Have you ever looked at a general counsel and assumed they simply became the best lawyer in the room? That is a common assumption, especially for ambitious in-house lawyers who are trying to map out their next move. But the lawyers who grow into exceptional general counsel usually make a deeper shift long before they get the title. They stop thinking like specialists alone and start showing up as business strategists first. In fact, embracing both business strategist and general counsel roles is essential to lead at the top tier.
That idea came through clearly in a recent conversation with Minh Merchant, now general counsel at Kyverna Therapeutics and a three-time GC. Her insight was practical, direct, and incredibly useful for any in-house lawyer thinking about long-term growth. If you want to lead at the highest level, you cannot stay in a narrow legal lane and expect the business to see you as an enterprise leader.
Watch the full conversation with Minh Merchant here:
Why General Counsel Are Business Leaders First
One of the smartest examples Minh shared was taking ownership of the earnings script early in her GC journey. On paper, that task may not sound traditionally legal. In practice, it forces a lawyer to understand almost everything that matters to the business. You have to know the company’s financial story, commercial strategy, investor concerns, development pipeline, and market pressures. You also have to think like the audience receiving the message, not just the person drafting it. This shows that being a general counsel who contributes business strategist thinking is what separates true leaders.
That is exactly why the exercise matters so much. It becomes a forcing function for broader leadership. In-house counsel who want greater influence should look for similar opportunities. Sit in on sales meetings. Ask to join cross-functional projects. Spend time with HR, regulatory, finance, or operations teams. Learn what drives decisions when legal is not the center of the conversation. The more context you build, the more valuable your legal advice becomes as both a strategist and a general counsel.
How To Prepare For A GC Role
Minh also made a point that deserves more attention. Becoming a general counsel rarely happens by accident. Yes, timing and opportunity matter, but growth at that level takes real intention. She recommends creating a five-year business plan for yourself and revisiting it every quarter. This is how a business strategist general counsel should approach career development.
That means getting honest about the role you want and the experience you still need. If your future goal requires public company knowledge, investor exposure, deeper regulatory fluency, or leadership beyond legal, then start closing those gaps before the interview ever happens. Find mentors who have done it. Take on projects that stretch you. Learn the language of the business you want to lead inside.
This kind of planning is not glamorous, but it is powerful. It keeps your ambition grounded in action instead of wishful thinking. Ultimately, intentional planning is part of what sets a business strategist general counsel apart from others.
Why Fearless Action Moves Legal Careers Forward
What makes Minh’s advice especially strong is that it is not abstract. She is clear that careers move when lawyers overindex on action. If you say you want to become a GC but are not building the skills, relationships, and business credibility to support that goal, then you are hoping, not preparing. To truly advance, you must take business strategist steps even as general counsel.
That lesson applies even if your next step is not GC yet. Maybe your next move is broader operational leadership. Maybe it is becoming the most trusted advisor in the room. The same principle holds. Be intentional. Be accountable. Be willing to learn in public.
The real takeaway is simple. Mission matters. Business fluency matters. Courage matters. If you want a bigger legal career, do not wait for permission to start acting like the leader you hope to become. Build the plan, ask for the stretch assignment, and let action prove you are ready before your title does. By consistently thinking as a business strategist and general counsel, legal professionals can redefine their career trajectories.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 12, Episode 2 (ft.Minh Merchant)
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