The EXJ Interview
Over the past 12 months, we have interviewed 35 extraordinary lawyers. All JDs who transitioned to find success in business, not for profits, government and academia. Their backgrounds are all unique. Some moved as law firm associates, others from a law firm partnership, still others were in-house attorneys and a few pivoted right after law school. While each one’s journey is personal, they all share one common trait. They had an unshaken belief in the value of the JD skill set which they then leveraged to become successful in their chosen careers outside of law.
Nikia Gray
Executive Director
National Association of Law Placement (NALP)
Making a Difference as Leader of NALP
April Rinne
Chief Change Navigator, Futurist, Advisor
Her latest book: Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change
Futurist predicts ‘bright’ for ex judicata
Part II and Part I
Kellye Testy
President & CEO
Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
(Incoming Executive Director & CEO)
Association of American Law Schools (AALS)
From summer associate to the most influential person in legal education
Jeremy Hamburgh
Autism Friendship and Dating Coach and Founder
My Best Social Life
Former prosecutor and bank litigator to autism and neurodiversity friendship and dating coach.
David Perla
Co-Chief Operating Officer
Burford Capital
Critical thinking guides a legal entrepreneur to success
Patricia Erikson Roberts
Dean and Charles E. Cantu Distinguished
Professor of Law
St. Mary’s University School of Law
Transforming lives through legal education at St. Mary’s
Alexander Su
Chief Revenue Officer
Latitude Legal
If at first, you don’t succeed… Now legal tech executive and LinkedIn Star
Nicole Clark
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Trellis Research, Inc.
From law firm litigator to legal tech titan
Andrew Gold
Former Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Copy that: from law to HR head at Pitney Bowes
Tanuja Dehne
Former, President & Chief Executive Officer
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
Leveraging the JD skill set: From law firm associate to transformative foundation CEO
Mari-Claudia Jimenez
EVP, Chairman, Managing Director & Worldwide Co-Head of Business Development, Fine Arts
Sotheby’s
From law firm partner to fine arts leadership at Sotheby’s
Katie Creedon
Chief Strategic Projects Officer
Wolf Greenfield
Legal experiences gives C-Suite legal executive valuable insights
Scott Westfahl
Professor of Practice and Faculty Director of Executive Education
Harvard Law School
From associate to McKinsey to Harvard Law School
Leila Rachlin
Firmwide Legal Education & Development Manager Kirkland & Ellis
Court TV to Kirkland & Ellis = Law to Business
Michael Andrews
Co-Founder and CEO
Michael Andrews Bespoke
Well-suited for a new entrepreneurial career
Brett Deutsch
Co-Owner and Principal Photographer
Deutsch Photography and Gotham Family Photos
Seeing the big picture
Carol Anguilla
Classroom Teacher, Grades 6.7.8
St. Michael’s Country Day School
From dealmaking to the classroom
Dan Tomson
Strategic Advisor Public Finance
Morgan Stanley
JD skillset fuels success in public finance
David Greenberg
Member, Board, Audit Committee, Chair of Corporate Governance & Risk Assessment Committees
International Seaways Inc.
Board service: gratifying and challenging
Elaine Chen
Head of Marketing, North America
Kantar
The right narrative proves crucial in a move to marketing
Geoffrey Stein
Slade School of Fine Art, London, MFA Painting
New York Studio School, New York, NY, Certificate in Painting
Former litigator finds inspiration as a collage artist
Dana McLendon
Creator & Presenter, Universal Crazy Hot Matrix
Dana McLendon, Owner, McLendon Law Office
Criminal law, domestic law, comedy: it’s all in the matrix
Maria Dunn
Manager of ESG and Sustainability
Phillips 66
ESG leader learns through doing at Phillips 66
Mark Meyer
Co-founder
Wigle Whiskey Distillery
Former partner “Wigles” his way to success with whiskey
Velma Lee
Designer and Creator of Custom Clothing
(Gowns, show costumes)
Passion drives a career in fashion
Robert Dugoni
Attorney & New York Times
Wall Street Journal and Washington Post Bestselling Author
42 rejections to breakout novelist
Keita Young
Senior Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
FanDuel
Attorney and mom manages multiple transitions
Sullivan Summer
Gap year
Formerly, Director, People Experience & Technology at Amazon
Labor law expertise leads to business career at Amazon
Waleed Diab
Director & Global Head of Recorded Music Business Development
Youtube
In tune with the business of music at YouTube
Lisa Kurbiel
Head of Secretariat, Joint SDG Fund
United Nations
A life of adventure and inspiration at the UN
Jack Flug
Managing Director
Marsh McLennan
A wealth of opportunities for nonpracting JDs in the insurance industry