Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Abstract
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 70: Why GCs need to care about ESG with Christine Uri, Founder ESG for In-house Counsel | 05 Dec 2024 | 00:42:10 | |
If you're in the C-Suite, what do you really need to know about ESG? Is ESG the new privacy? And should ESG really be so controversial? Join Christine Uri, founder of ESG for In-house Counsel, as she explains the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) to both public and private companies in today’s global regulatory climate. Listen as Christine draws on more than a decade offering sustainability solutions to her corporate clients to explain how GCs can advocate for ESG to fellow executives, why ESG is great for the bottom line, and why, as she puts it, “ESG is the new privacy.” Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-70 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 69: Leading Teams Across Borders with Manuel Martinez-Herrera, BetterCloud GM | 26 Nov 2024 | 00:40:15 | |
What does a general manager role involve? How do you establish your company's first international office? And what skills from lawyering can you draw on to do it well? Join Manuel Martinez-Herrera, General Manager and General Counsel at BetterCloud, as he shares his journey from law school in Spain to offices in Argentina and the U.S., to earning an LL.M at Harvard, jumping from big law to in-house counsel, moving beyond the GC role, and opening his company’s first office in Mexico City. Listen as Manuel offers tips for lawyers who want to move into business roles, why it’s important to explore new and different opportunities, the traits that lawyers and software engineers share in common, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-69 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 60: Sharing Legal Secrets Onstage with Playwright and ex-Etsy and Vroom GC Sarah Feingold | 10 Oct 2024 | 00:34:27 | |
Where's the intersection in a career as a creative and as a lawyer? What stories would you tell if you were writing a play about your career in startup law? How do you go and convince some accomplished actors to sign up and perform it off-broadway? | |||
| Ep 59: From Lawyer to Angel Investor, Advisor & Dealmaker with Sunjay Mathews | 03 Oct 2024 | 01:01:40 | |
How do you turn your passion for sports into a career? What does it take to advise pro athletes and celebrities on investments and deals? And how can you start to angel invest yourself? Sunjay Mathews, investor, advisor, and dealmaker in the sports and media sector, was able to make the leap from in-house counsel at FanDuel and DAZN, the biggest names in sports betting and streaming, into a legal and business consulting powerhouse. With his deep understanding of the complex (and often outdated) regulations surrounding sports betting, he began leading at the intersection of crypto and athletics, advising on sports partnerships with FTX and investing in blockchain-reliant companies like BetDex, and joining the board of tixbase. Listen as Sunjay shares lessons from his career at the cutting edge of burgeoning industries, dealmaking with pro athletes, getting started as an angel investor, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-59 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 58: How a lawyer built an AI company with Cecilia Ziniti, founder GC AI | 26 Sep 2024 | 00:57:34 | |
How should General Counsel and legal teams be leveraging generative AI? How do you get started on your AI journey and what mistakes should you avoid? Where is the AI revolution heading? Join Cecilia Ziniti, Founder and CEO of GC AI, as she discusses how and why she made the leap from working as a corporate lawyer to creating a generative AI product specifically designed for in-house counsel. Find out how her years leading legal for AI-powered tech companies like Replit, Anki, and Cruise (and serving as lead counsel on Amazon’s Alexa) prepared her to create a company offering a groundbreaking product that serves the various needs of lawyers with precision and care. Listen as Cecilia discusses the similarities between lawyers and large language models, how to begin experimenting with generative AI with the goal of making both your professional and personal life smoother, why you can’t let others tell you you’re “just” a lawyer, and why legal professionals should always use emojis. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-58 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 57: Bridging the gap between Politicians & Corps. with Jules Polonetsky, CEO, Future of Privacy | 19 Sep 2024 | 01:02:25 | |
Join Jules Polonetsky, CEO and Founder of the Future of Privacy Forum, as he shares lessons he learned from the front lines of ad tech starting in the early 1990s. Starting his career in politics as a New York assemblyman and working his way into consumer protection-focused public roles, he became one of the first chief privacy officers in the tech industry at companies like DoubleClick and AOL at a crucial moment in the history of online privacy. Now his think tank connects policymakers with corporations, and helps both sides answer tough questions about privacy and data. Join Jules Polonetsky, CEO and Founder of the Future of Privacy Forum, as he shares lessons he learned from the front lines of ad tech starting in the early 1990s. Starting his career in politics as a New York assemblyman and working his way into consumer protection-focused public roles, he became one of the first chief privacy officers in the tech industry at companies like DoubleClick and AOL at a crucial moment in the history of online privacy. Now his think tank connects policymakers with corporations and helps both sides answer tough questions about privacy and data. Listen as Jules discusses his uniquely-positioned understanding of privacy issues, the future of AI governance and the chief privacy officer role, advice to lawyers who want to move into the privacy space, and much more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-57 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 56: Poker helped me negotiate contracts, says Andrew Woods, GC @PubMatic | 17 Sep 2024 | 01:02:47 | |
Can playing cards teach you to be a better lawyer? How do you make it in Silicon Valley without the traditional big law firm experience? And how do you make the jump to public company general counsel? Join Andrew Woods, General Counsel at PubMatic, as he discusses the unique path he forged from professional poker player to legal star. From founding a think tank at Harvard focused on poker and law to breaking into tech and privacy as Director of Legal and Associate Counsel at Twitter, Andrew relies on his belief in the value of autonomy, mastery, and significance to guide him towards work that makes him happiest. Listen as Andrew discusses his love for game theory, landing a fulfilling job leading legal at a tech company, hiring lawyers based on their ambitions instead of their experience, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-56 Topics: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 55: Why Upwardli CEO Aaron Gregory Took the Leap from GC to Founder | 12 Sep 2024 | 00:55:23 | |
How do you make the leap from lawyer to founder? How do you craft the perfect pitch? What does it take to fundraise effectively? And how far will your legal know-how take you when you’re accountable for every function in the business? Join Aaron Gregory, Co-founder and CEO of Upwardli, as he shares his journey from general counsel to start-up leader. Starting his career in the highly regulated telecom and fintech industries, Aaron relied on lessons he learned while earning his JD-MBA to start a company that solves the challenges of credit invisibility for more than 50 million people in the United States. Listen as Aaron discusses how he took on the challenges that all first-time founders face–like pitching to VCs, fundraising, and growing into the CEO role—and shifted his mindset from that of a risk-conscious legal leader to a business-focused operator. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-55 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 54: Lyft's Kristin Sverchek on Expanding Beyond Legal into Corporate Leadership | 05 Sep 2024 | 00:48:45 | |
How can C-suite leaders take on challenging political issues that affect their company? How do you pursue a path of professional growth at a company over the course of a decade? What's required for taking on wide-ranging responsibilities at the executive level? Join Kristin Sverchek, President of Lyft, as she discusses how she joined a small start-up as their first general counsel and grew with it as it transformed into a global ride-sharing powerhouse with a multi-billion dollar IPO. Listen as she discusses the unexpected management challenges she faced and conquered internally as her role expanded beyond legal, as well as the external challenges of taking strong stances to protect her drivers in the face of adverse political climates. She also offers advice for lawyers looking to expand beyond the legal function and shares stories about innovating in industries where regulations haven’t been updated in over a century. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-54 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 53: What it takes to lobby for Apple, Google & Intel with Matt Tanielian | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:44:50 | |
What do you need to know if you're ready to launch a government affairs strategy? How do you find the right lobbyist? And how has lobbying for tech companies changed over the last decade? Join Matt Tanielian, Co-founder of Franklin Square Group, a bipartisan government relations, as he shares key insights from his decades of experience advocating for tech companies and bridging the gap between Silicon Valley and Washington. D.C. From advising senators on foundation internet legislation like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Microsoft antitrust investigation, to lobbying for Apple as it launched its first iPhone in 2008, Matt has been instrumental to tech firms as they navigate the intricacies of Capitol Hill. Listen as Matt discusses how to work with politicians and government relations consultants, the value of joining coalitions and trade associations, the future of AI policy, and much more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-53 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 52: How Vanessa Wu, GC @Rippling tackled Silicon Valley Bank's collapse | 22 Aug 2024 | 00:49:12 | |
How do you raise nine figures in financing in twelve hours as the first Twitter-fueled bank run is happening around you and you feel the pressure of hundreds and thousands of employees depending on your ability to finish the deal so their paychecks clear? | |||
| Ep 51: How Rachel Olchowka, balanced the role of GC & CPO @ Fetch | 15 Aug 2024 | 00:52:52 | |
What do you need to know if you're considering taking on the people function? What's the difference between a chief people officer and a CHRO? And are GCs well-positioned to take on both of these roles simultaneously? Rachel Olchowka, Former Chief People Officer and General Counsel at Fetch and current Chief Administrative Officer at Prizm Insurance, had no hesitations when she volunteered to operate a complex, metrics-driven people function in addition to her responsibilities leading in-house legal at a fast-paced organization. Not only did she learn how to do both roles—she learned how to do them well. Listen as Rachel shares how she was able to find balance between two very different executive positions, know whether expanding into a people role is right for you, establish a game-changing comprehensive parental leave plan, craft culture within a company and executive team, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-51 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 68: From Litigator to Spin Instructor to Chief Legal Officer with Jasmine Singh | 21 Nov 2024 | 00:49:39 | |
Have you ever considered quitting your job outright because you felt like you were being pulled farther and farther away from your calling? And then finding your way back through a career change that's very different? Join Jasmine Singh, former Chief Legal and People Officer at Binti, as she shares lessons she learned after taking time away from the legal profession about how to recalibrate your career to align with your principles and passions, and how a year instructing a spin class landed her the in-house role that led her all the way to the executive suite. Listen as Jasmine discusses knowing when it’s the right time to quit, how to rely on your network and give back back to your community, realigning your career to match your values, getting your foot in the door as in-house counsel, and much more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-67 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 50: How beating cancer twice helped him become the "Zen" GC: Dan Haley, GC, Guild | 08 Aug 2024 | 00:55:26 | |
How do you help CEOs transition out of the business? How do you project calm in a time of crisis? Can you draw on the experience of beating cancer twice as you navigate the challenges of executive leadership? | |||
| Ep 49: Will AI change Legal Work Forever?: Joe Green, Chief Innovation Officer, Gunderson Dettmer | 31 Jul 2024 | 00:48:49 | |
How is AI going to change the practice of law? How is one of the most forward looking law firms adapting? And will the billable hour go away? | |||
| Ep 48: How a Pilot turned into a CEO: Ben Klein, CEO at Aero | 24 Jul 2024 | 00:40:59 | |
How do you build a legal and business career from a passion for aviation? What is the transition like from the GC role to that of CEO? And what is it like to run an airline? | |||
| Ep 47: Steering Companies Through Crisis: Chelsea Grayson, Managing Partner at Pivot | 17 Jul 2024 | 01:00:23 | |
How do you build trust with investors who tap you for the CEO role? How do you prepare yourself to lead companies through some of their toughest moments, including bankruptcy, and guide other companies through their transformations as a board member? Chelsea Grayson, managing partner of corporate restructuring at Pivot > and former CEO and board member of brands like American Apparel, True Religion, and Spark Networks, has steered many ships through rough waters, including post-chapter 11 turnarounds, corporate wind-downs, and firing CEOs for cause. She has transitioned from board member to operator and back again, and is currently sharing her expertise on the boards of Xponential Fitness and Beyond Meat. Listen as Chelsea discusses her legendary journey from law firm partner to GC, CEO, Board Member, and now managing partner of an all-star corporate restructuring company, and offers tips to lawyers who are looking to find a board seat. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-46 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 46: What You Wish You Had Known at the Start of Your Career | Bonus Episode | 10 Jul 2024 | 00:11:01 | |
Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-46 | |||
| Ep 45: What Executive Recruiters Need from GCs: Joelle Khoury, Consultant at Egon Zehnder | 02 Jul 2024 | 00:37:58 | |
What does a former GC-turned-executive recruiter wish she'd known about creating a personal brand, working with search firms, and negotiating the offer? How do executive recruiters help take careers where they need to go—not just to the next level? And when is the right time to start building a meaningful relationship with executive recruiters? Joelle Khoury, consultant at Egon Zehnder, built a towering career as an in-house counsel at private equity giants like Saban Capital Group and Fifth Wall and at law firms including Cooley LLP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. But when the time came to make a change, she pivoted from leading to legal to helping other lawyers find the career paths that best suit their interests. Listen as Joelle shares insider tips on how to reach out to executive recruiters, navigate the interview and offer processes, the wrong way to approach a negotiation, and when to reassess whether the profession you’ve chosen is still the right one for you. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-45 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 44: How an Opera Singer Became a Legal Ops Pro: Cory Clines, Legal Operations Consultant | 26 Jun 2024 | 00:51:14 | |
How can training to be a professional opera singer translate into the legal operations profession? How do you build a career in legal ops without any formal training? And what role should technology play–if any–in a strong legal ops program? Cory Clines, Legal Operations Manager at Campari Group, was able to transfer valuable lessons from his life as a conservatory-trained opera singer into his fifteen-year-long career in legal ops, like the importance of collaboration and the need for a shared vision among teams. In his current role and at former companies like Advance Publications and Lloyd’s, Cory was able to leverage his love of technology into managerial roles that revolutionized legal processes with efficiency-maximizing software. Listen as Cory discusses how to develop strong relationships with tech vendors, building legal ops teams from scratch, earning the trust of your GC, the best ways to run an RFP, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-44 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 43: Why Foreign-Trained Lawyers are Essential: Flavia Naves, Of Counsel, Hathaway & Kunz, LLP | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:34:31 | |
If you're a foreign-trained lawyer who wants to move to the U.S., how do you find a job? Why should companies look to foreign-trained lawyers in an increasingly globalized world? And how should you navigate moments of big career transitions? Flavia Naves, former general counsel at Circle, relocated to the United States after studying law in her native country of Brazil, and went on to become an authority on law and regulation related to crypto, fintech, digital payments, and much more. In addition to her long lost of leading legal roles, she is also a board member, of counsel at Kunz and Hathaway, and commissioner of the State of Wyoming’s Stable Token Commission. Listen as Flavia shares the challenges she faced as a foreign-trained lawyer, why she advocates for mentorship and specialized training, what it’s like facing unexpected career transitions, and how she came to realize that her biggest differences are her biggest strengths. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-43 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 42: Legacy Legal Ops v. Start-Up Legal Ops: Susan Packal, Head of Global Legal Ops at Atlassian | 12 Jun 2024 | 00:34:04 | |
How does the nature of an organization change the design of its legal operations program? How can leaders of all types embrace innovations that legal ops professionals are bringing to legal ops departments? What are the most important things legal ops leaders need to know about the business? Susan Packal, Head of Global Legal Operations at Atlassian, learned the most important aspects of legal ops leadership serving in director and chief of staff positions at dynamic start-ups and legacy brands like Hilton, eBay, Uber, and Twilio, in addition to running her own legal ops consultancy. Along the way, she’s developed methods for building legal ops teams that leverage their proficiency to serve the needs of the core business. Hear from Susan as she sits down with Tyler at CLOC to discuss ways to establish a strong culture in your legal team, elevating the GC role, and recognizing the importance of tough feedback to help guide your career. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-42 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 41: Building Legal Ops at Google: DeAnna Papedis, Head of Legal Contracts & Operations, Google | 04 Jun 2024 | 00:22:00 | |
How has the legal ops profession evolved over the years? What was it like to be there at the birth of legal ops? And how can you break into the field now? | |||
| Ep 67: The Future of Crypto Regulation with Heath Tarbert, Circle CLO and Former CFTC Chair | 19 Nov 2024 | 00:58:23 | |
What is the transition like from government service to a C-suite leadership role at a cutting edge tech company? How are regulators thinking about crypto and other financial innovations? And is public service something that's still inspiring or something that we ought to aspire to? Join Heath Tarbert, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Corporate Affairs at Circle, as he draws on his extensive and prodigious career in public service–serving as Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commision, associate White House counsel, Supreme Court clerk, special counsel to the Senate Banking Committee, and more–to break down the legal side and wide-ranging impacts of financial markets around the globe. Listen as Heath discusses the intersection between law, finance, and public policy, the future of cryptocurrency, the value of humility, and much more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-67 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 40: Leveraging Social Media to Build a Legal Brand: Matt Margolis, Partner, Margolis PLLC | 28 May 2024 | 00:31:06 | |
Can you leverage a joke-filled social media brand to build your own business? How will the practice of law evolve in the age of AI? Is the billable hour going away? Matt Margolis, Partner at Margolis PLLC, went from a single funny and relatable LinkedIn post about frustrations at work to growing a massive brand as @ItsMattsLaw across platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram. Beyond expanding his network, it aided him as he made the leap from in-house to partner at his own law firm, Margolis PLLC. Hear Matt discuss how he balances social content creation with legal work, starting his own law firm, serving as legal advisor to multiple companies, and how he thinks AI is shaping the future of legal work. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-40 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 39: Legal Process Orchestration: Sagi Eliyahu, CEO & Co-founder, Tonkean (w/ cohost Akshay Verma) | 20 May 2024 | 01:04:05 | |
What is the role of tech in making legal and business teams work better together? How can process orchestration improve your intake process and seamlessly connect silos in your organization? And what is it like to build a tech company that serves legal professionals? | |||
| Ep 38: Product Counseling at Nest, Apple, and a Climate Change Startup: Vineet Shahani, GC, Mill | 13 May 2024 | 00:45:03 | |
How do you step into and thrive in the role of product counselor? How does the work of a product counselor change from organization to organization? And how can you recalibrate your legal career to focus on environmental issues and climate change? | |||
| Ep 37: IPO, Acquisitions & Board Membership: Nithya Das, Chief Legal & Administrative Officer, Diligent | 06 May 2024 | 00:38:09 | |
How can legal leaders thrive while navigating major M&A and capital market transactions? How do you expand the GC or CLO title and take on broader executive roles? And how do you leverage your experience into a board seat? Nithya Das, Chief Legal and Chief Administrative Officer at Diligent, has taken on each of these challenges and used the lessons she gained from them to advance her career exactly where she wants it to go. Formerly the chief legal and people officer of the so-called “AppNexus mafia” during the startup’s historic sale to AT&T, Nithya has led counsel, operations, and more in the ad tech, food tech, and reg tech spaces. She also brings her expertise to her seat on the board of directors at Outbrain. Hear Nithya as she shares tips about leading in-house counsel through IPO and acquisitions, serving on a board of directors, dealing with personal tragedy during career triumphs, the importance of transparency for establishing trust and loyalty with your team, and more. Diligent will be at CLOC global institute next month! Be sure to catch their speaking session 'Elevating Entity Management' on the 7th and stop by booth 104 to discuss the ways Diligent can help streamline and automate your entity management at scale. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-37 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| EP 36: From Paralegals to Legal Ops Leaders: Tommie Tavares-Ferreira, Cedar, and Tom Stephenson, Legal.io | 30 Apr 2024 | 00:55:19 | |
How do you transition into a legal ops role? What are the new and exciting opportunities for legal professionals without a law degree? How will the legal operations community trailblaze a path for in-house counsels and law firms into the future of business? Tommie Tavares-Ferreira, Head of Legal Ops at Cedar and Tom Stephenson, Vice President of Community and Legal Ops at Legal.io, have an expert understanding of both the legal ops industry and the diverse channels that professionals can take to arrive in the field. Not only are they the hosts of the Dear Legal Ops podcast, but they have arrived via their own journeys from big law firm paralegals and HBO contract manager to running legal ops at major businesses like Credit Karma, Rakuten, and Peloton. Hear Tommie and Tom as they discuss the benefits for ambitious professionals to transition into a legal ops role, how to balance your business skill set with a strategic legal mindset, career paths beyond legal ops, and much more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-36 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 35: Growing Your Personal Brand and Legal Network on LinkedIn: Brittany Leonard, GC at Civix | 23 Apr 2024 | 00:34:49 | |
How do you build a personal brand on LinkedIn that strengthens your ties to the legal community, grows your network, and even helps other lawyers? And how do you convert that brand into a successful and rewarding consulting business with an impressive client base? Brittany Leonard, General Counsel at Civix, started her journey to LinkedIn legal community influencer at the beginning of the pandemic, and went from a single post with minor engagement to an in-house advice powerhouse with more than 26,000 followers. Now she runs a successful consulting business where she trains GCs and businesses to understand the power of a personal brand to get new clients and grow revenue. Hear Brittany as she shares tips for growing your own presence on LinkedIn, starting a consulting business, breaking out of the networking-event malaise, dealing with abusive workplaces, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-35 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 34: From Prosecuting to Leading In-house at a Tech Startup: S. Michael Lee, GC & COO at Engaging.ai | 19 Apr 2024 | 00:31:06 | |
How do you approach, accept, and move on from career transitions, both planned and unexpected? What does it take to transition from decades in public service to roles leading legal at tech startups and law firms? And how can you leverage your network to bounce back after an unexpected layoff? S. Michael Lee, General Counsel and COO at Engaging.ai, has conquered many of these tense moments. Starting his career as the first Korean-American prosecutor in the Santa Clara County DA’s Office, he brought lessons learned from his experience as a trial attorney to his second chapter as an in-house counsel and—eventually—legal and business leader. Hear Michael as he discusses why your network is essential to finding your next role, why you shouldn’t limit yourself or your job prospects, and the importance of honoring your roots in your professional life, Annual Compensation Report: https://salary-report.spotdraft.com/ Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 33: Legal Issues in the Gene Editing Space: Lisa Taylor Ash, General Counsel at Shape Therapeutics | 16 Apr 2024 | 00:46:31 | |
How do you leverage your legal career to launch your own consultancy? What are the winning tactics to be an effective in-house lawyer? Is it possible to merge your love of science with your passion for law? Lisa Taylor Ash, General Counsel at Shape Therapeutics, has the answer to all of your questions. After leading two different legal teams through major acquisitions, starting her own consulting firm, and returning to the GC role, Lisa created effectiveinhouse.com, a website that features legal tactics, samples, and interviews with top in-house counsels across a variety of industries. Hear Lisa as she explains how she was able to position her career at the forefront of cutting-edge biotech, offers practical advice for lawyers hoping to start a company, shares lessons she wishes were taught in law school, and more. Check out some of Lisa’s favorite posts from effectiveinhouse.com below: Minimize Legal Risk Interview with Brett Pletcher, Former GC of Gilead Interview with Brandon Etheridge, GC of the Baltimore Ravens Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 32: From Product Counseling at Apple & Meta to the Crypto World: Nguyen Vu, DGC, OKX | 12 Apr 2024 | 00:44:54 | |
How do you realign your legal career in order to break into the tech industry and product counseling? What are the major differences between headline-grabbing big tech companies and ambitious start-ups? And should the goal of every in-house counsel be a GC title? Nguyen Vu, deputy general counsel at OKX, leveraged his persistence, skills, and showmanship to redefine himself as a tech attorney. Starting off as a lawyer working in telecoms regulation, Nguyen was able to land a major product role at Apple, become the “mini GC” of digital currency at Facebook, and lead international product teams at successful fintech and crypto startups. Hear Ngyuen as he shares the valuable lessons he’s learned about regulation, consumer protection, motivating your team, steering your career in the direction you want to take it, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-32 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 31: Peak Legal Efficiency: Siddharth Manchanda, IndusLaw Partner & Unacademy External GC | 09 Apr 2024 | 01:02:34 | |
What challenges face the legal team at India’s largest learning platform as they expand beyond online classrooms? How do you execute one thousand new contracts a month, and still find time to problem solve and aid core function? Siddharth Manchanda, Partner at IndusLaw and External GC at Unacademy, has embraced tech and AI in order to free his team from the repetitive manual tasks borne from his company’s fast and massive growth. He’s found that increased efficiency is more than enough to shift the mindsets of traditional lawyers and business teams alike about the power and possibility of tech solutions. Hear Siddharth as he discusses the legal perspective on India’s massive economic growth, dividing his time between an in-house and client services role, the future of legal tech, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-31 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 66: Tennis & Media Law with Peter Steckelman, SVP, Tennis Channel | 14 Nov 2024 | 00:51:03 | |
What lessons from tennis can you apply to your day-to-day life? How do you build a career as a dealmaker working with high-profile talent? How has the entertainment industry, and what it needs from its lawyers, changed over the years? Join Peter Steckelman, Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at the Tennis Channel, as he shares stories from his uniquely wide-ranging career in entertainment law, including working in-house work at Disney, Fox Entertainment, Warner Brothers, Mattel, and Konami. Listen as Peter serves up stories about his lifelong love for tennis, negotiating with celebrity athletes, and the joys of working in film, television, video games, streaming, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-66 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Ep 30: Leading Legal in Complex Regulatory Environments: Hardeep Singh, GC, CRED | 04 Apr 2024 | 00:56:14 | |
How is tech changing India’s financial services industry? How do you deal with complex regulations that change as rapidly as tech products do? And how can a multinational company expand into India’s culturally, geographically, and linguistically diverse market? Hardeep Singh, General Counsel at CRED, has faced these challenges head-on. Starting his career in litigation, he moved on to in-house counsel for Uber in Delhi and helped pioneer solutions to improve the city’s public transit. Now he leads the legal team at CRED, a reward-based credit card payment app that integrates with India’s massive mobile payment system. Hear Hardeep as he shares his experiences structuring M&A deals, navigating nuanced regulations, leading legal for a dynamic design-based product, and finding motivation from solving real world problems. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-30 Topics: Introduction: 1:17 Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| EP 29: What's Next for Legal Ops: Jenn McCarron, President of CLOC | 29 Mar 2024 | 00:52:11 | |
What can a strong community offer a legal ops professional working alone within their organization? How do you deal with the stress of a chaotic project management role while fostering change? Will legal ops eventually shift away from legal and into the business and tech sphere? | |||
| Ep 28: From Law Partner to Top Recruiter: Richard Hsu, Managing Director at Major, Lindsey & Africa | 26 Mar 2024 | 00:34:38 | |
How do executive recruiters take legal careers to the next level? What do you need to handle the transition from big-name law firm partner to a role helping people build careers of their own? How can you distinguish a good interview from a bad interview? Richard Hsu, Managing Director at Major, Lindsey & Africa and host of the Hsu Untied podcast, has expert advice to share about how to ace the job interview for executive legal roles and the podcast interview with influential thinkers like Mark Cuban and Tony Robbins. Going deep on legal and podcasting, Richard shares essential tips on how to project confidence and say the right things when you’re face to face with a hiring manager (or celebrity) who can take your career to the next level. | |||
| Ep 27: Taking Businesses & Legal Teams Global: Sarah Binder, General Counsel, Lime | 15 Mar 2024 | 00:45:36 | |
What is a general counsel’s role in international expansion? How do you balance growth with safety and compliance across diverse countries and markets? And how do you scale your legal team to take on challenges that require in-depth knowledge of local cultures, regulations, and business practices? | |||
| Finding Empowerment in Disability: Raj Mahapatra, Senior Counsel at Wilson Sonsini | 28 Feb 2024 | 00:56:04 | |
How do you turn one of the most difficult moments in your life into the motivation that guides you to make the world a better place? When Raj Mahapatra received his axial spondyloarthritis diagnosis, he was told he would spend his life in a wheelchair. Decades later, he is an accomplished long-distance runner, seasoned general counsel, tech start-up business operator, mission-driven climate advocate, and chairman of the charity that makes life better for people suffering from his condition worldwide. Listen as Raj recounts his journey to leadership, explains the importance of advocating for your personal needs, and shares why it is so important for GCs to never stop asking “why?” Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-26 Topics: Introduction: 1:20 Receiving a life-changing diagnosis in your twenties: 2:45 Changing your perspective on work by living with a disability: 6:27 Incorporating charity into your running practice: 13:17 Going beyond legal roles and into operator positions: 20:41 Fundraising as General Counsel and Head of Intellectual Property at Cervest Limited: 24:45 Reflecting on the experience of building and losing a business as a lawyer: 32:13 Resetting after a difficult work experience: 35:58 Joining Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as Senior Counsel: 42:19 Building a meaningful life: 51:28 Connect with us: Raj Mahapatra - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajmahapatra/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Data, Privacy, and Podcasting: Andy Dale, GC & CPO, OpenAP | 22 Feb 2024 | 00:47:17 | |
In an always-changing ad tech industry, how have privacy and data protection emerged as two of the largest challenges that organizations need to face? Whether it’s streaming platforms, engineering AI models, or aligning key industry stakeholders, these topics are evolving faster than the world can keep up with. OpenAP GC & Chief Privacy Officer Andy Dale has been leading conversations about privacy and data protection for more than a decade. He shares stories and advice from his time as the only privacy counsel at Mastercard, an organizer of some of the first privacy and data-focused industry groups, overseeing privacy at standards-making body OpenAP, and co-hosting his popular and influential podcast for more than 80 episodes, Data Protection Breakfast Club. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-25 Topics: Introduction: 0:00 Predicting the importance of data protection and recalibrating your career: 3:24 Connecting laws and data in the privacy sphere: 6:52 Leading privacy diligence during SessionM sale to Mastercard: 11:25 Identifying your interests to determine your next professional move: 15:26 Working across competitive lines at OpenAP: 19:35 Predicting the data and privacy ecosystem ahead: 24:36 Viewing AI through privacy and data protection: 27:50 Evolving the Chief Privacy Officer role: 30:19 Advice to junior lawyer breaking into privacy: 33:48 Co-hosting a podcast about privacy and data protection with over 88 episodes published: 38:22 Privacy-related book recommendations: 44:06 Advice to younger lawyers: 45:16 Listen to an episode of Andy’s Data Protection Breakfast Club podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trevor-hughes-ceo-at-iapp/id1559290322?i=1000514250595 Connect with us: Andy Dale - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-dale-7705b83/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Building, leading, and scaling legal teams | Bonus Episode | 08 Feb 2024 | 00:37:48 | |
How do you build and scale a high-performing legal team? Topics Connect with us: | |||
| Expanding Beyond the GC Role | Bonus Episode | 31 Jan 2024 | 00:22:47 | |
Interested in expanding beyond the traditional role of General Counsel? SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| GCs in the Boardroom: Lisa Harrington, Board Director, Consultant, and CLO | 19 Jan 2024 | 00:51:01 | |
Joining a board as a GC presents a unique set of challenges: how do you demonstrate value when many boards are looking for members with financial and strategy experience? How do you avoid becoming the de facto legal counsel? And how can you maximize your board experience to expand and strengthen your network and legal skill set? Lisa Harrington, board director, consultant, and CLO, can coach you through this complex process. Currently the board director at A-Rod’s Slam Corp and Iron Horse Acquisitions, Lisa has complimented her career as CLO and corporate secretary with a yearslong journey through public and private board rooms. Join Lisa as she offers her fellow GCs experience-proven advice on the best ways to find your first board seat, thrive on a committee as an expert advisor, and eventually make your way to a role on a coveted public board. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-22 Topics: Introduction: 1:28 Comparing and contrasting GC roles at public and private companies: 4:24 Finding opportunities on to take on board directorships or take on board seats: 8:48 Setting yourself up to get recruited for board membership: 15:01 Describing the ongoing obligations of a board member or director: 21:39 Factors to consider for GCs looking to join a board: 25:08 Non-legal-related advice for drafting your board agreement: 28:17 Making strong connections with operators: 31:53 Going through the IPO process with Iron Horse: 37:49 Participating on a board during an acquisition at Slam Corp: 41:37 Leaving a board role with grace: 44:45 Advice to younger self: 47:10 Connect with us: Lisa Harrington - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisahattonharrington/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| From FBI Dreams to Big Tech Legal: Alice Bisgrove, VP & Associate General Counsel, Procore | 09 Jan 2024 | 00:35:40 | |
After an unexpected detour from her initial plans to join the FBI, Alice Bisgrove built a career in tech law working for tech giants like Cisco and Procore. In this episode, she discusses how she remained a legal generalist for over a decade at Cisco, taking on new roles and building relationships across the massive organization. Alice describes her transition to Procore as it grew from an established startup to a public company. From her impactful career journey, we will learn lessons on collaboration, problem-solving perspectives, and continually adapting to new opportunities. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-21 Topics:01:07 Introduction 04:36 Moving into the tech field 09:57 Sensing when an applicant is hungry to work 11:01 Staying curious as a corporate generalist at Cisco 15:03 Driving alignment after identifying a major problem 20:24 Building trust with stakeholders in your business 21:42 Finding ways to maintain customer centricity 25:46 Transitioning to Procore Technologies 27:38 Working cross-functionally 30:08 Management role and building a team 32:11 Book recommendations 33:54 Advice to younger self Connect with us: Alice Bisgrove - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicebisgrove Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Ep 65: Why GCs Need to Understand Geopolitics with Sean West | 07 Nov 2024 | 00:49:49 | |
Do general counsels need to care about geopolitics? Is now the right time to start a legal tech company? And should you consider growing your team in a place other than Silicon Valley, like Rwanda? Join Sean West, Co-Founder at Hence Technologies and writer at Geolegal.substack.com, as he explains how he became a geopolitical forecaster for corporations and hedge funds at Eurasia Group, then chose to co-found a tech company that brings geopolitical insights to general counsels and executives at a time of rising international volatility. Listen as Sean explains why CEOs are becoming chief geopolitical officers, why government affairs teams are increasingly falling under the purview of the general counsel, how he develops his predictions in a constantly changing world, and more. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-65 Topics: Connect with us: SpotDraft is a leading contract lifecycle management platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. | |||
| Championing Inclusion, Ethics & Compliance: Junna Ro, Head of Strategic Legal Initiatives, UC Office of the President | 22 Dec 2023 | 00:51:31 | |
When you disagree with your boss, should you let it go or take a stand? How do you lean into your integrity and vocalize your beliefs, especially when you aren’t aware of the strength of your own voice? And how do you advise your company to do the right thing, as well? Junna Ro, the head of strategic legal initiatives for UC Legal at the UC Office of the President, has spent decades inhabiting leadership positions in the insurance and tech industry, both as the former general counsel at Metromile and the chief ethics & compliance officer at CSAA. But entering the world of legal without the connections and role models of her law school peers, she also knows what it’s like to be an outsider. Join Junna as she shares her passion for diversity, inclusion, ethics, and representation, as well her journey to discovering the power of speaking out and standing up for your convictions. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-20 Topics: Introduction: 1:09 Taking a break from legal work and reflecting: 2:22 Book recommendations: 9:23 Sharing the cultural context of your upbringing: 12:11 Existing as both a legal outsider and a legal insider: 15:16 Finding the courage to speak up in high-pressure moments: 17:34 Defining the difference between ethics and compliance in legal: 23:16 Moving into a General Counsel position at Metromile: 26:49 Taking a stand against Asian hate: 33:55 Advising executive teams on taking a stand on social issues: 39:23 Offering advice to leaders about tackling difficult topics: 44:16 Reflecting on failures: 44:56 Advice for young lawyers: 46:56 Connect with us: Junna Ro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/junnaro/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Taking the Helm as an Interim Executive: Vanessa Gage, General Counsel, Cedar | 15 Dec 2023 | 00:34:02 | |
What does it mean for a lawyer to take on an interim role? Yes, there will be more work and your time will be divided across functions. But you will also get the opportunity to reevaluate why things are the way they are, and make positive improvements for your legal team. Join Cedar General Counsel Vanessa Gage as she shares advice on how to make the most of an interim executive roles. Vanessa stepped into the role of interim CFO at Cedar following a surprise executive departure—just weeks after she the started at the company. But it wasn’t her first time taking on an interim position. Find out how she was able to tackle the challenges—and rewards—that lay ahead. This episode, recorded before Cedar filled their CFO role, offers a glimpse into Vanessa’s perspective as she temporarily extends beyond her purview as general counsel. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-19 Topics: Introduction: 00:48 Moving from Deputy General Counsel to Interim GC at Opendoor: 3:03 Advice for lawyers stepping into interim positions: 5:49 Catapulting into a GC role at Cedar and taking on the responsibility of Interim CFO: 11:07 Advice for GCs who find themselves taking on additional interim roles: 17:17 Pushing the business forward without tying your successor’s hands: 21:40 Preparing to step back from your interim role: 27:12 What you are proud of and book recommendations: 31:25 Connect with us: Vanessa Gage: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vgage/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Defining Ethical Use & Dealing with Law Enforcement: Mark Kahn, Partner and Head of Consumer at Protégé Search | 08 Dec 2023 | 00:47:22 | |
How does legal determine what is acceptable user behavior? How do lawyers weigh the needs of users and concerns from law enforcement to arrive at the best guidelines for responsibly protecting our data? Join Protégé Search Partner and Head of Consumer Mark Kahn as he shares his experiences on the front lines of privacy protection in his roles as VP of Ethical Use at Twilio and Deputy General Counsel at Whatsapp. In a time of major international crises, how do tech companies navigate the difficult questions about ethics, acceptable use, and fairness? We’ll hear about his journey from the Oakland A’s, to the legal teams of tech’s biggest players, to his newest career guiding others on their professional career paths as an executive recruiter. We’ll also get some tips about recognizing when you’re in the right role, how to make a leap to the executive suite, and when to step back from a stressful position. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-18 Topics: Introduction: 00:05 Starting your career in product with your dream organization: 1:22 Working your way up the corporate food chain to Whatsapp: 6:22 How Whatsapp differed from his expectations: 12:39 Knowing when to step back from a stressful role and leave: 18:27 Taking time off and negotiating a role at Segment: 24:13 Working with an executive coach: 29:13 The Segment/Twilio acquisition and carving out a new role for “VP of Ethical Use:” 30:13 Stepping away from law into exec recruiter role: 38:15 Demystifying the job seeking experience: 40:29 “Designing Your Life” and advice to his younger self: 43:23 Connect with us: Mark Kahn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkahn2/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||
| Big Risks and Big Rewards: René Paula, GC & SVP of Legal & Business Affairs, Vaxxinity | 29 Nov 2023 | 00:44:07 | |
What does it take for a lawyer to expand their remit and become an operator, a business strategist, or even a founder? Beyond speaking up, what do you need to take on in order to advance from the traditional legal role of in-house counsel? René Paula, Vaxxinity’s GC and Senior Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs, knows a lawyer needs to be able to speak multiple languages. Not just spoken languages, but the languages of math, finance, and accounting. It helped fuel his marathon career, including financial transactions at HSBC, counsel at Amazon’s Audible, new ventures at Anheuser Busch, closing a sale to Accenture, and taking Vaxxinity public. Join René as he discusses the challenges and triumphs he’s faced and emphasizes the importance of maintaining an intimate connection to your financial numbers. Read detailed summary: https://www.spotdraft.com/podcast/episode-17 Topics: Introduction: 00:15 Recounting the experiences that shaped you as a leader: 2:14 Entering the world of financial services at HSBC: 4:18 Moving into tech at Amazon’s Audible: 6:13 Transitioning from in-house lawyer to founder at Sonar: 11:01 Spearheading Zx Ventures at Anheuser Busch: 16:39 Expanding beyond legal and chasing big enterprise at Bionic: 19:49 Selling your professional services business to Accenture: 22:43 Returning to legal and operations at Vaxxinity: 25:29 Positioning yourself as an operator from a General Counsel role: 32:24 Mistakes you’ve made and seen others make: 38:10 Book recommendations: 41:39 Connect with us: René Paula: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rpaula/ Tyler Finn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhfinn SpotDraft - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotdraft SpotDraft is a leading CLM platform that solves your end-to-end contract management issues. Visit https://www.spotdraft.com to learn more. | |||