# From Big Law to Juice Bars to General Counsel: Embracing the Builder Mindset with Heather Stevenson
Episode of Studying Law Around the World, hosted by Claudio Klaus.
Published: Tue, 23 Jun 2026 01:58:19 GMT
Duration: 00:24:03
## Summary
On the newest episode of Studying Law Around the World, I sat down with Heather Stevenson. Her career path is anything but conventional. She started as a securities litigator at Sullivan and Cromwell, stepped away to co-found a juice bar, and eventually returned to the law to become the General Counsel at Red Cell Partners. She generously shared how letting go of the traditional "lawyer mask" is actually your greatest competitive advantage.What you will learnThe Builder Mindset: Why the most successful lawyers operate as proactive business partners rather than a risk averse "department of no."Learning to Learn: How reading broadly outside of the law, including history and biographies, builds crucial professional judgment so you do not have to learn every lesson the hard way.Humanizing the Profession: Why being authentic, approachable, and letting go of professional stiffness makes colleagues more comfortable seeking your advice.Why this mattersWhat mistake do junior lawyers make because no one explained this? They assume they have to know exactly where their career is going. Heather proves that the most valuable professional experiences often come from unexpected pivots. Whether you are navigating the rapid implementation of AI tools or trying to secure a role in a completely new industry, your ability to communicate effectively and build genuine trust will open doors that a perfect resume simply cannot.Three takeawaysRethink your professional brand. Joy is a competitive advantage. You do not need to be the stiffest, most formal person in the room to be respected. Bringing your authentic self to work builds stronger, more honest client relationships.Embrace casual mentorship. Do not wait for formal mentorship programs to save you. Reach out to peers and professionals just a few years ahead of you. The Legal Mentor Network is a perfect example of how accessible and vital these informal relationships are.Protect your physical health. The early years of a legal career are heavily focused on learning, but that hustle should never come at the expense of your body. Prioritizing sleep and exercise is a non negotiable requirement for long term career survival.Guest: Heather Stevenson, General Counsel at Red Cell Partners and Founding Board Member of the Legal Mentor Network. Heather is dedicated to filling mentorship gaps for junior lawyers and advocating for a more human approach to the practice of law.Where to listen and how to support the showSearch Studying Law Around the World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show on your platform of choice. Leaving a rating and review is the best way to support the podcast, helping us continue to grow and bring these invisible rules of the legal profession to more junior lawyers around the world.Selected episodes of Studying Law Around the World are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE/CPD) credit with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC).For approved episodes, accreditation details, and participation information, please visit: ⁠https://law-learn-link.base44.app/Episodes
## Listen
- Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/studyinglawaroundtheworld/episodes/From-Big-Law-to-Juice-Bars-to-General-Counsel-Embracing-the-Builder-Mindset-with-Heather-Stevenson-e3l5d5i
- Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/38a26d44/podcast/play/121860722/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-23%2F426650294-44100-2-154559ef79c97.m4a
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34QvO0swkWx4XtNxlItXWe
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/studying-law-around-the-world/id1547616885
Show page: https://claudioklaus.com/podcast
Canonical: https://claudioklaus.com/podcast/episodes/from-big-law-to-juice-bars-to-general-counsel-embracing-the-builder-mindset-with.md