A Global General Counsel’s Thoughts on Organizations and Excellence | Pierre Gentin, McKinsey & Company

In episode 13 of Strategy Sphere Season One, Calvert and Farone spoke with Pierre Gentin, Global General Counsel at McKinsey & Company, one of the world’s most revered consulting firms.

Gentin leads a global team of lawyers across the 65 countries in which the firm operates. In this episode, Gentin threaded together his ideas about running a best-in-class legal department during a time of disruption, and shared how he’s been influenced by philosophy and music. He also discussed growing up in South Africa, and explained how small, precious moments in life may provide us with lessons that affect us in the largest way.

Gentin covered the three elements he believes are vital to operating a well-run legal department: organizing the right structure, empowering talent to grow, and having great clarity around the legal function and its objectives. He also pointed out, “I think there’s a baseline of professional excellence required without which you can’t get anywhere — those are the must-dos.”

Gentin also shared words of wisdom on professional fulfillment, leadership, and success:

• If you try to over-program your life or your career, you won’t have novel experiences or pick up new things that could take you in wonderful directions.
• Much of good leadership involves helping individuals achieve their greatest potential and allowing them to bring their special talents and whole self to work.
• Your experiences will become lessons that give context to life.

Following his time as a partner at the law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel, a managing director at Credit Suisse in senior legal and risk positions, and an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Gentin’s experiences have given him a unique prism of the client-provider ecosystem. Download the episode to hear Gentin’s insights — and to hear him play guitar!