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 NAME:
Nancy C. Loeb
EMPLOYER: Honeywell International,
Inc. (previously AlliedSignal, Inc.)
TITLE: General Counsel, Honeywell
Automation & Control Solutions, a $7.5 B division
of Honeywell International, Inc.
LOCATION: Minneapolis, Minnesota
PRACTICE AREA: Antitrust and Litigation
BIGGEST INFLUENCE: Peter Kreindler,
GC of Honeywell International
"He gave me the opportunity to grow, to build strengths
in different directions, to take chances, and, by his
example, taught me how to be a better boss. It takes
faith in others and courage to help them grow."
PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: "Leading
my colleagues to gain the successful approval of the
Allied-Honeywell merger which was fought aggressively
by competitors; by listening in a culturally sensitive
way to the US and foreign issues, we were able to develop
strategies to address their concerns."
IF YOU WERE STARTING YOUR CAREER OVER TODAY,
WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?
"I'd be more inclined to speak up for myself, to
talk with mentors regarding the next steps that would
take me where I wanted to go. I expected good work to
be recognized and, early on, I didn't plan for success."
RAINMAKING STRATEGIES:
"An in-house lawyer must attract and retain clients
just as law firm lawyers do. I learn their business,
understand their business goals, ask questions, do plant
tours, look at strategic operational plans, invite myself
to meetings. The more they see that you want to learn,
the more they will let you and that strengthens the
relationship and adds value. Many lawyers are not strong
on the finance and operations side of business. I recognized
that to move into a GC role, I had to understand finance.
So I went to the University of Chicago and took "Finance
for Executives" and that was very helpful, internally
and externally."
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT PRACTICING LAW:
"Litigiousness—it has become the standard
means for solving disputes; it wastes time and money
and rarely achieves anyone's objectives."
BIGGEST SURPRISE ABOUT PRACTICING LAW:
"That I love it so much, that it enables me to
become part of the business and help others accomplish
things; it provides opportunity for continual learning
from other people and it stretches one to do better."
ADVICE TO YOUNG WOMEN LAWYERS ABOUT RAINMAKING:
"First, learn the business but second, be daring;
don't hide your light under a bushel! Have confidence
in what you've done and don't be afraid to put yourself
out there."
DIFFERENCES NOW FOR NEW FEMALE LAWYERS FROM
WHEN I STARTED OUT:
"Men are more accustomed to having women in the
workplace (they no longer apologize when they curse
in front of me) and it makes it easier for women to
do their job as a result."
GOAL YET TO BE ACHIEVED:
"I would like to be General Counsel of a dynamic
company." (Author's note: she is now GC of a large
division of a company.) And then she added, "I
really want to learn to play the piano."
BEST WAY TO KEEP COMPETITIVE:
"You must really understand your customer's needs
and what your competition is doing."
FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND FREE TIME:
"Quiet evenings with my husband, hiking outdoors,
looking at art, attending theater, opera, jazz or symphony
events, and baseball ."
WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE YOU:
"Intense, passionate, considerate."
LPM Women Rainmakers is a national forum enabling women
to network and develop business opportunities. By understanding
how to develop business, women can exert greater control
over their careers and integrate their personal lives
successfully with the practice of law. For more information
on LPM Women Rainmakers, visit www.womenrainmakers.org.
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