Brenna Woodley Quoted by Corporate Counsel Now

Kelley Drye Special Counsel Brenna Woodley was quoted in the article, ​“Commanding the Room: An Executive Presence Playbook for In-house Counsel,” published by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC).

The article discusses how executive presence for in-house counsel is less about charisma and more about repeatable behaviors: how you show up in moments of pressure, how you communicate risk, how you read stakeholders, and how you sustain yourself in a demanding role.

Brenna offered an outside-counsel perspective on what distinguishes effective in-house leaders in sensitive situations. Among other points, Brenna noted how women often ​“undersell, ... or wait for permission to speak.” Effective leaders don’t. ​“They know they’re in that room for a reason,” and they hold onto that even in difficult moments.

Brenna also cautioned against equating fast advice with strategic leadership. In high-pressure situations, ​“a strategic response is better than a fast one,” and confident in-house counsel pause to evaluate information to provide strong strategic advice.

Overall, presence requires both situational awareness and the confidence to contribute early and thoughtfully.

Read the full article here.