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 roles expand beyond legal expertise into broader business leadership, the ability to adapt and grow becomes indispensable. Increasingly, GCs are being considered for CEO positions, making the ability to learn, pivot, and lead across unfamiliar territory a defining advantage.
Learning agility is the ability to absorb new experiences, apply that knowledge to different situations, and remain open to growth. It combines curiosity, adaptability, resilience, and the willingness to discard outdated practices. The Center for Creative Leadership identifies learning agility as one of the strongest predictors of leadership potential in dynamic environments. Unlike technical expertise or fixed intelligence, learning agility emphasizes versatility and proactive growth. Korn Ferry defines it as “knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do.” For GCs aspiring to broader leadership roles, this mindset bridges the gap between legal expertise and operational strategy.
The role of the GC has evolved significantly. Historically focused on compliance and risk mitigation, today’s GCs are deeply involved in areas like ESG oversight, diversity initiatives, and business transformation. These expanded responsibilities position GCs as natural candidates for CEO roles, where their analytical thinking, decision-making, and collaboration skills are invaluable. However, stepping into a CEO role or other senior leadership positions requires navigating uncharted waters. Learning agility empowers female GCs to adapt quickly, acquire new skills, and confidently lead in areas like finance, marketing, and operations—fields often outside their traditional expertise.
Today’s professional landscape is marked by rapid technological advancements, evolving business models, and globalization. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, 50% of employees will need reskilling, with millions of roles emerging and others becoming obsolete. Female GCs who harness learning agility can stand out as transformative leaders, guiding organizations through these changes with confidence and clarity.
Organizations seeking to elevate GCs into broader leadership roles prioritize key traits such as curiosity, adaptability, resilience, emotional intelligence, and strategic vision. These qualities enable GCs to explore new knowledge, pivot strategies, navigate setbacks, build trust across teams, and align legal expertise with long-term business objectives.
Learning agility can be cultivated through specific practices:
Expanding business expertise: Taking on cross-functional projects broadens perspectives and prepares GCs for CEO-level responsibilities.
Adopting a growth mindset: Embracing challenges as opportunities fuels ongoing development.
Building emotional resilience: Mindfulness and stress management techniques strengthen a leader’s ability to navigate uncertainty.
Committing to lifelong learning: Staying current on industry trends and seeking mentorship accelerates professional growth.
Forward-thinking companies play a pivotal role in fostering learning agility. They encourage experimentation by allowing calculated risks without fear of failure, provide development opportunities through workshops and certifications, and recognize employees who demonstrate adaptability and curiosity. Companies like Google and Amazon exemplify this commitment. Google’s “20% Time” initiative, though evolving, remains a symbol of its culture of exploration and innovation, while Amazon’s “Learn and Be Curious” principle emphasizes lifelong learning and adaptability as core leadership values.
The path from GC to CEO or broader leadership roles is increasingly common, but it requires stepping into the unknown. By cultivating learning agility, female GCs can navigate these transitions effectively, leveraging curiosity, adaptability, and resilience to thrive in unfamiliar environments. As the professional landscape evolves, learning agility is more than a survival skill—it’s a transformative superpower. Female GCs who invest in this ability will be uniquely equipped to tackle complex challenges, drive organizational success, and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Amanda Rigby
Senior Managing Director and Global Forensic & Investigations Leader, Teneo
Co-Chair, Ready Set GC Advisory Board
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