Mike Sosso, EVP for Legal at BP, joins Scott Brown to discuss his transition from specialist competition lawyer to strategic global leader of a 400-strong legal team.

In this episode, Scott welcomes Mike Sosso, Executive Vice President for Legal (Group GC) at BP, overseeing a global legal team of over 400 professionals. Mike shares candid insights into his journey from an antitrust specialist to one of the most senior legal roles at BP, highlighting how curiosity, allyship, and commercial thinking shaped his leadership style.

Mike’s three powerful lessons focus on embracing curiosity over certainty, becoming genuinely commercial in approach, and proactively owning your career path. He openly discusses how stepping outside his comfort zone and seeking opportunities beyond his specialist background transformed his career trajectory, moving from deep subject expertise to strategic leadership roles across multiple business areas within BP.

Highlights from the conversation include Mike's reflections on the realities of leading a global team, the practical steps he recommends for lawyers aiming to become more commercially minded, and how a pivotal mentorship conversation changed his perspective on career growth. Mike also addresses the importance of allyship and diversity, sharing his personal experience as one of the few openly gay General Counsels at a global corporation, and how active allyship across different communities has influenced his leadership approach.

Mike closes the conversation with insightful recommendations:

Mike’s Recommendations:

• Book: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown – an inspiring story offering powerful lessons on teamwork, leadership, and overcoming perceived limitations.
• Podcasts:
  • Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! (NPR) – A humorous and informative take on current events.
  • Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris – Practical mindfulness strategies for professionals seeking greater clarity and balance.

About Heriot Brown:

At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.

In the final episode of Season 6, Scott Brown is joined by Katja Roth Pellanda, Group General Counsel at Zurich Insurance. Katja shares her journey from a corporate law associate to managing a global legal function of 500+ lawyers.

Her story is a masterclass in career growth, highlighting how being visible, strategic, and vocal can elevate your career.

Key Lessons from Katja:

1. Visibility Matters:
   Early in her career, Katja focused solely on delivering exceptional legal work, believing it would be enough for recognition. However, she realised that visibility and storytelling were equally important for career advancement.
2. Learn to Market Yourself:
   Katja speaks about shifting her mindset to actively communicate her value—not just in the quality of her legal advice, but in demonstrating leadership, innovation, and strategic thinking.
3. Transforming Leadership:
   Katja’s focus on visibility, paired with her curiosity and willingness to tackle challenges, has propelled her into a leadership role, managing a global legal function that spans continents and cultures.

Standout Moments:

• How Katja balances being a strategic leader while fostering a collaborative team culture.
• The innovative initiatives her legal team is implementing, from secondments with UBS to internal leadership programmes.
• Her advice for legal professionals: Be more than a “working bee”—showcase your strategic value.

Katja’s Recommendations:

• Book: Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire by Rebecca Henderson – Insights into integrating sustainability with profitability.
• Podcast: Rethinking by Adam Grant – Thought-provoking conversations on leadership and innovation.

About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.

In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, we welcome Aki Hussein, a seasoned legal professional turned founder / entrepreneur. As Chief Legal Officer and Co-Founder of TerraPay, Aki shares his unique journey from Big Law to the bustling streets of Nairobi and eventually to founding an international payments company.

His career exemplifies the intersection of law and entrepreneurship, showcasing how legal expertise can drive impactful innovation.

We delve into how lawyers can harness their training to succeed beyond traditional roles, with actionable insights for legal professionals considering a shift in their career paths.

Key Lessons from Aki:

Focus on the Fruit Flies:

Aki shares how small, seemingly insignificant experiments in life can teach profound lessons.

Bet on Yourself:

Aki encourages legal professionals to trust their instincts and take calculated risks. Drawing from his decision to co-found TerraPay, he highlights how betting on oneself opens doors to creativity and professional growth.

Love vs. Fear:

Aki reflects on how decisions are often rooted in either love or fear. He challenges lawyers to overcome fear-driven mindsets and embrace opportunities for growth and connection.

This is real practical advice for lawyers considering non-traditional career paths, including the importance of incremental steps and self-reflection.

Book and Podcast Recommendations from Aki:

Book: High Output Management by Andy Grove – A tactical guide to systems thinking and team optimisation.

Podcast: The Professor G Podcast by Scott Galloway – An engaging resource for understanding complex topics like AI and market trends, with a dose of humour and practical insights.

About Heriot Brown:
Lessons I Learned in Law is brought to you by Heriot Brown, the in-house legal recruitment specialists dedicated to helping lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Our mission extends beyond job placements, fostering a vibrant community that connects legal professionals with valuable insights and opportunities.

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