After only 6 months at Tenneco, and at the tender age of 28, Brandon Smith found himself advising the CEO on how to navigate the company through bankruptcy.

For Brandon, that was nothing new. In fact, he’s made a career out of capitalizing on opportunities to take on responsibilities beyond what is typically given to someone of his age and experience level.

That trajectory of accelerated growth started when he was at Kirkland & Ellis and has continued through to his current position as Executive Vice President & General Counsel at CHS.

His is a story about the stars aligning—that is true. But it’s also a story about leaning in during a time of crisis and stepping forward while others back away.

In this episode, we discuss:

- An early career opportunity concerning bankruptcy law

- Two attributes aspiring GCs should focus on

- How a promise of making a difference in rural America drew him to CHS

- How he approaches talent development and diversity and inclusion

Hear more stories by subscribing to Innovative Legal Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast platform.

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Innovative Legal Leadership in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.