In early August, Corporate Counsel announced the 2017 list of Transformative Leaders—those women general counsel who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and business acumen as they have guided their organizations through often treacherous roads to achieve success. These Transformative Leadership honorees stand out because they are business strategists, complex problem-solvers, and of course, great lawyers. And as important (especially to them) is that they are great people-leaders—they care more about the success of the team than their individual success.

Tonight we announce the winners as the honorees gather to celebrate each other at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C., during the Women, Influence & Power in Law conference (WIPL) taking place Oct 10-12.

Tina Rhodes, Willis Towers Watson General Counsel for Europe, Held for 16 Years (in addition to other roles within the Legal Department)

Nominated for: Insurance (Winner)

What is the best leadership advice you provided to a member of your legal team in the last year and why do you think it was effective?

In order to provide pragmatic legal advice, it is essential to fully understand the practical application of the advice to the business. You cannot provide such advice in a vacuum. This taught the individual to provide solutions to the business rather than academic analysis.

Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you became a General Counsel?

The skill required to balance the challenges faced when dealing with the conflicting interests between global and local management and business teams in order to effectively mitigate risks to the business.

If you moved on from your role tomorrow, what contribution do you most want to be remembered for?

I would like to be remembered as a valued trusted advisor to the business, as well as a fair and effective manager of my legal team.

In early August, Corporate Counsel announced the 2017 list of Transformative Leaders—those women general counsel who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and business acumen as they have guided their organizations through often treacherous roads to achieve success. These Transformative Leadership honorees stand out because they are business strategists, complex problem-solvers, and of course, great lawyers. And as important (especially to them) is that they are great people-leaders—they care more about the success of the team than their individual success.

Tonight we announce the winners as the honorees gather to celebrate each other at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C., during the Women, Influence & Power in Law conference (WIPL) taking place Oct 10-12.

Tina Rhodes, Willis Towers Watson General Counsel for Europe, Held for 16 Years (in addition to other roles within the Legal Department)

Nominated for: Insurance (Winner)

What is the best leadership advice you provided to a member of your legal team in the last year and why do you think it was effective?

In order to provide pragmatic legal advice, it is essential to fully understand the practical application of the advice to the business. You cannot provide such advice in a vacuum. This taught the individual to provide solutions to the business rather than academic analysis.

Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you became a General Counsel?

The skill required to balance the challenges faced when dealing with the conflicting interests between global and local management and business teams in order to effectively mitigate risks to the business.

If you moved on from your role tomorrow, what contribution do you most want to be remembered for?

I would like to be remembered as a valued trusted advisor to the business, as well as a fair and effective manager of my legal team.