Angelique Strong Marks, Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer at Cars.com, joins us to discuss what it truly means to win as in-house counsel. 

She emphasizes the importance of understanding a company’s business goals and aligning legal strategies accordingly. 

Angelique also explores how AI is transforming the legal field, allowing lawyers to focus on more strategic tasks, and shares her unique take on diversity, highlighting the need to redefine success metrics in the legal profession. 

Tune in for valuable insights into holistic legal strategies, AI’s role in legal operations, and the future of diversity in law.

Join us as we discuss:

• [1:48] Leadership and what it means to win as an in-house legal counsel

• [7:41] AI and digital transformation in the legal profession

• [15:48] Why the diversity conversation is still flawed

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• What it Means to Win for In-House Counsel by Angelique Strong Marks

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Nisreen Al-Shaker, Global Head of Legal Operations and Strategy — Legal and Compliance at Nokia, didn’t passionately pursue legal ops. Instead, her diverse experiences in multiple international legal departments naturally pushed her into the dynamic field.

Nisreen believes an expansive skillset is essential to understanding the challenges that come with today’s lightning-fast change in the legal industry.

She gives us an exclusive snapshot of how her team is embracing innovative tools and collaborating with partners like PERSUIT to establish operational resilience in their Middle Eastern market. 

Join us as we discuss:

• [5:23] How legal ops helps in-house teams navigate complex issues

• [15:04] Partnering with PERSUIT to help unravel spending expectations

• [23:53] Operational resilience in the face of rapid change

• [33:11] The rise of legal operations in the Middle East

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC)

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Damien Atkins, CLO and GC at Aura, a provider of online security solutions, has learned a lot about leadership during his extensive career spanning companies like AOL, Panasonic, and Hershey’s.

His reputation has garnered him recognition in multiple publications, including recently being named as one of the most influential executives in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine.

Yet he’s always chasing more insights, which is why he launched The Purposeful Leader, a podcast featuring executives from law and business who discuss leadership values. 

Damien joins us for a compelling conversation about what distinguishes great legal leaders, how they can drive cultural change, and why they need to work outside of the legal box.

Join us as we discuss:

• [4:38] Drawing from the leadership philosophies of great sports coaches

• [14:06] Creating in-house culture for differentiated value to the business

• [22:57] Expanding the influence of in-house within the business

• [36:24] Using technology strategically to drive more impact

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Savoy Magazine: 2024 Most Influential Executives In Corporate America

• The Purposeful Leader

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From Zimbabwe to Nairobi, Otilia Phiri has solidified her reputation as a leader in the African legal tech space.

As Principal Corporate Counsel for the Africa Regional Cluster at Microsoft, she’s committed to transforming how legal departments support business objectives, promoting diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to in-house projects.

Otilia gives us an exclusive peek into how Microsoft is transforming the African continent with exciting new technology and how she thinks AI will give legal professionals more creative freedom.

Join us as we discuss:

• [15:38] AI conversations at Microsoft and African agencies

• [25:33] Use cases for AI tools in Microsoft’s legal departments

• [32:08] DEI and career advancement opportunities

• [46:06] Why old traditions are holding the legal industry back
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Microsoft Africa Development Center

• Microsoft Responsible AI Principles

• Copilot for Microsoft 365

• 100 Most Influential African Leaders in Technology & Telecommunications
  

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How does one begin to measure the social impact of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives in legal? And how can you get others to buy in?

When Porter Merriman">Porter Merriman, VP & Assistant GC at AutoDesk"> AutoDesk, helped spearhead her department’s new DEIB program, she knew she couldn’t force people to be fully invested. But she could acknowledge and reward those who were.

In this episode of our new Mission Possible series, Porter gives other legal leaders a map to help them charter their own DEIB programs and build diverse partnerships.

Join us as we discuss:

- Why DEIB can’t be a string of start-stop initiatives (1:54)

- Factoring DEIB in the external sourcing process (7:59)

- Advice to legal leaders starting internal DEIB programs (14:29)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

AutoDesk FY2023 Diversity & Belonging Report">AutoDesk FY2023 Diversity & Belonging Report

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Ulrike Schwarz-Runer, Managing Director and Senior Partner, GC and CLO at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), has long been a champion for DEI and psychological safety in the workplace.

While she’s overseeing BCG’s global legal operations, she’s also leveraging her position to empower her people to feel safe and heard while participating in international forums on inclusivity.

Ulrike shares how BCG is driving DEI initiatives through innovation, effective communication, and expertise deployment.

Join us as we discuss:

➡️[5:11] Why diverse teams are more effective and innovative

➡️[14:32] The importance of psychological safety in the workplace

➡️[21:39] Keeping the human connection in digital transformation

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

➡️The Positive Domino Effect of Psychological Safety (BCG)

➡️Flexible Teams Are Key for In-house Lawyers to Share Expertise (Financial Times)

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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It takes everyone, from corporate leadership to interns, to drive successful DEI initiatives through an in-house legal department.

So, when Forbes recognized NiSource as one of the top employers for diversity in the energy field in 2023, André Wright and his team knew their efforts had paid off.

The VP & Deputy GC for NiSource joined us to talk about how they implemented their DEI strategy and share some of the surprising challenges and outcomes of bringing everyone along.

Join us as we discuss:

• [4:05] Carrying out DEI initiatives at the strategic level

• [11:59] The need to find like-minded suppliers and partners

• [16:48] Why it’s important to consider opposing viewpoints
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)

• NAMWOLF
  

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Creating a positive culture is hard — especially in the legal space.

Old institutions and ways of doing things are difficult to unseat, and modern corporate legal departments need to lean heavily into building culture that works for both the company and its people equally.

Kailee Goold, VP of Litigation and Legal Operations at Cardinal Health, sits down with PERSUIT’s own Michelle Landy to discuss how to disrupt outdated patterns of thinking and behavior when it comes to culture and belonging inside of your organization.

When everyone has a seat at the table and is comfortable sitting in it, legal departments win.

Join us as we discuss:

• [3:30] Acting as an “actor in a playground of critics” 

• [6:15] Tailoring DEIB to your department’s culture

• [11:00] How disrupting existing patterns can impact legal department health
  

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

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As the Director of Legal Operations, Employment Law, and Litigation at Trend Micro, Brent Dyer is leading the transformation of legal operations within the multinational cybersecurity giant. 

His journey from aspiring opera singer to legal innovator is not just a fascinating career transition but a testament to the dynamism and versatility required in the legal ops landscape.

Brent joins us to unpack the world of legal ops, sharing insights on enhancing operational efficiencies, strategic litigation management, and spearheading initiatives that challenge the conventional law firm model.

Join us as we discuss:

• [6:57] The duality of legal ops and traditional legal work

• [15:44] Optimizing litigation management and billing issues

• [26:02] Why law firms need to care more about the client experience

• [35:15] Underappreciated value of non-lawyers in legal ops

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

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Most of our guests started their legal journeys in private law firms before pivoting to corporate in-house legal departments. In this insightful episode, the shoe is on the other foot.

Veronica Gromada spent nearly 20 years with Walmart’s in-house legal department, leading teams of attorneys, paralegals, and various professionals and managing the retailer’s extensive tort litigation portfolio.

Now, as a partner at the prestigious law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., Veronica is not only overseeing their products liability group. She is also the co-chair for multiple ESG initiatives.

Hear how Veronica is using her Fortune One experience to give her colleagues new perspectives on business relationships and how she’s championing diversity in AMLAW firms.

Join us as we discuss:

• [3:03] Pivoting from a massive in-house department to private practice

• [13:51] Why law firms need to adopt a business mindset

• [23:56] The challenges of being a black female partner

• [34:34] How AI will free legal professionals to better serve clients
  

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.

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