Professional Development Insights

Last week, Ready Set GC launched the Ascend program, its first-ever program for aspiring general counsel, bringing together nearly 50 legal leaders in Chicago for a full day of immersive content, mentorship, and self-reflection. Unlike traditional legal career paths, the GC role is not just the next step up—it is a fundamentally different job with distinct responsibilities, expectations, and leadership demands. To set the stage, we introduced The Ascend Framework—a unique se

Since our inception, Ready Set GC has featured thought-provoking blogs written by our esteemed Advisory Board members. These pieces have offered invaluable insights and advice tailored for women GCs navigating their unique journeys. In 2025, we’re taking a bold step forward. In our mission to empower our community, we are expanding our conversations to include voices from across the in-house legal community. Our new series, Beyond the Board, will spotlight guest contributors

Reflecting on 2024, I achieved two significant milestones: earning certification and licensure in a medical field unrelated to my career and stepping into a new role as a global practice leader in professional services. These experiences reinforced a powerful lesson: learning agility isn’t just a survival skill—it’s a superpower for thriving in today’s dynamic professional environment. For female general counsels (GCs), learning agility is particularly critical. As their rol

More of What Matters, Less of What Doesn't As we step into the new year, I’ve been struck by the sheer variety of LinkedIn posts about setting intentions, goals, and resolutions for the year ahead. Some people choose words to guide their year; others dive into detailed goal-setting frameworks or reflect deeply on the year past. And then there are those who take a more intuitive approach—or skip the process entirely—not feeling the need to formally mark the transition from one

Have you ever walked into a difficult conversation only to find yourself losing focus, caught off guard by an unexpected turn, or leaving without making your key points? These moments can be some of the most challenging in our professional and personal lives. As lawyers, we know the power of words, but when conversations are difficult and we aren’t prepared, even the best intentions can fall short. Yet, with the right preparation, these moments can become opportunities for co

Reflection on 2024 Ready Set GC: key takeaways for women GCs, leadership insights, resources for growth, and preview of the Atlanta event

One of the biggest challenges for a General Counsel is staying on top of what your team is working on—without overwhelming them with constant check-ins or complex reporting. In any given week, your team members juggle multiple responsibilities, often managing matters that arise unexpectedly and don’t always make their way to the GC’s desk. While the GC need not know everything their team is doing at any given time, it is important to have a high-level understanding of priorit

RSGC Ascend our first program dedicated to those aspiring to the GC role.

The Challenge of Demonstrating Value One of the biggest challenges facing a new general counsel, particularly one who is the first-in GC, is helping the business understand and leverage the true and inherent value of the legal function. A new GC knows that she needs to focus on quickly assessing the risks of the business and prioritizing legal goals and objectives. What often gets overlooked as a priority, however, is ensuring that her leadership team and business clients u

As lawyers navigate their journey to becoming General Counsel, there is often little opportunity to learn how to start a legal department from the ground up. For many, legal operations experiences are learned at varying levels within legal departments (whether corporate, government or law firm) that are well established with long-standing practices and ways of working that have simply evolved over time. These departments may differ widely from manual processes to use of the l

This blog is about the value of executive coaching to empower and enhance a General Counsel's Success

As we plan for our inaugural Ready Set DGC to GC program, I’ve been reflecting on my journey to securing that first GC role. Many aspiring GCs find it to be a catch-22: to get the role, you need experience in it. First-time GC roles are rare, as CEOs and leadership teams often prefer candidates with previous GC experience. So, how can you break into this role without prior experience? For those aiming for the GC chair, two fundamental questions should precede thoughts about l

Over time, I have learned how to harness the power of meetings and how to be a more effective participant. That, in turn, has made me a bet

Ready Set GC is excited to announce the formation of a planning committee for its inaugural DGC to GC program

We have all been on the receiving end of someone’s “advice,” both professionally and personally, whether solicited or not! Some of it has been very good, and some of it – well, not so much. Today’s blog focuses on the not-so-good. We asked our Advisory Board what the worst advice was they ever received – and you may be surprised by their answers. From well-meaning mentors to unsolicited opinions from that one colleague who always seems to have something to say, advice can som

Introducing "Ready Set DGC to GC," our exclusive one-day program, in partnership with Skadden Arps, to help women DGCs transition to a GC.

Welcome back to Behind the Scenes at Ready Set GC. After an overwhelming response to our last share on empowering resources, today we're exploring more key topics as recommended by our esteemed Advisory Board. 1. Team Building and Talent Development: It takes a village, and no matter the size of the team that you manage or a team that you are a part of (Executive Leadership Team), understanding how teams function and how decisions are made are probably two of the most imp

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of attending a #GalentinesDay women's event centered around the theme of inner beauty and wellness. Among the inspiring conversations and connections, there was a book drawing where attendees submitted their name and a beauty or wellness tip to enter the drawing. I contributed the wisdom my favorite yoga teacher imparts each Sunday: "Self-care is not a luxury. It is a necessity." Though I didn’t win any books, this statement lingered, prom

This blog post focuses on the parallels between the insecurities facing those that made We are the World and accomplished General Counsel