Anne-Marie W. D'Angelo, senior vice president and general counsel, NiSource.

Name: Anne-Marie D'Angelo

Category: In-House: Manufacturing & Chemicals

Firm/Company: Global Brass and Copper Holdings Inc.*

Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Time in Position: Since 2017

*Senior Vice President and General Counsel of NiSource since September 2019

What was your route to the top?

My career story is one of good fortune, hard work and professional risk. I began my career at a law firm, and I had the good fortune to work with a corporate partner who had actually run a business prior to practicing law. He taught me how to negotiate my agreements through the lens of the business client. Rather than processing contracts based upon other lawyers' forms, he challenged me to understand not only the legal significance of every provision in my agreements but also how the provisions I drafted actually mattered to the deal the client was trying to strike. And, he gave me brutally honest and direct feedback that ultimately helped me grow as not only a technical lawyer but also a business adviser. When I moved in-house to McDonald's, I once again experienced good fortune of working in a collegiate environment with lawyers and business people who were willing to invest in my professional development. I spent nine months in a commercial legal role, but I was working in a silo. I sought advice from an experienced and trusted lawyer who graciously mentored me. She encouraged and supported me in navigating a move to a new team of corporate generalists reporting up through the U.S. General Counsel.

With the support of my mentor, other colleagues and business partners, I was promoted to roles of increasing responsibility managing a team of 15-18 lawyers and legal professionals who were responsible for a variety of legal matters in the U.S. After 13 years at McDonald's, I was presented with the opportunity to be general counsel of Global Brass and Copper Holdings Inc. My decision to leave the company in which I grew up was difficult and deliberate. I wanted to be a public company general counsel as well as obtain more M&A experience. I took the risk to leave a well-established and well-known company to be general counsel of a company with less revenue than any of the business units I supported at McDonald's, but my move allowed me to work closely with seasoned business people who did not hold punches in providing constructive feedback and showed a sincere interest in my continued development.

Ultimately, I led the legal negotiations of the sale of Global Brass to a private foreign company, and my experience opened up a number of professional opportunities that would not have been available had I stayed in my comfort zone at McDonald's. In September 2019, I joined NiSource as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that much of this would not possible without the tremendous support I receive from my husband, an exceptional lawyer, husband and father. Without him, I would not be where I am today.

What is the best leadership advice you've given or received, and why do you think it was effective?

Be humble and build up those around you. A leader who empowers builds teams that are passionate about their work and the vision of the business.