The PERSUIT Podcast

Mark talks about the historic misalignment of interests between in-house teams and their outside firms and why an ecosystem approach is the only way to fix it.

Mark also shares his take on how AI will help in doing so, as well as how AI and other technologies will empower GCs to be more effective strategic advisors to the business.

Join us as we discuss: 

- How stepping outside his comfort zone led him to his current role [14:17]

- Bridging the gap between today’s and tomorrow’s lawyers [23:11]

- How A.I. and automation will help GCs modernize their function [26:52]

- The impact of holding your position through drastic changes like Covid & A.I. [35:23]

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Mark Gregory">Mark Gregory

- Rolls-Royce">Rolls-Royce

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Modernizing a large legal department isn’t an easy task.

What’s your strategy?  

Buy tech? Build tech? Experiment until something sticks?

This week, we sat down with Sarah Flint">Sarah Flint, Director of Legal Operations and Technology at HubSpot">HubSpot to see how it’s being done at one of the world’s biggest CRM companies.

Join us as we discuss: 

- Hubspot’s recent wins and challenges in legal ops [8:08]

- If legal ops need to come from a legal background [11:47]

- What role generative AI has played [15:08]

- Forming your ESG Pillars around your company culture[20:27]

A critical part of building for the future of your organization, and tackling changes in AI and ESG is to have the conversation about being aligned with your vendors.

Asking them how they are moving forward and how they can pivot with you and your organization will have the edge as these new developments in AI and ESG continue to evolve.

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

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Rozan Simoni">Rozan Simoni spent his early childhood in Albania under a despotic Soviet regime. Soon after the Berlin Wall fell, U.S. Secretary of State Jim Baker came to visit Rozan’s country. The young Albanian boy never forgot two simple words that Baker uttered that day:

Today, as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary - North America at COFCO International">COFCO International, Rozan is paying it forward by giving his colleagues the autonomy they need to reach their potential.

In this captivating episode, Rozan shares how his journey to the U.S. shaped his outlook on mentorship and why he’s excited about the future of AI innovation in legal.  

Join us as we discuss:

- Mentorship and giving young lawyers autonomy (5:53)

- Leaving a positive impact on internal relationships (17:27)

- How AI will allow firms to respond to client needs much faster (26:41)

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How does an organization’s in-house legal team help farmers worldwide feed billions of people? According to Cornel Fuerer">Cornel Fuerer, Senior VP, General Counsel, and Secretary at Corteva Agriscience">Corteva Agriscience, they start by tackling change one bite at a time.

Cornel built up a wealth of private and in-house legal experience during his globetrotting journey toward his current role at Corteva. And he did it by looking at every new challenge as a learning opportunity.

In this episode, Cornel shares his incredible career path and how his team is embracing innovation to buy back time to work on the things that matter.

Join us as we discuss:

- Exploring opportunities with an invaluable life partner (6:50)

- Bringing legacy in-house teams together post-merger (12:38)

- AI and the value of legal operations during rapid change (19:20)

- How innovation is affecting relationships with external firms (29:26)

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

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Staying in the know is critical in a legal ops role, and Alex is among the best in the business.

Join us as we discuss:

- Establishing a brand new global team in a natural disaster’s aftermath (3:58)

- Convincing outside firms that low prices don’t always equal good value (10:12)

- Why flexibility and data can be legal operations’ greatest strengths (14:24)

- How to justify AFAs to the C-Suite and euthanizing the billable hour (23:27)

- Alex’s alternate timeline if she hadn’t gone the legal route (27:30)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Alex Guajardo">Alex Guajardo

- Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP">Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

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

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When Damon Hart">Damon Hart left big law to join the in-house team at Liberty Mutual Insurance">Liberty Mutual Insurance, he didn’t have a specific career goal in mind. But one thing he knew for certain was he wanted to lead change from the front.

Today, as Liberty’s Chief Legal Officer, he’s enterprising legal leadership in the C-Suite by working towards the best interests of not just his team, but all 50,000 Liberty employees.

Damon gives us an exclusive peek into how he gained the trust of his peers through active listening as well as how he thinks AI will disrupt the legal industry.

Join us as we discuss:

- How in-house legal departments are comparable to a team sport (8:11)

- Gaining the trust of C-Suite peers by being present in the moment (14:36)

- AI’s impact on the legal industry and the human connection (22:39)

- Why legal firms can no longer ignore tools that drive efficiency (35:19)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Damon Hart">Damon Hart

- Liberty Mutual Insurance">Liberty Mutual Insurance

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

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For Dana Pierre-Louis">Dana Pierre-Louis the Deputy General Counsel at Norfolk Southern Corporation">Norfolk Southern Corporation simply put, it’s “excellence”.

We sit down and talk about everything from what inspired her journey (she started at 7 years old) to how she plans on passing her learnings and experience on to her children.

In this episode, we delve into a life of corporate law and how family is a much bigger piece than you may think.

Join us as we discuss: 

- Where it all started for Dana and how it was much earlier than most [2:36]

- How pivotal moments, though uncomfortable lead to success [8:54]

- How finding the correct place to grow may be one of the most fundamental things in your career [20:28]

- The importance find perspective before you find success [32:37]

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

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Rene Du Preez">Rene Du Preez always felt she had to jump right in and give her all with everything she did.

Rene started her career as the only female associate at her first South African law firm in the early 90s. Since then, the GC at Standard Bank Group">Standard Bank Group has become an advocate and mentor for other African women breaking into the field.

Rene shares how her experiences in investment and retail banking helped shape her as a leader and a champion for change in the African legal space.  

Join us as we discuss:

-Testing boundaries when new challenges arise (10:02)

- Breaking down the silo mentality across in-house departments (16:58)

- Justifying legal work through outcome-driven results (31:47)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Rene Du Preez">Rene Du Preez

- Standard Bank Group">Standard Bank Group

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

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According to a March 2023 report from Russell Reynolds">Russell Reynolds, Fortune 500 companies made significant headway in hiring female GCs to lead their legal teams in 2022. But as LaTanya Langley">LaTanya Langley, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Edgewell Personal Care">Edgewell Personal Care, suggested, female legal professionals must continue to use their gifts to take up space.

For much of her career, LaTanya had to overcome conventional biases. But instead of wilting, she embraced her differences as strengths and took her spot in the room.

Join us as we discuss:

- What attracted LaTanya to in-house legal work (4:36)

- Collaborating with outside counsel to help young black lawyers (11:14)

- Underrepresented groups in legal teams and the C-Suite (17:59)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- National Bar Association Commercial Law Section">National Bar Association Commercial Law Section (NBACLS)

- More Diversity, More Experience: Meet the Fortune 500 General Counsels">More Diversity, More Experience: Meet the Fortune 500 General Counsels

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

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Fifteen years later, as the Chief Legal Officer at Enel North America">Enel North America, Megan is moving the needle in DEI initiatives for her industry.

Megan gives us an exclusive peek into the day-to-day of legal professionals in the power sector and addresses the double-edged perception of AI tools.

Join us as we discuss:

- Chasing curiosity and leaving private practice for in-house (4:06)

- Why risk management is her team’s top priority (10:06)

- Finding new ways to appreciate your people’s value (18:49)

- Why women need to fill more seats at the head table (24:30)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Megan Beauregard">Megan Beauregard

- Enel North America">Enel North America

Hear more stories by following Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts"> Apple Podcasts, Spotify">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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