Practical Tips for Today’s GC

Becoming General Counsel isn’t about being the best specialist in the room. It’s about developing the judgment, leadership, and breadth of experience organizations look for in an enterprise leader. The challenge is that most of the experiences that build GC readiness don’t sit neatly inside a job description. That’s where job crafting comes in — intentionally shaping your current role to gain the exposure, visibility, and strategic perspective required to step into the GC sea

Executive presence is often described as gravitas and confidence—but its true foundation is emotional intelligence. From self-awareness and self-regulation to empathy, motivation, and social skills, EQ shapes how leaders build trust, communicate under pressure, and inspire others. This post explores how strengthening emotional intelligence creates the stability and authenticity that define lasting executive presence.

For folks in GC or senior in-house counsel roles, the idea of needing a mentor can feel awkward.  We somehow get in our heads that, by the time you reach a senior role, you should be decisive, confident, and self-directed, all on your own. And yet this is often when mentoring is most valuable: as your role and responsibilities increase, the stakes generally are higher – you generally feel more alone and there is less room for mistakes.    Mentorship at this level is less abo

Stepping into your first General Counsel role requires more than a strong resume or legal expertise. In a competitive GC job market, legal excellence is table stakes—what truly differentiates candidates is a credible “why you.” This article explores how aspiring and first-time GCs can articulate leadership readiness, align with business needs, and build trust with CEOs and boards by defining why they are ready to lead now, why the role fits, and why they can be trusted when i