The PERSUIT Podcast

Maui Gevero, Senior Manager of Legal Advisory at PERSUIT, has always had a passion for numbers, so the financial industry seemed like the perfect fit for his talents. But after spending a few years with Goldman Sachs, he knew that the banking life wasn’t for him. He loved digging into data and analytics, but the traditional institution had a traditional way of thinking. He wanted to use the information at his fingertips to tell stories more akin to a Western than an infomercial, so he joined the legal profession and never looked back. Maui talks with us about jumping feet-first into the legal industry, his fascination for RFPs, and the true market price conundrum. Join us as we discuss: - Streamlining a rough RFP process (7:07)  - The chicken and egg problem in fixed pricing models (11:04) - Fighting for transparency in true market price (16:05) - Why the billable hour isn’t the final solution (25:47) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Maui Gevero 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

After reading The Wise Men in the 1980s, Cameron Findlay knew that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of America’s political trailblazers. He achieved his dream, wearing multiple hats in the judicial and executive branches of the U.S. government before pivoting to the private sector. Today, Cam is serving as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at his third Fortune 500 company, Archer Daniels Midland. Cam shares the incredible insight he’s gained during his colorful journey as an in-house GC, including how much the role has changed during his 25-plus years in the legal industry. Join us as we discuss: - Pros and cons of pivoting between different industries (5:57) - The evolution of the general counsel role in the 21st century (13:19) - Running your in-house legal department like a business (17:14) - Optimizing spending and building relationships with law firms (24:10) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Cameron Findlay - Archer Daniels Midland - The Wise Men 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We’ve enjoyed so many sharp conversations with legal experts and industry game-changers on the journey to our hundredth episode of Innovative Legal Leadership. So who better to celebrate this milestone with than Michelle Landy, General Counsel and Chief Operations Officer of PERSUIT. With over 25 years of experience in private law firms and in-house practice, Michelle’s set foot on quite a few branches of the career tree. She calls it such because she argues no one shares the same ladder — everyone’s journey is different. Michelle shares her exclusive veteran insight and explains why we should expand our discomfort zones and simply open up to the adventure that awaits. Join us as we discuss: - Natural curiosity and expanding your discomfort zone (6:53) - Finding the balance between career fulfillment and security (12:37) - Volunteerism and helping with international development (21:27) - Defying perfectionism and relying on gut instinct (26:13) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Kilimanjaro Education Foundation 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

You could say Nicole Kelsey, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary at Amyris, is addicted to learning. Since Nicole was young, her Algerian mother branded a love for languages and different cultures on her daughter’s heart. Now, she’s bringing her fiery passion for continuing education to the legal profession.     Nicole shares her provocative story of grit and growth in pursuing a GC role and empowering her team through innovative leadership.    Join us as we discuss: - Early inspiration for a life of endless learning (6:36) - Overcoming adversity in career advancement  (16:03) - Finding creativity in a gritty mindset (22:01) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Nicole Kelsey - Amyris 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

As a competitive chess player in his college days, Alan Tse gained an appreciation for having to make timely tactical decisions. Like competitors in the game of kings, lawyers must often make important judgment calls without all the facts at their disposal, even if that means tough lessons may follow. Now the Global Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Jones Lang Lasalle, Alan leaned on his extensive experience to help his global team navigate a pandemic. And they did so while maintaining an award-winning ethical culture by committing to sustainable values. Join us as we discuss: - Lessons learned from early business startups (6:06) - Recruiting general counsels from outside your industry (13:46) - Operational focuses and gatekeeping reputation (25:41) - Why remaining calm in crisis management is a skill (30:31) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Alan Tse - Jones Lang Lasalle 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It’s not uncommon for up-and-coming professionals to follow their parents into law. That was certainly the case for Mike Haven, Associate GC and Head of Legal Ops at Intel. After watching his father give a deposition before the United States Supreme Court, young Mike knew he wanted to walk in his father’s footsteps.   Mike’s journey led him to the crossroad of business and law — legal operations. Today, he’s working with his team to bring legal issues of the mind together with matters of the heart. Join us as we discuss: - Trailblazing legal initiatives for outside firms (8:55) - Identifying priorities in a new legal ops environment (19:44) - Mythbusting legal ops misconceptions (33:12) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Mike Haven - Intel - The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Nonprofit in-house legal teams are the Davids in a world full of Goliath corporate legal departments and private law firms. But their passion for leaving the world a better place than they found it continually drives out-of-the-box thinking and innovation. That’s exactly what Phyllis Harris, General Counsel and Chief Compliance, Ethics, and Government Relations Officer at the American Red Cross, and her team are doing in the post-Covid era. Phyllis shares how focusing on strategic partnerships with donors and pushing for in-house innovation have propelled the organization to achieve greater outcomes. Join us as we discuss: - Winning hearts and minds in the pursuit of in-house innovation (9:55) - Advice for young attorneys seeking full-time nonprofit work (22:38) - Doing more with less in a volunteer-driven environment (28:21) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Phyllis Harris - American Red Cross - Association of Corporate Counsel Award Winners (2021) - Financial Times — North America Innovative Lawyers Award Winners (2022) 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The globalization of many in-house legal teams has become one of the greatest individual challenges for up-and-coming legal professionals. Yet, Michael Hoffman, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Counsel at NXP Semiconductors, realized early in his international career that law is a universal language. Michael shares his insights on recognizing cultural differences and how in-house leaders can be good business partners in a cross-functional environment.   Join us as we discuss: - Appreciating hindsight when leaving your comfort zone (6:03) - Cultural challenges in an overseas legal department (12:00) - Leveraging data and technology on a cross-functional team (24:12) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Co-Elevation with Keith Ferrazzi 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Like so many other young legal professionals, Demetrio Zema was beaten down by the competitive pressures and disregard for client outcomes in fixed fee arrangements. So in 2015, the Melbourne native left traditional legal teams behind and founded Law Squared, a firm built around an alternative business model that rewards outcomes over billed hours. As the Director of this forward-thinking global firm, Demetrio gives an exclusive look into the highs and lows of pioneering change in legal fee arrangements and conventional egoistic cultures.   Join us as we discuss: - Building a corporate model focused on collaboration and digital innovation (7:19) - Why legal teams are rewarding the wrong cultural behaviors (16:53)  - The firm’s recruitment pitch and unlearning process (25:11) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Demetrio Zema - Law Squared 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Ann Kappler found a passion for in-house people management while on her journey to becoming the EVP and General Counsel at Prudential Financial. She takes pride in helping develop successful teams because, in her words, it’s seeing individuals come together and contribute that satisfies her the most in her work. Ann gives us an exclusive look at how she pivoted her policy-making experience from Washington, D.C., into driving economic and DEI initiatives at a global insurance agency.   Join us as we discuss: - Key differences in law firms and in-house legal teams (7:47) - Investing in financial education for underserved communities (13:22) - A legacy of mentoring successful in-house teams (22:39) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Ann Kappler - Prudential Financial 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.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.