Today we meet Whytne Brooks, Vice President of the Office of Governmental Affairs at New York Life Insurance Company. Whytne shares her journey from a small town in Maryland to becoming a litigator and then a lobbyist, emphasizing the vital role that mentorship and sponsorship played in opening up avenues for her career. Whytne’s story is one of capitalizing on unconventional opportunities and her soft-skill superpowers. She discusses the effects of COVID-19 on her career, how she navigates bias in the profession, and how she has risen through the ranks of the City Bar into its leadership on the Board of Directors. Additionally, Whytne offers personal insights into her routine, values, and passions, including her vegan lifestyle and love for Formula One racing.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3UZUGy5

Want to dive deeper into the mindset of successful in-house lawyers? Join us at our upcoming City Bar CLE Program: Current Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel & Those Who Advise Them (https://bit.ly/4bXVXwG) on June 18. (This program will be available on-demand thereafter.) Use this link (https://www.nycbar.org/events/) to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events. 

Episode Outline:

00:00 Introduction to This Lawyer's Life

00:20 Meet Whytne Brooks

00:53 Journey into Policy Work

03:45 The Role of Mentorship

06:12 Navigating Career Challenges

11:03 Current Work and Challenges

12:34 Differences Between Lawyers in NY and DC

15:31 Soft Skills and Relationship Building

19:57 Impact of COVID-19

22:56 Involvement with the City Bar

26:45 Future of the Legal Profession

29:23 Personal Insights and Reflections

37:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts