In-House Counsel Chronicles

Episode #28 Cary Zimmerman, CLO and Compliance Officer at GBX Group

What does it take to move from being a lawyer to becoming a true business leader? In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, I sit down with Cary Zimmerman, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at GBX Group, to discuss her 21-year legal career spanning law firms, startups, public companies, and executive leadership. Cary shares insights on transitioning from legal advisor to strategic executive, developing leadership skills, and growing into what she calls your "executive self." She also discusses building credibility with business leaders, leading through organizational change, and the evolving role of legal departments. The conversation explores the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession, the future of legal operations and analytics, and the skills today's attorneys need to remain relevant and effective leaders in a rapidly changing environment.

Episode #27 Natasha Bowman, General Counsel of NeilMed Pharmaceuticals

In this episode, I sit down with Natasha Bowman [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#], General Counsel of NeilMed Pharmaceuticals to talk through her transition from litigation to leading the legal function of a family-owned business. We discuss: building legal systems from scratch; navigating the realities of being the sole in-house counsel; how AI is actually being used in day to day legal work; practical advice for networking and career growth; and unique considerations when supporting a family-owned business Her perspective as a sole GC in a family-owned business is especially insightful.

Episode #26 Valissa Turner Howard, Chief People Officer & General Counsel at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank

In this episode, Valissa Turner Howard, Chief People Officer & General Counsel at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and I talk about:  • Building a nontraditional path from law school to executive leadership  • Lessons from the Inspector General’s office that still shape her decisions today  • What it really looks like to lead both legal and HR  • Using your legal career as a vehicle for community impact One of my favorite takeaways: “Think intentionally about impact—not just title”

Episode #25 Kristen Nelsen, General Counsel at Chase Properties

In this episode, Kristen Nelson, General Counsel at Chase Properties, joins me on In-House Counsel Chronicles to share her path from private practice to leading the legal function in a real estate organization. We talk about what it really means to be in-house:  • Being part of the business, not just advising it  • Building a team that fits your culture  • Navigating change and growth One of my favorite takeaways: “Be patient and always bet on yourself.” If you're in-house or thinking about the move, this one is worth a listen.

Episode #24 Jason Hollander Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Diebold Nixdorf

In this episode of In-House Counsel Chronicles, host Shawna Rosner speaks with Jason Hollander, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Diebold Nixdorf, about his journey from business litigation in private practice to leading an in-house legal function. Jason shares insights on the realities of in-house work, the importance of serving as a trusted business partner, and how understanding both the business and regulatory landscape allows legal teams to deliver practical solutions. He also discusses the leadership skills that shape successful in-house lawyers, and how curiosity, mentorship, and openness to opportunity have influenced his career. The conversation explores the evolving role of AI in legal departments, highlighting both its efficiency benefits and the need for thoughtful human oversight. Jason closes with advice for aspiring in-house attorneys: stay curious, develop expertise, and focus on adding real value to the business.