Pearls On, Gloves Off #67 - The Multinational CLO
Apr 29, 2025
42:03
When Mary O’Carroll arrived at Goodwin, she didn’t expect to find a "General Counsel in Residence" — and certainly not one with the powerhouse career of Genevieve Kelly.
In this episode, Mary sits down with Genevieve, whose career includes GC and CLO roles at household names like Panera Bread, Petco, and Dole Food Company. Together, they dive deep into what it really takes to lead legal functions inside massive global organizations — and what Genevieve has learned transitioning between companies, cultures, and leadership roles.
In this episode:
- Homegrown GC: How Genevieve rose from assistant GC to GC at Dole — and why understanding the business was her secret weapon.
- Leading Without a Safety Net: The challenges of taking over legal departments where she didn’t have built-in relationships — and how trust became her most critical asset.
- The Pandemic Lessons: Remote leadership at Panera during COVID and why face-to-face relationships still matter more than ever.
- Outside Counsel Secrets: What law firms often miss when partnering with in-house teams — and why understanding "what great looks like" is crucial.
- Public vs. Private Life: How the general counsel’s role shifts dramatically between public and private companies, especially around governance.
- What Makes the Right Fit: Genevieve shares what she looks for in her next role, and how "fit" and "entrepreneurial spirit" are more important than flashy titles.
- AI, Innovation, and the New GC: A frank look at how AI is reshaping the future of legal work, and why in-house teams and law firms need to rethink their value propositions — fast.
If you're charting your path to GC, leading through change, or just curious about how legal leadership is evolving, this conversation is packed with real talk and hard-won insights.