Inclusion without accountability is aspirational. Accountability without inclusion is transactional. Leadership today demands both. Over the past several years — particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic — many leaders experienced a profound shift in what accountability really means. Accountability expanded beyond performance metrics and quarterly results. Suddenly, leaders were responsible for people’s health, livelihoods, and well-being. […]
Today, few topics in the business world feel as charged—or as misunderstood—as diversity, equity, and inclusion. In some circles, DEI has become synonymous with policies, programs, and the unavoidable political debate. Framing DEI that way is too limiting. It pulls us away from the truth that, at its core, inclusion is about people and must […]
At the 2025 ACC Annual Meeting, Andrew Ross Sorkin was asked a deceptively simple question: Are there qualities of leadership that stand out as leaders navigate crisis? His answer cut through the noise. “Look,” he said, “in the end, there’s only one thing that matters, which is trust. We’re all in the trust business. That is the business. And […]
In every leader’s journey, there are people who shape us—mentors who guide us, coaches who challenge us, and, if we’re fortunate, sponsors who open doors we couldn’t unlock on our own. Over the years, I’ve been both the mentee and the mentor in those relationships. I’ve learned that mentorship helps you grow, but sponsorship can change your […]
Last month, we experienced a seismic shift: The in-house legal profession’s premier global gathering, the ACC Annual Meeting, returned to pre-pandemic throttle at a time when global trade imbalances have taken a toll on business travel. More than 1,900 in-house counsel filled conference halls of Philadelphia, my hometown, and where I began my own in-house […]
In today’s global business environment, legal expertise is no longer a support function operating at the margins of decision-making. It is a core component of strategy, governance, and innovation. Nowhere is this shift clearer than in the remarkable rise of in-house counsel. ACC’s recent analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data reveals that since 2008, […]
Introducing transformative technology to an organization’s established processes requires careful consideration. The organization’s leadership needs to ask not only what types of new technology should be incorporated but also how the technology will be positioned and precisely integrated. What specific challenges do we anticipate solving with this technology? Based on those answers, a strategy needs […]
Like many executives, I’m both excited and cautious about the opportunities artificial intelligence (AI) presents. We have all heard it said that those organizations that “get it right” will have a tremendous advantage over those who don’t. But there isn’t a whole lot of clarity around what “getting it right” actually means. While there’s always […]
There is good news, and certainly some bad news, when it comes to the gender pay gap. The good news is that a recent report by Russell Reynolds Associates found that 67 percent of the 43 lawyers named general counsel (GC) of Fortune 500 (F500) companies last year were women — marking the first time women outpaced […]
I recently sat down with Rose Ors, CEO of ClientSmart, to talk about my career and the insights gained in writing my book, Take Six. Rose Ors: What led you to write the book, Veta? Veta T. Richardson: At various points, people I have mentored have suggested that I write a book about the principles that have guided […]
