FutureWork Playbook

Vanta, a company that helps customers get compliant and build security programs, uses an AI tool to answer security questionnaires. Where humans had once spent hours on the task, the tool completes it quickly and accurately. Vanta’s customers love it.

That’s not to raise the specter of automation stealing human jobs, explains Vanta’s chief legal officer and chief people officer, Ari Shahdadi. “We certainly don’t see this as a thing that’s threatening to anybody or going to replace anybody so much as drive future efficiency and accuracy and how people do their jobs,” he says.

Ari joins host Natalie Pierce and Steve Baglio, both former colleagues from Ari’s earlier role at Gunderson Dettmer, to discuss how technology intersects with people, particularly in the legal HR context. Their conversation covers how small, focused teams can prioritize business outcomes; how in-house professionals must become flexible in today’s fast-paced environment; and how the lawyer is moving away from being an “oracle of knowledge,” as Steve says, to becoming an expert in making good judgment.

“If you can put yourself in a position where you’re able to be flexible and develop other operational skill sets, you can have a role in a company like a chief judgment officer, right? Instead of a chief legal officer,” he suggests.

1. Vanta uses a recruiting tool called Ashby but also has a rigorous, structured interview process designed to bring in strong talent and get them productive as soon as possible.
2. Will AI replace lawyers? “I think they’re useful as tools to kind of help you with general tasks, but I am not going to ask one what the law is on something because I might get a wrong answer,” Ari observes.
3. Today’s general counsel is branching into integrative roles within an organization, such as COO or deputy CO, Steve says.   
4. While Vanta isn’t in a highly regulated sector, it has a robust compliance team because, as Ari explains, “if we’re not using our own product, then should our customers?”
5. AI systems excel in areas of subject matter expertise, Ari says – “but they have to be trained properly and designed properly.”
6. The silos around lawyers are breaking down as companies find success by running legal with business development or other functions, Ari says.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Ari Shahdadi 

Organization: Vanta 

Connect: LinkedIn | Email

Name: Steven Baglio

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

☑️ Connect with us: LinkedIn | X | Gunderson Dettmer

☑️ Subscribe to the FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode. 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

“Those that are equipped with and know how to ably use AI are going to be outdoing those lawyers and law firms that do not.”

The FutureWork podcast episode 6 features Dr. Lance Eliot, a regular Forbes contributor and AI Fellow at Stanford University and Dazza Greenwood, a renowned Fortune 100 legal tech advisor and the Executive Director of Law.MIT.edu. Both guests have industry-leading research and publications, and they routinely counsel attorneys, CEOs, educators, and business leaders. Lance and Dazza are also on the cutting edge of GenAI trends–developing roadmaps for legal teams, engineers and executives to transform the future.

Viewing generative AI as an effective tool for lawyers and not something to fear, Lance and Dazza provide listeners with suggestions for the most effective uses of legal prompt engineering and generative AI as a whole. From summarizing discovery material to identifying ambiguities in a legal document, generative AI can be a huge asset to the legal field. However, they caution that the results are only as good as the prompts.

Tune in as Natalie, Lance, and Dazza discuss key steps in creating a framework for the responsible use of generative AI in the practice of law, crucial techniques for how to boost your prompt engineering skills as a lawyer, high value use cases for generative AI in the practice of law, and why lawyers are in a great starting position to use generative AI. 

1. An effective framework for harnessing the power of generative AI responsibly in the practice of law involves formulating well-constructed prompts, reviewing and critiquing the outputs, iteration, and human oversight.
2. AI is coming into law practices, whether lawyers or law firms want it or not.
3. Prompt engineering is the idea that there are effective ways to craft prompts to carry on conversations with generative AI that are beneficial to the person who is interacting with the generative AI.
4. Summarization is an example of a high value use of generative AI on legal tasks. 
5. There are various prompt engineering techniques that lawyers can use to effectively interact with generative AI.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name:  Dr. Lance Eliot

Organization: Stanford University Center for Legal Informatics

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Dazza Greenwood 

Organization: Civics.com | law.mit.edu

Connect: LinkedIn  

☑️ Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Gunderson Dettmer Website

☑️ Subscribe to the FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode. 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

The FutureWork podcast episode 5 features Charlene Li, an expert in transformative technologies that disrupt the business landscape. Charlene is a keynote speaker, Fortune 100 advisor and author. Her upcoming book "Mega Transformations" is set to release in early 2024. 

Charlene Li's expertise in generative AI provides valuable insights into the future of work and the potential of AI to drive innovation and transform industries. Companies can benefit from embracing generative AI and leveraging its power to analyze data, enhance collaboration, and create new customer experiences. Natalie Pierce and Charlene discuss what companies can do to start their generative AI journey and how to develop a strategy in the first 90 days. 

1. Companies should take action and not be afraid to be early adopters of generative AI.
2. Establishing policies, guidelines, and codes of conduct for the use of generative AI is important for responsible and ethical use.
3. Data governance and permissions are crucial for protecting employee and customer data when using generative AI.
4. Companies should tap into internal data and expertise to enhance collaboration and create new customer experiences using generative AI.
5. Responsible and ethical use of generative AI is essential, and companies should prioritize protecting employee and customer data.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Charlene Li

Connect:  LinkedIn

☑️ Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Gunderson Dettmer Website

☑️ Subscribe to the FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode. 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Who said the legal industry is slow to adopt novel technology? Generative AI has made it possible to shift even the most reluctant of industries to create a new paradigm for reading, writing and reasoning. And beyond that, the era of generative AI is helping develop a new mindset about how these tools can augment human intelligence and strategic planning.

In this episode, Natalie dives into the world of AI-powered business contracts and how the legal industry may be leading the way, with special guest, Cai GoGwilt. Cai, the co-founder and chief architect of Ironclad, discusses the transformative impact of generative AI tools and Ironclad’s commitment to responsible AI deployment. 

Tune in to learn how Ironclad has revolutionized the way contracts are created, reviewed, and managed, and discover the incredible potential of AI technology in the legal industry. From securing a monumental funding round to sharing their generative AI policy, Ironclad is at the forefront of AI adoption and responsible usage. 

Don't miss out on this captivating episode where Natalie and Cai uncover the future of work and the power of AI in the world of contracts.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name:  Cai GoGwilt

What he does: Cai GoGwilt is the co-founder and Chief Architect of Ironclad, the leading digital contracting platform. Cai leads research, strategy, and development for Ironclad AI, and has always been passionate about building products that make people more effective at their jobs. He is an MIT graduate in Computer Science and Physics, as well as a former software engineer at Palantir Technologies. By day, he’s a celebrated software engineer and thoughtful leader; by night, he’s a concert cellist and karaoke enthusiast.

Organization: Ironclad

Connect:  LinkedIn

☑️ Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Gunderson Dettmer Website

☑️ Subscribe to the FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode. 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

“Right now, we have this great opportunity to create a balanced and reasonable law that works for an industry that also protects individuals.”

In this episode, Natalie welcomes Anna Westfelt, the Head of Gunderson Dettmer’s Data Privacy Practice, to discuss the growth of AI technology, the possible negative and positive effects, and how individuals can prepare themselves for this changing landscape.

Gunderson boasts an emerging company and venture capital (EC/VC) firm focused on, as Natalie puts it, “building the firm of the future.” For example, generative AI can potentially turn data into a gold mine. As the world continues to receive more regulatory updates in the privacy space with AI, Anna’s team is working diligently to provide counsel and education to clients who are eager to leverage these powerful tools with privacy and security at the core of their development. 

Tune in to learn more about generative AI regulations and what the Gunderson Dettmer team expects on the horizon.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Anna Westfelt 

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn 

☑️ Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Gunderson Dettmer Website

☑️ Subscribe to the FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode. 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

When it comes to integrating AI technology in the workplace, uncertainty and fear can blind business from innovation and advancement. In this episode, host Natalie Pierce, dives back into the discussion of generative AI.  The episode kicks off with a discussion of the recent Generative AI webinar series presented by guests and colleagues Katie Gardner and Aaron Rubin, two partners in Gunderson Dettmer’s Strategic Transactions & Licensing Practice.

Katie and Aaron report the wild success of their informational webinar series about AI technology, but both guests also caution against the uncertainties of this rapidly developing field. With Gunderson’s focus on the venture-backed ecosystem, key concerns that clients are raising include the risks of using AI for code development and concerns over how employees are sharing company data while using generative AI technology.

Tune in to hear about applying generative AI to the workplace as well as an insightful discussion on why the fear and uncertainty about AI may be eased through the implementation of learning tools. 

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Katie Gardner

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Aaron Rubin

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

We're back for Season 5 and we're diving into the fascinating world of generative AI! This season, we'll explore the technology underpinnings, the exciting advancements made so far, the ethical and legal considerations it brings to the forefront, and the possibilities it opens up for the future. 

Tune into this first episode as host Natalie Pierce speaks with two colleagues from Gunderson's practice innovation group, Chief Innovation Officer Joe Green and Legal Engineering & Data Strategy Manager John Scrudato.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Joe Green

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer  

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: John Scrudato

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

The ESG standards have seen much attention from the SEC in the last several years. Now, the debate of including an “H” stands in line to extend the framework and consider the well-being of individuals with a more concentrated pillar. 

In this week’s episode, host Natalie Pierce speaks with Dr. Bonny Forrest, a Principal at FirmLeader. Bonny is a renowned psychologist and former big law litigator and in-house counsel who now serves as a Board Consultant and Advisor. Bonny advises company boards on how to evaluate and implement ESG practices and provides coaching to board members on creating value with ESG for their companies.

Natalie and Bonny discuss the importance of incorporating mental health programming as part of companies’ ESG framework.  While some have been slower to buy in, companies that are currently investing in mental health are largely focusing on employee burnout and depression, and allowing flexibility in order to keep everyone engaged and thriving.

Top takeaways from this episode

★   Benefits of Prioritizing Mental Health: When organizations prioritize mental health, it benefits both employer and employee alike–it helps employers retain talent and leads to more progress and bigger profits.

★   Successful ESG Initiatives: In order to successfully incorporate mental health into the company culture, organizations must have someone who both manages its initiatives and champions them. While many companies have yet to fully dive into the mental health space, companies that are currently addressing mental health focus on burnout, depression, and flexibility.  

★   How Companies Can Prioritize Mental Health: The best ways to prioritize mental health within your organization are to listen to your employees, start small, identify leaders with healthy habits for success within your company, learn how to resolve conflicts, and embrace difficult conversations.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Dr. Bonny Forrest

Organization: Firm Leader

Connect: LinkedIn

Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

“The term ESG, it's a term that gets applied to a lot of things, but at the end of the day, we're really just talking about looking at the risks and opportunities of investing in a company. And we're making it good data.”

In this week’s episode, host Natalie Pierce speaks with Lorraine Wilson, the Chief Sustainability Officer of Novata, to discuss the importance of ESG metrics and how Novata helps companies incorporate them.

Novata's goal is to empower private markets to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable form of capitalism. They make it easy for organizations to incorporate ESG metrics so that value is measurable.

Top takeaways from this episode

★     Novata’s ESG Initiatives: Novata's mission is to make it straightforward for companies to incorporate ESG metrics so that value is measurable. This empowers private markets to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable form of capitalism.

★    Leveraging ESG Practices to Attract Investors: Novata helps companies report their ESG metrics, offering features like data quality guardrails and benchmarking and analytics to contextualize the data.

★    The Future of ESG Reporting and Tracking at Novata: Novata will continue to incorporate more regulatory frameworks as they develop. They’ll also focus on content creation to support growing demand.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Lorraine Wilson

Organization: Novata   

Connect: LinkedIn

Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

In this episode, Sarah Milby, the founder and CEO of Valor Performance, joins host Natalie Pierce to discuss the importance of coaching and upskilling in the modern workforce. Valor Performance combines human coaching with technology to provide a personalized coaching experience for leaders while offering data-driven insights to organizations to help make decisions around leading their workforce. 

We also hear of examples of how Valor's coaching programs have helped brands increase sales, retain top talent, and enhance work engagement, showing the positive impact of investing in human performance. 

Top takeaways from this episode

★   The Power of Personalized Coaching: Sarah emphasizes the power of combining human coaching with technology to provide tailored coaching experiences for leaders. This can lead to better decision-making, improved retention, and higher engagement in the workplace.

★   Coaching Fosters Behavior Change and Connection: By focusing on areas such as communication and confidence, coaching can promote behavior change and help remote workforces use digital platforms to grow connections and contribute to company culture.

★   Prioritizing Human Performance Sustainability: Sarah envisions a world where brands value the sustainability of human performance alongside financial growth, with coaching as a vital tool to achieve this goal. This focus on human capital can lead to increased sales, retention of top talent, and improved work engagement.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Sarah Milby

Organization: Valor Performance

Connect: LinkedIn

Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so that you never miss an episode. 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.