Notes To My (Legal) Self?

AI. ESG. And other acronyms that weren’t supposed to define a legal career. But here we are. AI governance is no longer optional—it’s the next frontier for in-house counsel. And the shift from ESG to AI governance? It’s happening in real-time. That’s why Christine Uri will be joining Notes to My (Legal) Self LinkedIn Live on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 10:10 AM PST. A legal executive and former Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer at ENGIE Impact, Christine has built a career on making companies more profitable, sustainable, and human-centric. Now, through CURI Insights, she helps corporate leaders up-level ESG performance and navigate the uncharted waters of AI risk management. The conversation will cover: ? Why ESG and AI governance are more connected than they seem ? The biggest AI risks facing corporate legal teams today ? How GCs and CLOs can balance compliance, innovation, and AI ethics ? What in-house legal teams must do right now to stay ahead of AI regulation A must-attend event for legal professionals who want to stay ahead of AI-driven change. Bring questions, join the conversation, and gain practical insights on navigating AI governance before the robots start writing the rules. Before the session, let’s discuss: 1?? What’s the biggest AI governance challenge facing in-house legal teams today? 2?? How should legal teams prioritize AI risks when everything is evolving so fast? 3?? What’s one AI-related policy or regulation that will be a game-changer? Drop thoughts in the comments—and don’t forget to RSVP to the LinkedIn Live! -------- ?? I’m Olga V. Mack ?? Expert in AI & transformative tech for product counseling ?? Upskilling human capital for digital transformation ?? Leading change management in legal innovation & operations ?? Keynote speaker on the intersection of business, law, & tech ?? Let’s connect ?? Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter

I was lucky enough to be invited by Olga V. Mack to discuss Generative AI in legal education and for in-house lawyers today. A fun and philosophical discussion, as always! If you are interested in the Technology Self-Assessment or the other resources I mentioned to get started using Gen AI (and understanding its limitations...) comment here and I will send them over to you. Thanks Olga!

When trust disappears, so does engagement—whether in dating or in business. Ever been ghosted? One day, everything’s great—then, suddenly, nothing. No explanation, no closure—just silence. Now imagine that happening constantly on a dating app. What happens? People stop trusting the platform. They disengage. They leave. That’s exactly what I told a dating company when they asked why terms of service enforcement mattered. I put it like this: “Imagine someone repeatedly ghosts people on your app—promises a great date, then vanishes. Users would stop trusting the platform, right? Well, ignoring policy enforcement is the same. If bad actors break the rules and nothing happens, trust erodes, engagement drops, and your brand suffers.” Suddenly, terms of service weren’t just legal fine print—they were essential to the business. Because legal isn’t just about rules; it’s about relationships. It’s not a blocker—it’s a trust builder. That’s the power of analogies. They make legal click. They transform abstract policies into real-world concepts that people get. And when legal teams communicate in a way that resonates, their advice moves from theory to action. I explore this idea in my latest newsletter—how analogies simplify complexity, align teams, and make legal a strategic advantage. Give it a read, and let’s discuss: Have you ever seen a lack of legal enforcement erode trust? What’s an analogy that helped you explain a complex legal concept? How do you make legal guidance resonate across teams? Looking forward to your insights. -------- ?? I’m Olga V. Mack ?? Expert in AI & transformative tech for product counseling ?? Upskilling human capital for digital transformation ?? Leading change management in legal innovation & operations ?? Keynote speaker on the intersection of business, law, & tech ?? Let’s connect ?? Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter

In her article "Becoming a T-Shaped Lawyer: Why In-House Lawyers Should Embrace This Framework", Olga V. Mack emphasizes the need for legal professionals to combine deep legal expertise with broad business acumen. Today's lawyers are crucial business partners who provide strategic input well beyond legal advice. Businesses need in-house counsel as revenue partners to help accelerate the sales cycle and close deals faster. Legal can help streamline negotiations, build trust with stakeholders, and position themselves as true business partners in an era of rapid change. Making sure contracts are fair and balanced to both customers and vendors is a major first step. At TermScout, our business was built on the notion that legal needs a seat at the revenue table and that our products like our Contract Certification arm legal pros with the ROI they need to prove that fair and balanced contracts mean less redlines and negotiations! https://hubs.la/Q038-KhZ0 .#aiforlaw #contractcertification #legaltech

Are you ever really done learning? For some, learning ends with a diploma. For others, it’s a lifelong adventure. I used to see learning as a job—a way to achieve, succeed, and exceed others’ expectations. Growing up, getting the highest grade in the class was the bare minimum. Not a 100? Do better next time. ?? While that mindset helped me build an exciting career and work ethic ... it also built some bad habits: ?? Never celebrating small wins ?? Comparing my success to everyone else’s ?? Chasing the next goal just because it was expected It became an exhausting cycle of always doing more, yet never truly feeling “enough”. Then, I discovered personal development. A new way to learn—not for “more” or perfection, but simply for my own growth. Shifting my mindset from treating learning just as a means to achieve opened up brand new possibilities in all areas of my life. Today, whether it’s improving my skills as a mom, wife or leader, or simply becoming a better version of myself (which improves how I show up in life), I lean into learning on my own terms. This weekend, while my daughter was at dance for a few hours, I grabbed my books, found a cozy café, and dug in. No pressure. No expectations. Just curiosity. Because real growth isn’t about knowing it all—it’s about staying open to what’s next. ?? One simple way to start? Pick something that intrigues YOU, not something you feel you “should” learn. Follow that curiosity. What’s something you’ve learned recently—or want to explore next? Drop it in the comments! ?? And if this resonated, give it a like or share it with someone who needs to hear it. ?? #LifelongLearning #GrowthMindset

A few years ago, I found myself in a high-stakes meeting where the topic of innovation came up. A senior executive turned to the legal team and said, “We need to think outside the box.” You could almost hear the collective sigh. Because let’s be honest—legal departments aren’t exactly known for their love of ambiguity. Risk mitigation? Yes. Innovation? That’s for the product folks. But here’s the thing: most people aren’t natural innovators. In fact, studies show that only 2.5% of the population naturally leans into innovation. The rest? We’re wired for stability, process, and predictability. So, what if we’ve been asking the wrong question? Instead of demanding innovation, what if we focused on transformation—a process that isn’t just for a select few but for everyone? Because while innovation is rare, learning and adaptation are universal. That’s exactly what I dive into in my latest LinkedIn Newsletter—and trust me, you’ll want to read this one. Key Takeaways: The shift from SaaS → Augmented SaaS → Agentic AI and what it means for legal teams. Why “just right” risk-taking is the key to unlocking growth, not slowing it down. How deepfakes and AI-generated content are changing the legal risk landscape. Why compliance isn’t a roadblock—it’s a competitive advantage. Questions for you: How do you approach change in your role? How do you help your team to transform? Do you see legal as a function that adapts? -------- ?? I’m Olga V. Mack ?? Expert in AI & transformative tech for product counseling ?? Upskilling human capital for digital transformation ?? Leading change management in legal innovation & operations ?? Keynote speaker on the intersection of business, law, & tech ?? Let’s connect ?? Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter

Looking forward to speaking to Olga V. Mack in a few weeks about how in house legal teams work to integrate legal advice into business practices seamlessly. Join us live heree on LI on Feb 28 10 am PT.

Let’s be real—business moves FAST. And the last thing anyone wants? Legal slowing things down. But here’s the challenge: how do in-house lawyers keep up with that pace without letting risk run wild? That’s exactly what we’re tackling Friday, February 28 at 10:10 AM PST with Shanti Ariker, Chief Legal Officer at JFrog (NASDAQ: FROG). If you’re an in-house lawyer, GC, or just someone who loves seeing how law and business intersect, you don’t want to miss this one. Shanti has spent 25+ years advising some of the biggest tech companies out there—Salesforce, Zendesk, Autodesk, Twilio—and she knows what it takes to be more than just "the lawyer in the room." ?? What we’re diving into: ?? How the CLO role has evolved—especially in tech ?? What it really takes to be seen as a trusted business advisor ?? How to balance risk with business growth (without being the bottleneck) ?? Real talk: How do you prove your value beyond just legal work? This is a LIVE conversation—meaning YOU get to ask questions in real time. Got something on your mind? Drop it below, and we’ll try to cover it! A few things to think about before we go live: 1?? What’s the biggest challenge you face when working with business teams? 2?? How do you personally measure success as an in-house lawyer? 3?? What’s one thing legal could be doing better to support business strategy? ?? RSVP now, add it to your calendar, and I’ll see you there! Let’s make this one an incredible conversation. -------- ?? I’m Olga V. Mack ?? Expert in AI & transformative tech for product counseling ?? Upskilling human capital for digital transformation ?? Leading change management in legal innovation & operations ?? Keynote speaker on the intersection of business, law, & tech ?? Let’s connect ?? Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter

?? Stop chasing every butterfly—start designing the swarm. I almost walked right past it. A swarm of 35,000 black paper butterflies covered the walls, fluttering in an invisible current. It looked random at first, but then—I saw it. Patterns. Flow. Purpose. And then I learned something that stopped me in my tracks. The artist? Never placed a single butterfly himself. He set the vision. His team executed. And when it was done, he gave one simple thumbs-up from afar. That was the art. And suddenly, I thought: How often am I gluing butterflies to the wall when I should be designing the swarm? Because real leadership isn’t about doing—it’s about setting things in motion. It’s about knowing: ?? When to step back so the masterpiece can emerge ?? When to stop fixing and start guiding ?? When a simple “yes” is more powerful than a thousand revisions We, as legal professionals, especially, get caught in the trap of thinking leadership = more meetings, more control, more doing. But the best leaders? They orchestrate instead of over-engineer. They let their teams fly in formation—without needing to touch every single wing. I break this down in my latest newsletter: ?? How AI governance is like setting a butterfly swarm in motion ?? Why the legal field’s obsession with perfection is holding leadership back ?? What pro bono work has in common with releasing butterflies into the wild So, here’s my challenge for you: What’s one thing you’re still gluing down that you should be letting fly? Where are you over-managing when you should be setting direction? How would your leadership change if you trusted the process just a little more? -------- ?? I’m Olga V. Mack ?? Expert in AI & transformative tech for product counseling ?? Upskilling human capital for digital transformation ?? Leading change management in legal innovation & operations ?? Keynote speaker on the intersection of business, law, & tech ?? Let’s connect ?? Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter

?? Feeling Like You're on a Hamster Wheel? Let’s Talk About Adding More Meaning to Your Life! Another deadline. Another meeting. Another email chain that just won’t end. Sound familiar? For in-house attorneys, the to-do list is endless. And if you’re also juggling life as a parent, partner, or caregiver, it can feel like you’re in a constant cycle of doing—without necessarily feeling fulfilled. But what if I told you that you could break that cycle? What if there was a way to reconnect with purpose, do meaningful work beyond your day job, and make a tangible difference—all while growing as a professional? ?? Enter pro bono and community service. ?? Join us on Thursday, November 6 at 10:10 AM PST for the next episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self on LinkedIn LIVE, where I’ll be chatting with Adriana Dulic, Chief Compliance Officer at Epoch Payment Solutions and a dedicated advocate for pro bono legal work. ?? What You’ll Learn: ? How getting involved in pro bono and community service can transform your legal career ? Practical ways in-house lawyers can participate—without burning out ? Unexpected (but incredible) benefits beyond “just doing good” Spoiler alert: Pro bono work isn’t just about helping others—it can elevate your skills, expand your network, and open doors you never expected. Let’s Get the Conversation Started! 1?? What’s one cause you’ve always wanted to support but haven’t yet? 2?? Have you ever done pro bono work? How did it impact you? 3?? What’s stopping more in-house attorneys from getting involved—and how can we change that? Don’t miss this chance to hear from Adriana and learn how you can make real impact, professionally and personally. See you there! ?? Mark your calendar & RSVP now! -------- ?? I’m Olga V. Mack ?? Expert in AI & transformative tech for product counseling ?? Upskilling human capital for digital transformation ?? Leading change management in legal innovation & operations ?? Keynote speaker on the intersection of business, law, & tech ?? Let’s connect ?? Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter