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Michelle Banks On California Roots, UCLA, The Golden State Warriors, Tokyo, Global General Counsel At Gap Inc., And A Hyper-Focus On Mentoring
Are you feeling stuck on the rigid corporate path? Do you need permission to define success outside of titles, prestige, and compensation? In this powerful episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with legal trailblazer Michelle Banks, former Global General Counsel of Gap, Inc., and executive leadership coach. Michelle shares her "unboxed" strategy for taking smart risks, building a career defined by cultural competency, and transitioning from the 24/7 demands of a Fortune 200 executive to leading a fulfilling coaching business. If you are questioning what success truly means for you and need a guide for better work-life integration and self-advocacy, tune in now.
Michelle Banks, a Strategic Advisor at BarkerGilmore, provides executive leadership coaching to women corporate general counsel. She was Global General Counsel of Gap Inc. for ten years, following roles as legal counsel for the Golden State Warriors and American counsel for Itochu Corporation in Tokyo. Banks co-founded UCLA Law Women LEAD, a network of over 4,500 women law students and alumnae, and Ms. JD's award-winning LaddHer Up retreat, which pairs women general counsel with women law firm associates for mentorship. Widely recognized for her professional achievements and dedication to enhancing others' careers, including receiving the ABA’s Margaret Brent Woman Lawyer of Achievement Award, she also co-authored the best-selling anthology Women in Law Discovering the True Meaning of Success, which aims to inspire readers to define their own pathways to success.
Key Takeaways:
- Michelle explains why feeling comfortable and having a sense of belonging in the work environment (like she found at Gap) allowed her to accelerate her success far beyond other roles where she was counter-cultural.
- Learn why volunteering to create and lead the new compliance program (a non-legal function) was the most important risk she took, propelling her from corporate lawyer to executive leadership.
- Hear how she embraced an expatriate assignment in Tokyo—without knowing the language or anyone there—and how that experience built the cultural competency that made her invaluable to a global company like Gap.
- Inspired by a fellow lawyer, Michelle chose John Lennon's "Imagine" as her anthem for the current chapter, believing that the true definition of success is personal peace—not awards, title, or compensation.
- The former GC addresses the myth of work-life balance, confirming she worked 24/7 for years, and offers authentic advice on integrating family life and giving yourself grace (and taking a longer vacation than usual!).
Michelle’s journey reminds us that your definition of success can—and should—change over time. If you are running someone else's race, it's time to chart your own course toward personal peace.
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE BANKS:
Book
Playlist
CONNECT WITH SHANNON:
LinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJV
Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)
View all episodes
By Shannon NashAre you feeling stuck on the rigid corporate path? Do you need permission to define success outside of titles, prestige, and compensation? In this powerful episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with legal trailblazer Michelle Banks, former Global General Counsel of Gap, Inc., and executive leadership coach. Michelle shares her "unboxed" strategy for taking smart risks, building a career defined by cultural competency, and transitioning from the 24/7 demands of a Fortune 200 executive to leading a fulfilling coaching business. If you are questioning what success truly means for you and need a guide for better work-life integration and self-advocacy, tune in now.
Michelle Banks, a Strategic Advisor at BarkerGilmore, provides executive leadership coaching to women corporate general counsel. She was Global General Counsel of Gap Inc. for ten years, following roles as legal counsel for the Golden State Warriors and American counsel for Itochu Corporation in Tokyo. Banks co-founded UCLA Law Women LEAD, a network of over 4,500 women law students and alumnae, and Ms. JD's award-winning LaddHer Up retreat, which pairs women general counsel with women law firm associates for mentorship. Widely recognized for her professional achievements and dedication to enhancing others' careers, including receiving the ABA’s Margaret Brent Woman Lawyer of Achievement Award, she also co-authored the best-selling anthology Women in Law Discovering the True Meaning of Success, which aims to inspire readers to define their own pathways to success.
Key Takeaways:
- Michelle explains why feeling comfortable and having a sense of belonging in the work environment (like she found at Gap) allowed her to accelerate her success far beyond other roles where she was counter-cultural.
- Learn why volunteering to create and lead the new compliance program (a non-legal function) was the most important risk she took, propelling her from corporate lawyer to executive leadership.
- Hear how she embraced an expatriate assignment in Tokyo—without knowing the language or anyone there—and how that experience built the cultural competency that made her invaluable to a global company like Gap.
- Inspired by a fellow lawyer, Michelle chose John Lennon's "Imagine" as her anthem for the current chapter, believing that the true definition of success is personal peace—not awards, title, or compensation.
- The former GC addresses the myth of work-life balance, confirming she worked 24/7 for years, and offers authentic advice on integrating family life and giving yourself grace (and taking a longer vacation than usual!).
Michelle’s journey reminds us that your definition of success can—and should—change over time. If you are running someone else's race, it's time to chart your own course toward personal peace.
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE BANKS:
Book
Playlist
CONNECT WITH SHANNON:
LinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJV
Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)