Our Lead(H)er series features impressive women leaders in the tech industry. In this Q&A, we are featuring Carrie Moser, SVP & General Counsel at Lakeside Software.
Where did you grow up and how would you describe yourself as a child?
I spent the first 12yrs of my childhood in Southeastern Ohio and then moved with my family to the North Shore of Massachusetts for junior high and high school. I’ve been in New England for 30+ years now and I think I am just now considered a local.
I’m the oldest of three girls so I think I was always a bit of the “bossy older sister” as a kid. I was rarely afraid to share my opinion and my parents definitely encouraged me to think for myself while also sticking up for others.
What did you study in college and what was your first job out of school?
I majored in political science and minored in Art History at Rutgers University. I knew I wanted to go to law school and I was a bit single minded in my pursuit. After undergrad but before law school, I worked at an employee benefits company. I had already been accepted into law school and I suspect I wasn’t the most dedicated employee they had ever hired. In hindsight, another 2-3 years of work experience before law school probably would have matured me a bit more.
Can you share the details on your career path and what were the critical moments that got you to where you are today?
I went to law school with no intention of ever becoming a corporate lawyer. I was interested in pursuing a public interest career and contemplated whether I even wanted to practice in the traditional sense. But after a few years bouncing around in the public sector without ever totally finding my niche, I pivoted to an inhouse legal role and haven’t looked back since. Inhouse legal work has proven to be a great fit for me and it’s wholly opposite of anything my younger self envisioned.
What is your current role and responsibilities?
I’m currently Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Lakeside Software. I’m responsible for the company’s global legal affairs and I recently assumed responsibility for managing our compliance team as well. More generally, I see myself as a business advisor and risk assessor for the company.
Looking back, is this where you thought you’d be professionally? Was it always your goal to be in this position?
If my younger self could see me now….she would be aghast. But I think that’s the beauty of the journey. You think you know what you want. You think you know what you’re good at. You think you have a plan. But you’re so often mistaken until you actually experience things firsthand.
For people who are looking to be in a similar position, what advice would you give to others in terms of helping them achieve their career goals?
It’s ok to end up somewhere else. There’s no single path. There’s no secret recipe. Allow yourself to be surprised. Permit yourself some mistakes. Nobody learns much from the wins.
What are the most important skills that you need to do your job well?
I think emotional intelligence is the most underrated skill generally, but especially for lawyers. Active listening is also hugely important. And you need to be very comfortable being the only person in a room to ask a question or voice a concern.
What do you find most interesting/rewarding about your work? What’s the most challenging?
The most interesting/rewarding parts are also probably the most challenging. Navigating tough conversations. Helping the business through a crisis or a sea change moment as an organization. Working cross functionally with stakeholders that have competing interests. Educating folks on emerging issues. Finding paths through rough terrain.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
Probably not something I can talk about without violating attorney client privilege. But I am very proud of hiring really strong, diverse teams of inhouse lawyers. Fostering and mentoring talent is almost always more rewarding than pocketing a kudos for yourself.
Are you involved with any professional organizations outside of the company? Volunteer work?
I am an active member of TechGC – which is a truly great community for inhouse legal leaders at scale up and start up tech companies. It definitely helps take the edge off what can be a lonely job at times.
Q&A
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Travel (I try to visit one new country every year), reading (25-30 books per year), and spending time with my niece (6yrs old) and nephew (4yrs old). There is also nothing more relaxing than wandering the aisles of TJ Maxx on a Saturday morning with a latte in hand.
How do you manage stress?
I’m not sure you can ever really “manage” stress. I think you learn to tolerate it. To weather it. But it’s not something you ever conquer entirely. It is just part of the territory. All the conventional wisdom is true…sleep, supportive family/friends, interests outside of work, vacations, etc. But I think the honest answer is that it becomes much more tolerable once you have had enough success to feel confident in your abilities no matter the outcome of a single matter and have made enough mistakes to know that they are rarely fatal. A sense of humor helps too!
How many cups of coffee do you have in a day?
2-3 cups on average but I am guilty of ultimately pouring more than I drink in the end.
Any book or podcast recommendations?
The Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey.
What advice do you have for recent college graduates?
Take 3-5 years off before considering grad school. Take a job that pays the rent, but allows you to have a social life. Travel. Take all of your vacation and sick days. Keep yourself safe and healthy, but have some adventures and make some mistakes. Keep an open mind about everything. Read all of the books. Avoid credit card debt. Don’t be a jerk. Pretty but uncomfortable shoes are wildly overrated.
