When Megan Lutes joined 3D printer company Glowforge as general counsel last summer, she wasn't expecting to take on additional roles outside the legal department. But, a few months into her new job, the Seattle-based startup's chief human resources officer left and, suddenly, the CEO was asking Lutes if she wanted to serve as both GC and HR chief.

"I was feeling like, 'Gosh, I'm not even done building my legal team. I don't have our processes in place. That's a lot to do to take on another organization. Does that make sense?'" she remembers.