Phuong Phillips, Zynga Inc.'s chief legal officer, helped the company implement a simpler share structure, grow internationally through two key acquisitions, and sustain profitability for the first time since 2010. Her legal team of 18 includes 15 women and people of African, Asian, Latin and Middle Eastern descent.

Name a lawyer whose work you admire and why?

Seth Weissman—he is a tireless champion of diversity and career sponsor for many women in the legal field. I admire his ability to build strong and collaborative teams.

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

The sense of community and innovation. I also love the perks—the gym, frozen yogurt machine and the ability to bring your dog to the office!

What's the biggest challenge?

Growing diversity—companies in the technology sector would benefit from increasing diversity in their leadership and employee base. We live in a community rich with diversity, and companies should promote, celebrate and advance this diversity. Ultimately, it also helps a company's bottom line, as diversity reflects the customer and user base to develop products that people want.

What piece of advice do you give to lawyers considering a career in tech law?

Learn to be comfortable with discomfort, and always wear your business cap.

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

Technology allows me to keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues instantly. In particular, I am able to be in contact with my young daughters when I am not with them.

One way it's made your life more difficult?

Because of the 24/7 nature of responding to emails, hasty thinking can occur. We need to slow down and be more thoughtful without feeling like we aren't being responsive.

Name an important opportunity you got early in your career and what you did with it.

I discovered my love of the entrepreneurial spirit in Silicon Valley when I was a corporate paralegal at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati from 1998 to 2000 during the height of the dot-com boom. The exposure to innovative companies solidified my decision to attend law school.

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

Success is different for everyone.

Number-one survival tip in a work crisis:

Remain calm and add some humor to the situation.

In 50 words or less, how far has the tech industry gone toward tackling its gender gap since you started practicing?

In the last 15 years, I have been encouraged to witness progress in closing the gender gap, with more women in executive and board member roles (at Zynga, our board is 50 percent women). However, much more work is needed toward the goal of equality for women in pay, promotion and leadership.

What's one way you've had to change your thinking toward practicing law to succeed in-house at a technology company?

I've had to emphasize the practical; business risk is distinct from legal risk.

What's one area of technology that you're most excited about and why?

Mobile gaming as a way to connect people.