Becoming the GC
General Counsel and Chief Legal Officers hold some of the highest-ranking and most vital executive roles within any company or organization. These positions are both prestigious and deeply impactful, making them a pinnacle aspiration for many corporate lawyers. However, the journey to earning these titles is complex, demanding not only technical legal expertise but also exceptional leadership and strategic vision. Welcome to Becoming the GC, hosted by Joseph Schohl, a growth-focused General Counsel dedicated to uncovering the diverse and inspiring paths taken by those who have reached these esteemed positions. Each episode provides practical advice, compelling real-life stories, and actionable roadmaps to guide aspiring GCs and CLOs in achieving their professional goals. Hear from successful General Counsels and Chief Legal Officers as they recount their journeys to the top, sharing lessons learned, challenges overcome, and insights into how they mastered the blend of legal acumen and leadership skills required to excel in the role. Becoming the GC bridges the gap between technical expertise and the softer skills essential for success, offering listeners a unique perspective on what it takes to thrive in this coveted position. Whether you’re already leading a legal department and wondering how to claim the GC title, or you’re frustrated by external hires bypassing your hard work, this podcast serves as your trusted guide. It demystifies the steps needed to distinguish yourself as a standout candidate and equips you with the tools to navigate the complexities of the corporate legal landscape. Be inspired by the real-life experiences of General Counsels and lawyers who candidly share the pivotal moments, triumphs, and challenges of their careers. These stories reveal that success as a GC isn’t just about legal prowess—it’s also about perseverance, adaptability, and the willingness to embrace bigger goals and responsibilities. Discover how to prepare yourself for the multifaceted role of a General Counsel. Learn to become a constant learner capable of adapting to new legal domains and solving complex challenges that span diverse areas of expertise. Through thought-provoking conversations, Becoming the GC helps you evolve into a lawyer who can handle anything with confidence and skill. Alongside his exceptional roster of guests, Joseph Schohl shares his own journey to the General Counsel role, offering valuable insights from his experience working with Fortune 500 healthcare companies, private equity-backed organizations, top-tier law firms, and entrepreneurial ventures. As the founder and chairman of General Counsel West, Joseph provides world-class legal assistance to businesses transforming healthcare. Having become a GC of a Fortune 500 company at just 36 years old, Joseph brings a wealth of experience and actionable advice for those ready to take their careers to the next level. The role of General Counsel is reserved for the best of the best—a true test of one’s skills, resilience, and vision. If you aspire to lead as a GC or CLO, Becoming the GC offers the guidance, motivation, and inspiration you need to make that dream a reality. With Joseph’s expertise and the wisdom of his accomplished guests, you’ll gain the tools to set yourself apart and excel in this transformative career path. Ready to take the first step? Tune in to Becoming the GC at https://insidecounselacademy.com/podcast/ and start shaping yourself into the exceptional leader your organization needs.
Episodes
Transitioning from a traditional legal role to a trusted business leader requires mastering high-stakes decision-making and executive acumen. Surviving the hot seat in the C-suite means moving beyond standard legal answers to provide proactive, high-impact guidance. In this episode, the host sits down with Chaka Patterson
Meet Lisa Harrington, the ultimate portfolio career architect in the legal world. From top litigator to multiple General Counsel (GC) roles, a public company board member, and now the CEO seat, Lisa has mastered the art of continuous professional evolution. In this powerful conversation, she rev...
The role of the modern GC has evolved from being a technical gatekeeper to a strategic business partner who must balance the "speed of light" provided by technology with the "speed of right" required for sound judgment. Noah Popp, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Enerpac To...
Technology will only evolve as time passes by, and you cannot afford to be left behind. You have to grow alongside it and use it wisely to your career advantage. Joseph Schohl sits down with Ritesh Patel, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Viant Technology, a publicly traded advertising technology company. He shares the role of tech innovation in his
Jamie Anderson, CLO of Virta Health, is not your typical General Counsel. She's a high-impact leader who has navigated a non-linear career path—from politics-obsessed DC student to Big Law at Aiken Gump, scaling teams at the healthcare giant DaVita, and finally leaping to the GC seat at th...
What does a “retirement” career look like for a Big Law antitrust partner? In this exclusive interview, we speak with Mike Sennett—former antitrust partner at Jones Day—about his unconventional transition to General Counsel of the Water Quality Association
Navigating a dynamic general counsel career demands an almost James Bond-like dedication, a hands-on leadership with the ability to embrace the unknown. Host Joe Schohl reconnects with seasoned GC Ben Huddleston, whose path spans from advising fast-growing, pre-IPO companies to building and leading group legal teams at a $6B+ enterprise like DaVita. ...
The path to becoming a top executive in in-house legal leadership is rarely conventional, but always a masterclass in career agility. David Shapiro, the General Counsel who shaped legal strategy and culture at major companies like DaVita, Vail Resorts, and Ibotta, sits down to share his remarkable journey....
To excel in your professional spaces, you must not only learn how to do your work with persistence and determination. Being yourself at all times without trying hard is also key. Joseph Schohl sits down with Margaret Howell, a general counsel in the fertility space, to talk about the power of sh...
Michael Geroe’s legal journey saw him work from the West Coast to the East Coast, as well as a good chunk in the middle of the country. This taught him a ton of powerful career lessons, which greatly helped in building his own startup. He joins Joseph Schohl to look back on his story so far, filled with learnings about resilience, reinvention, and fulfillment. ...
Sterling Miller has spent decades turning real-world experience into wisdom that every lawyer can use. From his early lessons in Nebraska to leading major legal teams and mastering AI for lawyers, Sterling’s journey shows how curiosity and courage shape lasting success. In this conversation with Joseph Schohl, he reflects on the pivotal moments that defined his...
When you land in the GC chair, you cannot sit back and relax. If you want to perform well in your role and inspire others to do the same, you must learn to embrace lifelong learning. Joseph Schohl sits down with Carlos Lindo, a newly minted general counsel at Lucet Read more
Authentic leadership starts with knowing who you are and leading from that truth. C.E. Rhodes, General Counsel of Frost Bank, shares how purpose, empathy, and consistency have guided his journey from early influences to exe...
A general counsel’s work, even though not without its fair share of challenges, is truly a worthwhile one. Joseph Schohl is joined by Chuck Kable, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary at Innovative Renal Care, who shares...
Working as a lawyer in an in-house context is not a topic you would encounter in law school. Bart Peach, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Unio Health Partners, joins Joseph Schohl to share a glimpse of his le...
The GC role today demands more than legal expertise—it requires vision, adaptability, and business acumen. In this insightful discussion, David Katz, a seasoned legal professional, shares his unconventional journey from a long-standing law firm partner to a thriving General Counsel. Discover the pivotal moments that shaped his career, the chall...
Blending legal expertise with strategic leadership is paramount in the complex realm of healthcare administration. In this episode, we're privileged to feature Terri Cammarano, Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel at Cedars-Sinai, a distinguished figure in California's healthcare landscape. Terri shares her extraordinary journey...
Biotech leadership requires a unique blend of scientific acumen, legal expertise, and business savvy, a combination that our guest Jean Liu embodies perfectly. In this episode, we dive deep with Jean, a biotech executive and seasoned board member with a robust scientific background and over 20 years of experience as a chief legal officer, including h...
Understanding the complexities of corporate law is crucial for businesses aiming for global expansion, and our guest, Hemang Shah, offers a unique perspective on both. In this episode, we dive deep with Hemang, a partner at Jones Day, who brings a wealth of experience from his time as one of the youngest g...
Christy Crase shares her remarkable journey to becoming in-house counsel, transitioning from intense law firm work to leading legal teams at Professional Case Management and PCM Trials. In this episode, Christy opens up about what it takes to succeed as in-house counsel — from balancing le...
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