. When nerves would creep in before a civil deposition, one, in particular, would say, “Don’t let those old guys walk all over you. You know the material and you know the craft. Now, go do it.” Empowerment—that’s what strong mentorship and honest feedback cultivates. It’s the sacred charge of legal leaders around the world—to empower those who are less experienced and provide a ...
Lindsey Haswell - Blockchain.com: Choosing Risk Over Job Security
May 05, 2022 06:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBLindsey Haswell was determined to be either a broadcast journalist or a lawyer. Because it’s at the epicenter of policy and economics, she chose law. She started out as a litigator at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher before making the leap to a small (at the time) startup called Uber. She viewed it as an investment in her future, an opportunity to learn how to build and run a business and how legal furthers the mission of the business. She passes these lessons along to her team in her current role ...
Rankin Gasaway - 7-Eleven: The World's Best Legal Department
April 28, 2022 07:15 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBCreating a legal department your CEO would brag about doesn't happen by accident. It takes intention and care to hire the best lawyers and create an environment that stimulates growth. Rankin Gasaway, the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at 7-Eleven, has created an environment where lawyers are encouraged to be courageous and trust their intuition. We discuss: The anxiety Gasaway felt early on in his career. The right way to build relationships. How to empower...
Ep 54: Richard Crabb - HSBC: The Legal Industry Is Changing
April 22, 2022 07:15 - 39 minutes - 54 MBRichard Crabb was listed in the Legal 500 as an expert in Sports Law in 2011 and as an expert in Charity Law in 2012. But he didn’t always have a desire to work in the Legal industry. Richard’s route into law came from a career in marketing where he had to have a comprehensive understanding of the way the law operated in order to be great at his Brand Manager role in the retail industry. His early career in marketing and would raise a few eyebrows but his knowledge of psychology has helped...
Richard Crabb - HSBC: The Legal Industry Is Changing
April 22, 2022 07:15 - 39 minutes - 36 MBRichard Crabb was listed in the Legal 500 as an expert in Sports Law in 2011 and as an expert in Charity Law in 2012. But he didn’t always have a desire to work in the Legal industry. Richard’s route into law came from a career in marketing where he had to have a comprehensive understanding of the way the law operated in order to be great at his Brand Manager role in the retail industry. His early career in marketing and would raise a few eyebrows but his knowledge of psychology has helped...
Christoph Feddersen - Collins Aerospace: Retaining Talent Through Culture
April 14, 2022 07:00 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBGerman-born Christoph Feddersen would not be where he is today, the Vice President & General Counsel at Collins Aerospace in Charlotte, North Carolina, were it not for the tremendous opportunities he was given to stretch himself. Early opportunities came at international law firms Cleary Gottlieb and Morgan Lewis, and they continued to pop up in later roles as executive assistant to the chairman and CEO at United Technologies and vice president and general counsel for UTC Aerospace. In ...
Jay Rosenblum - Assurant: A Career in 3 Acts
April 07, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBThe career of Jay Rosenblum, much like a stage play, has three acts. Act 1: Government Service, first as a clerk for an appellate judge, followed by a role in the Clinton Administration. Act 2: In-house government affairs roles at highly regulated financial institutions during a time of historic regulatory change. Act 3: Senior roles in corporate leadership, first as Chief HR Officer with Guardian Life, and today, as the EVP & Chief Legal Officer at Assurant. Take that as evidence that J...
Tammy Moss Finley - Advance Auto Parts: Growing, Engaging & Rewarding Talent
March 31, 2022 07:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBTammy Moss Finley is a people person. Early in her career, as a labor and employment attorney, she found herself drawn to the HR world. When the opportunity arrived to join Advance Auto Parts in the HR department, she jumped at the chance. She would have the opportunity to put in place programs that would prevent the very labor issues she was being called in to handle as a lawyer. Since that moment, she has spent 18 years in roles that have straddled the worlds of law and HR. Today, as th...
Jim Delkousis - PERSUIT: Bringing Digital Innovation to the Legal Community
March 24, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThe tables have turned, and the normal host of the show, Jim Delkousis, is the guest on this episode. After having spent most of his career with law firms, including most recently as a partner with DLA Piper, Jim had reached a crossroads. Approaching 50, he began to wonder, would the lessons of this upcoming decade be any different—or more of the same? At the same time, Jim was seeing digital innovation come to the fore in a panoply of industries, and he was beginning to dream up a vision ...
Kristin Sverchek - Lyft: Battling for the Survival of the Company
March 17, 2022 07:15 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBAs her parents tell it, Kristin Sverchek, President of Business Affairs at Lyft, was a natural born advocate. As a child, she had a knack for clearly arguing her case. That ability to effectively advocate on behalf of herself and others has come in handy in her career which has included stints at Gunderson Dettmer, Silicon Legal Strategy, and Zimride, the company that launched Lyft. At Lyft, in particular, Kristin was instrumental in the early battles for survival and the establishment of ...
Brandon Pace - LendingClub: Rebuilding Integrity & Public Trust
March 10, 2022 06:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBRecently, Brandon Pace rediscovered a journal he penned when he was 5 or 6 years old. In it, he had written that he wanted to become either a doctor or a lawyer. When you come from a family of doctors and lawyers, those may seem like obvious choices. However, there was a deliberate intention behind it—a desire to focus on service and helping others. Brandon was also fascinated by technology. That’s what led him to pursue a position at one of the top tech firms in Silicon Valley out of law ...
Anneliese Reinhold - du: Working in Unfamiliar Cultural Environments
February 24, 2022 06:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBChallenges faced when we’re young inform our ability to handle pressure as adults. That was certainly the case for Anneliese Reinhold. When she was 13, her mother passed away from bowel cancer, and that tragedy kicked off a span of ten years that were rife with family turmoil. Yet, Anneliese believes that dealing with existential struggles at a young age is exactly what enabled her to succeed in challenging environments that crossed cultural boundaries throughout her career. The challenge...
David Keim - SAS: Commercial Contracts & Entertainment Law
February 17, 2022 06:00 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBOur guest today made a lot of big life decisions at a young age—a very young age. David Keim, SVP & General Counsel of Global Corporate Legal Affairs at SAS, decided to become a lawyer in the 4th grade after reading about Patrick Henry. Not only that, he met his future wife in Kindergarten (although he admits it took until the 10th grade before he realized she was the one). David knows a lot about contractual agreements—both marital and otherwise. His time at International Family Enterta...
Benoit Balmary - Michelin: Achieving Progress in a 130-Year-Old Company
February 10, 2022 06:00 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBBenoit Balmary comes from a long line of lawyers dating back 200 years. So, you could argue that he was simply making the safe choice by going into law. He jokingly says as much. But there was a deeper pull as well: a basic belief in the nobility of law and the idea that it single-handedly separates us from chaos. Of course, as Group General Counsel at Michelin, Benoit is dealing with a far different environment than his ancestors did hundreds of years ago. Given the rapid rate of change, ...