"Executive Presence" - ACC MN Sounding Board Discussion via Zoom

Join us on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, for a virtual ACC MN Sounding Board* session to discuss the topic of The Strategic Counsel: Influencing with Executive Presence. This session is designed for in-house counsel who want to expand their impact from legal expert to influential leader and business partner.

Participants will meet via Zoom from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

After watching a short grounding video, we’ll move into breakout discussions, where we’ll exchange ideas & ponder questions, such as:

• How can in-house counsel shift from reactive legal support to proactive business partnership?
• How do you demonstrate confidence and credibility without overstepping?
• What role does communication style play in executive presence?
• What behaviors build trust with senior leadership?
• How do you balance legal risk with business goals without being seen as a blocker?
• What examples have you seen where legal drove innovation and gained influence as a result?

Below are reference materials you may wish to review in advance of or following the session.

Videos

• Developing an Executive Voice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxltqkgIN5k)
• Demystifying Executive Presence | Kshitij Sharma | TEDxManSagarLake (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RBt2KVrRuY)
• How to Get People to Listen to You (https://youtu.be/7AS94R-7YCs)
• Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action | TED Talk (https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action)

Articles/Other Resources

• Today's In-House Counsel: Evolving Roles as Business Enablers (https://www.acc.com/resource-library/todays-house-counsel-evolving-roles-business-enablers)
• How to Influence Without Authority in the Workplace (https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/influence-without-authority)
• Dealing with business executives as in-house counsel (https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/blog/dealing-with-business-executives-a-primer-for-in-house-counsel/)
• Reebok Rules (https://www.acc.com/resource-library/reebok-rules)

Participation is free and open to ACC members and in-house counsel guests.

*The mission of the ACC MN Sounding Board is to foster the professional development of ACC MN members seeking to learn ways to interact more effectively with their business partners and promote personal leadership and growth.