Megha Aggarwal, Synaptics Inc. Courtesy photo

Megha Aggarwal, the assistant general counsel, corporate and securities, and assistant secretary at Synaptics Inc., helped the company navigate the acquisition of one company and the simultaneous division of another in deals valued at about approximately $400 million. The deals resulted in the creation of the company's brand new Internet of Things division.

How do you describe what you do for a living to people you're meeting for the first time?

I am a legal generalist who handles all of the fires within the company. … I also review lots of your contracts.

Name an important opportunity you've had in your career and what you did with it?

I was laid off and I took the opportunity to evaluate what I really wanted out of my career, and to focus on that when looking for my next position.

Who is the most important mentor you've had thus far in your career? Why?

A partner at a law firm who pushed me continuously to think outside the box and forge forward in my career. He also encouraged me to fight for more pay!

What's the best part of working in the tech sector?

The constantly changing landscape.

What's the biggest challenge?

The constantly changing landscape!

What's one way technology has made your life easier?

Technology has made life much more efficient, which frees us up to spend time with friends and family.

One way it's made your life more difficult?

Over-reliance on technology can lead to less face-to-face interactions, which I believe are still critical in building a strong relationship, whether inside or outside of the office.

What drew you to practicing law in the technology industry?

The fact that you can use your legal “toolbox,” along with creative “outside of the box” thinking to solve complex and novel issues.

What's the best piece of career advice anyone ever gave you?

Everything happens for a reason, and your career path will be a winding one—that's a good thing!

In 50 words or less, what's the best way to address tech's gender gap?

Women need to help women—they need to share “war stories,” raise other more junior women up (instead of bringing them down), and fight for each other! Be a mentor where you can—it may mean just a few minutes out of your day for you, but can make a world of difference to a mentee.

Describe yourself in one word.

Go-getter