From Counsel to CLO: How Legal Leaders Master the Soft Skills That Drive Executive Success
Thursday, August 21st • 12:00 PM – 1:45 PM ET
Legal leaders today face unprecedented pressure—growing teams, nonstop business demands, and shifting executive expectations. But the secret to thriving isn’t just about managing external chaos; it’s about mastering the internal game. In a high-velocity environment, legal leaders must find a way to stay grounded, focused, and influential without burning out.
Join us on Thursday, August 21 at 12pm ET / 9am PT for an honest conversation with two exceptional legal leaders who’ve been through startup chaos, hypergrowth, IPOs, and strategic exits—and emerged with teams that thrived under pressure. Hanna Steinbach, General Counsel at Harness and former EVP & Chief Legal Officer at Medallia, led through rapid growth, IPO, and take-private transitions—building legal functions known for resilience and culture. Kathy Zhu, former AGC and Head of Commercial Legal at DoorDash, helped scale the company from 2,000 to nearly 15,000 employees and is now co-founder of Streamline AI, tackling legal ops challenges she faced firsthand.
In this session, Hanna and Kathy will share personal insights and actionable strategies for leading legal teams with resilience, clarity, and calm—even in the face of extreme growth.
Key Takeaways:
Lead Authentically: Bring your whole self to the table and stay grounded, even in high-stakes moments.
Manage Up Effectively: Influence C-suite partners while safeguarding your team’s bandwidth and priorities.
Build Resilient Operations: Create legal workflows that sustain high performance without relying on heroics.
Master the Art of “No”: Say no strategically—to both business demands and the internal pressure of perfectionism.
Embrace What Matters: Move past the myth of doing it all to focus on what drives true growth and value.
Regulate Stress: Cultivate a calm presence and manage pressure without compromising your impact.
Who Should Attend:
This session is designed for in-house legal leaders, general counsel, and senior legal professionals navigating high-growth environments or seeking sustainable strategies for leadership and performance. If you’re balancing increasing demand with limited resources, this session will offer a roadmap to lead with clarity and resilience.
