Page 50 - CCCA 250375 Magazine_Summer 2016

{ InsIde edge }

the unexpeCted in-houSe

CAreer AdVAntAge

By Jonathan Cullen

Counterintuitively, working in-house often offers more opportunities 1. CreAte Your own inFleCtion point.
Choose a day and commit to refec-
for lawyers to make a difference beyond their sole client. I only tion. Ask trusted friends and colleagues
realized this when the organization I work for saved my son’s life. for guidance. Absorb all their input and
imagine the future.
or a profession whose members are of infuence. However, Tristan’s experience 2. begin with the end in mind. Choose an
ethically obligated to zealously de- showed me that being an advisor to an or- objective that has meaning to you. It’s fne
Ffend our clients’ interests, we often fail ganization that does so much good is an if the objective changes as you learn, but
to translate that zeal into passion for our incredible opportunity. I am more than a if you start with no destination in mind,
careers. However, I believe the spark we lawyer. I have something to contribute to you’re sure to land there. Keep your head
need is right under our feet, in our own patients, healthcare, the legal profession in the long game.
organizations. Although going in-house and the business community. 3. leArn, leArn, leArn. Intellectual curi-
to a single client may appear to narrow a As lawyers, we are taught many skills osity is invaluable. As you progress, your
lawyer’s sphere of infuence, the opposite is useful in achieving public good: persua- chosen objective will become clearer or
closer to the truth. Our privileged position sion, advocacy and public speaking to you’ll realize you need to change goals.
allows us to make a difference well beyond name a few. I wanted to use these skills to Choose the learning method that works
our organization. It sometimes just takes a not only defend my client’s interests but best for you. I participate extensively in
turning point to see this opportunity. also advance Pfzer’s mission to innovate mentoring, including the CCCA pro-
Four years ago, I found out my son was to bring therapies to patients that signif- gram; and read everything I can on lead-
going to be born with Down syndrome. cantly improve their lives. And suddenly ership, management, innovation, persua-
Tristan spent his frst four months cling- there was no time to waste. sion and negotiation.
ing to life at the Montreal Children’s I began volunteering with the organi- My refection time told me I could
Hospital, undergoing heart surgeries and zations that saved my son: the Montreal both defend Pfzer’s interests as its lawyer
battling a transient form of leukemia. My Children’s Hospital and the West Island and be an advocate for its mission. That
career infection point was on his seventh Association for the Intellectually Handi- overlap has been the key to unlocking my
day of life, the day a nurse administered capped. When I’m asked to speak at events career passion. That is the unexpected in-
a chemotherapy medication to my son. It internally at Pfzer or externally with stake- house career advantage. Lawyers are not
saved his life. holders, I speak of my personal connection often seen in this light. I am committed to
The medicine was invented and de- to healthcare. I aim to move listeners to ac- being part of changing that. Zealously. ❚
veloped by my employer, and only client, tion through an emotional connection and
Pfzer. storytelling. In doing so, I am also trying
Over the following months, I refected to break down the perception of lawyers as Jonathan Cullen is Vice Presi-
on how I could use my experiences and unfeeling, analytical cost centres. Before I dent of Legal Affairs and General
skills as a lawyer for something grander. I speak, I often think of Tristan and how dif- Counsel for Pfzer Canada Inc.
knew I would be a different person when ferent my life would have been without the He received the CCCA’s 2016
Up and Comer Award and was
I went back to work. I just wasn’t sure how. very people sitting in front of me. named a 2015 Lexpert Rising
When I moved from private practice You don’t need to wait for a cataclys- Stars Leading Lawyer Under 40.
to an in-house role at Pfzer, I was con- mic life event to fnd your career passion.
cerned I would be narrowing my sphere Try the following strategies.

50 CCCa MagazIne | SUMMer 2016 été