Product Counsel(ling) in the Age of AI with Sam Lewis

We sit down with Sam Lewis, Senior Product & Privacy Counsel at Canva, who kicks things off by asking us the most important question of 2025: "If you had to be a piece of cutlery, what would you be?" Spoiler alert: Sam's a spoon (warm, empathetic, part of the emotional support crew), while Tom and Alex predictably went fork (practical go-getters with zero patience for fluff).

Beyond the viral TikTok personality tests, Sam delivers cutting-edge insights into product counsel work at a company that's been building AI since 2017 - well before it was trendy. With Canva's community using AI tools over 18 billion times, Sam has become a thought leader on navigating the complex intersection of law, privacy, and AI-native product development.

What makes this conversation essential listening:

Sam reveals how legal teams at AI-first companies don't just manage risk - they can drive growth. 

Three Key Takeaways:

1. Trust is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage: In an era where AI capabilities are rapidly commoditizing, trust becomes the differentiator. Sam reveals how Canva aims to be one of the world's most trusted platforms, this isn't just about compliance - it's about building products people love and companies trust.

2. Privacy Instincts Are Non-Negotiable in AI-First Companies: Sam makes it clear: "I don't think it's possible to advise on AI without understanding privacy." AI is built on data, and privacy laws determine what's fair, legal, and ethical - making strong privacy instincts essential for knowing when to green light and when to pause in AI-native environments.

3. Product Counsel Is Risk-Aware, Not Risk-Averse: Sam champions a philosophy that's become essential for AI-first companies: taking a risk-aware rather than risk-averse approach. To Sam this means asking the right questions, reducing unnecessary friction, and helping teams figure out how to move forward safely - often saying "how can we" instead of "we can't."

The conversation touches on Canva's pioneering "AI everywhere" culture (where AI impact is now part of performance reviews), Sam's love for loud parenting, and her admiration for @sophworkbaby on Instagram (a fellow Aussie and ex-Googler) delivering plain unfiltered career insights.

If you found this episode interesting, please do like, subscribe, comment, and share! It helps the show rank and reach more people.. Best, Alex & Tom