In legal leadership, credibility is key. In this episode, we’ll discuss the importance of earning and maintaining influence. Lisa Keith, General Counsel for Steve Madden, emphasizes aligning legal counsel with your business’ goals, and how legal professionals can effectively take part in business decisions. Tune in to gain practical advice on enhancing influence within your organization, balancing business and legal perspectives, and building crucial relationships with key stakeholders.

Steven Madden, Ltd. is globally recognized as a leading company in the fashion industry. What began as a modest $1100 investment in 1990 has developed into one of the most iconic brands in footwear.

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"I would say that you really need to pick your battles… I think you have to figure out the right advice to give within the confines of the business you work for and what is realistic, you know? And so I think if you come up with something that is palatable to the business. Then they will hopefully listen to you."

 "I often try to think of my job as kind of like the moral and ethical center of the company. And I think to be a general counsel, you have to have a very strong sense of values… I'm not saying you have to be like a goody two shoes, but you have to kind of have a good sense of what you think is right and wrong and you have to let that guide you and your decision making. So sometimes it's not even about the legal, it's just about your instincts of morality."

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01:13 - Question of the Day

02:49 - Jim’s journey

06:47 - Lisa’s journey

10:31 - How to influence business

15:16 - GC/CEO relationships

25:54 - Acting with integrity

36:28 - Keep or redline?

41:14 - Find Lisa Keith on LinkedIn

41:54 - Final takeaways

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Find Lisa Keith on LinkedIn

Find Jessica Nguyen on LinkedIn

Find Jim Shaughnessy on LinkedIn
More about Docusign

The best in-house legal teams aren’t just legal. They help their organizations solve complex issues, make the right decisions, and even grow their businesses. That’s right, legal isn’t just a cost center.

In-House is a podcast featuring top leaders in the legal industry. Tune in as Jessica Nguyen, award-winning Deputy General Counsel of AI Innovation and Trust at Docusign and former Chief Legal Officer of Lexion, interviews leading in-house counsel and legal experts. Our guests navigate the ever-shifting landscape of the latest issues, current events, and regulations - while balancing the needs of their organizations.

Whether you’re new or highly experienced, In-House is here to help you enhance your career.