GC Sidebar returns for Season 2.
In this video series from Paragon Legal, CEO Trista Engel sits down with general counsel from across industries for candid conversations about what it really takes to lead in today’s legal landscape.
These short, sharp interviews go beyond titles and headlines. Each episode explores the real decisions, challenges, and lessons shaping today’s in-house leaders.
From unexpected career pivots to navigating risk, managing legal teams, and driving business impact, GC Sidebar Season 2 highlights how general counsel are leading with clarity, creativity, and conviction in a rapidly changing environment.
Catch new episodes here as they drop.
As businesses face growing complexity and pressure to move faster, Alisha Cieslak, former Chief Legal and Risk Officer at Gordon Food Service, is focused on a different challenge: how can legal leaders build teams and systems that help the business scale strategically, not just manage risk? In this episode of GC Sidebar Season 2, Alisha shares her perspective on why modern GCs must operate as business leaders first, translating legal issues into business impact, growth, and operational strategy. She also discusses why letting go of perfection is essential in fast-moving environments, and how strong judgment and adaptability build trust with leadership teams.
It’s a thoughtful conversation on leadership, resourcing, and what it takes to build a modern legal function that can grow with the business. Watch the full episode now.
As businesses move faster and complexity increases, Lisa Gorman, former Chief Legal Officer at Eventbrite, is focused on a different question: how can legal teams become trusted partners early enough to help shape decisions, not just react to them In this episode of GC Sidebar Season 2, Lisa shares her perspective on embedding legal earlier into the business, building trust that brings legal into conversations sooner, and why some of the most effective legal work is often invisible. She also discusses how redesigning systems can prevent issues before they arise, why stepping outside your comfort zone can reshape your leadership perspective, and how flexible legal talent can help teams stay focused on the work that truly requires judgment.
It’s a thoughtful conversation on leadership, trust, and what modern legal partnership really looks like. Watch the full episode now.
As complexity accelerates and uncertainty becomes the norm, Rishi Varma, Chief Legal and Ethics & Compliance Officer at Cargill, is focused on a different challenge: how do you build a legal function that can think, adapt, and lead at scale? In this episode of GC Sidebar Season 2, Rishi shares his perspective on navigating ambiguity, combining AI-enabled systems with human judgment, and why great GC leadership isn’t about having all the answers. He also explores how slowing down helps teams move faster, and how structuring talent around capability, not tenure, unlocks stronger performance.
It’s a thoughtful conversation on leadership, technology, and building legal teams equipped for today’s complexity. Watch the full episode now.
As legal teams rethink how they approach risk, Luis Machado, General Counsel at TopBuild, is focused on a different question: how do you help the business make better decisions, not just safer ones? In this episode of Season 2 of GC Sidebar, Luis shares his perspective on why risk isn’t something to eliminate, but something to understand, frame, and navigate. He also talks about building legal teams that are embedded in the business, not operating on the sidelines.
It’s a grounded conversation on leadership, resourcing, and what it takes to be a true business partner in today’s environment. Watch the full episode now.
As AI reshapes how legal work gets done, Jenn Wall, General Counsel at Intrinsic (Alphabet), is focused on a critical question: how do you build real judgment in the next generation of lawyers?
In this episode of Season 2 of GC Sidebar, Jenn shares her perspective on training legal talent in an AI-driven world, building teams that are trusted business partners, and leading through rapid technological change. It’s a thoughtful conversation on leadership, development, and the future of in-house legal teams. Watch the full episode now.
From protecting groundbreaking investigations to preparing for increased risks facing journalists, Fabio Bertoni, General Counsel of The New Yorker, operates at the intersection of law, media, and mission.
In our first episode of Season 2 of GC Sidebar, Fabio shares what’s top of mind this year. It’s a candid conversation about judgment, responsibility, and leading a legal team under pressure. Watch the full episode now.
Employee Portal
Apply