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VETA T. RICHARDSON

AUTHOR | GLOBAL BOARD DIRECTOR | BUSINESS STRATEGIST | EDUCATOR

Keep In Touch with Veta

Veta T. Richardson is a global CEO, board director, speaker, educator, and mentor whose career has been shaped by a deep commitment to leadership, opportunity, and professional growth. During her tenure as president and CEO of the Association of Corporate Counsel, she led the world’s largest professional organization for corporate executives in the legal, compliance, and regulatory sectors. Her expertise has been sought by business leaders, global organizations, and three US presidential administrations.

In Take Six, Richardson draws on the experiences that shaped her career and leadership philosophy over decades of leading organizations, advising executives, and mentoring professionals at every stage of their careers. Through leadership workshops, mentoring conversations, and years of helping others navigate opportunity and change, she developed the six habits explored throughout the book—practices designed to help
people approach risk, visibility, relationships, and leadership with greater intention and self-awareness.

Known for her candid and encouraging approach, Richardson writes openly about ambition, resilience, self-doubt, reinvention, and the challenge of building success without losing sight of personal well-being and fulfillment. Her work emphasizes preparation, strategic risk-taking, self-advocacy, and authentic leadership while helping readers build careers that reflect both their ambitions and their values.

Today, Richardson serves on the boards of AI-integrated technology companies, teaches at Georgetown Law, and advises executives at every level on the strategic moves that matter most. Having spent her career opening doors—and ensuring they stay open for others—she is proud to offer Take Six and its companion online platform to support the next generation of leaders. Her insights on leadership and career strategy have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Financial Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. She lives outside Washington, DC.

20 Questions with
Veta T. Richardson

I would tell my younger self not to be so impatient and in such a hurry to achieve that next milestone. It’s OK to relax and coast every now and then. Don’t be a slave to your “to do” list and take your foot off the gas every now and then. It will be OK.
I hope that we never lose the ability to connect with one another one-on-one and in-person, to take time to give someone a hug of encouragement. The pandemic forced us to be so socially distant and it wasn’t normal.
Chef. Hands down. Can’t cook even to follow the recipe.
Finally lose 20 pounds and keep it off! But I say that a lot. . .
I want to be able to knit really well. It’s such a practical, portable hobby and takes real skill and patience to make something someone might actually wear.
Returning things I buy online too impulsively. I should just quit but the ads are so enticing and I feel convinced whatever it is will be a game changer. Of course, it isn’t!
World history. How did we get to where we are and our path to today’s societies?
Make a big oversized mug of Sumatra blend coffee with a splash of vanilla almond milk creamer and a little Stevia, then open my gratitude journal and write a few passages to reflect on the things that I appreciate in my life. .
I am really fortunate to have been able to travel the world and see so many amazing places. All in all, I’ve visited 50 different countries so far and love to travel. I’ve found going on safari in Africa to be some of the most exciting, humbling, interesting experiences; it is never boring and you never know what you’ll encounter in the bush. But walking the Great Wall of China in the dead of winter with no other people around except my sister and our guide was unforgettable because it stretches for miles. And I have absolutely loved my travels throughout India where the people, food, culture - Bollywood movies, especially - were amazing!
I’m not sure. My mind keeps racing to the trends I hope I don’t ever see again. Like certain hairstyles - jheri curls and mullets. Pet rocks which were such a ridiculous thing to purchase. No more pantyhose
It wasn’t the place, it was the people and my late mother was the center of it. I love her dearly and miss her all the time. I wonder what she would think about seeing me become a published author. I really wish I could hug her as it’s the type of accomplishment you just want to share with your Mom.
I am really good at untying and unravelling big, tangled messes of wires or string or chord. And I am probably weird because I enjoy doing it. Requires lots of patience and focus.
I feel like I’m too curious about the places yet to go that I’m not able to have one favorite place but anytime I travel somewhere with a beautiful white sand beach, ocean waves, sunshine and a good book it feels pretty idyllic.
Career advice like finding a new job, getting to that next rung, how to get into law school. I give lots of career advice and am frequently told I’m good at it, which is how I came to write this book to unpack the habits that I recommend be adopted as you pursue your goals.
I am not sure I can come up with just one thing -- how about fall in love, watch a sunrise, write a book, travel someplace unexpected, splurge on something you really cannot afford?
How to navigate life after my mother passed away and she was no longer here to provide a warm hug and encouragement.
That too much dairy can give me sneezing fits. Well I suppose that’s really not very interesting though. Maybe that I enjoy karaoke singing but have a terrible voice.
I am lucky to have travelled throughout the world. I would really love to see Patagonia and Antarctica while the glaciers are still there.
The ability to say no when whatever it is really isn’t right for you, and be able to stick to your guns and not second guess yourself.
I built a cute little home in the Cape Cod area – on the island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. I have really enjoyed spending time there because it's a place where I invite friends to come up and relax and where we catch up, plan and support one another to continue to make a positive impact on the world. Just relaxing, walking to the beach, having a good meal - nothing fancy. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a few drinks, talk about big ideas and how we’ll still make things happen well into retirement. I also adopted a cute little toy poodle named Sir and he loves the Vineyard as much as I do, especially taking the ferry to get there.