Adding to the recent retirement threads.
Completed my last days of full time work, at least in the short term. I started in audit then took a chance joining a then small tech company that was coming off of severe losses then the company launched when the tech boom hit. Long story short after a ~20 year career that had me doing junior level accounting, a division controller, set up a flight department, M&A work, leading export and defence compliance, SOx, etc., culminated in my being responsible for almost every necessary but utterly thankless, invisible back room support function; 200 person global staff and a ~$1B annual spend that no one noticed unless we screwed up. Then we were acquired and most of leadership were axed. Took time off and almost lost my mind, early retirement was clearly out of the question mentally. I then fell into a small startup in a very highly regulated space, run by a very admirable, successful, aggressive and risk tolerant Founder. I was offered the chance to run several functions including legal. Legal? Me?? The company couldn't afford a dedicated Counsel and the various operational needs so I was told to do the best you can and use outside counsel when necessary but don't spend too much....challenge accepted Sir!! I absolutely loved it, great people, best crazy, wild, roller coaster few years of my career, but all good things must end. We grew fantastically to the point where I put my hand up to my boss the CEO and we agreed; '...we need someone qualified, an actual General Counsel who is an attorney and that is clearly not me...'
Now I am part-timing there to ensure a smooth transition to the new folks. I could probably stretch this out, but it is time to move on....like college days drinks w/ your ex-girlfriend and her new guy. You are all friendly, but time to leave
What to do? I haven't stopped 'running' since 1988, and I'll admit to getting accustomed to being the 'boss', but I will get over that...... Stay tuned!
Completed my last days of full time work, at least in the short term. I started in audit then took a chance joining a then small tech company that was coming off of severe losses then the company launched when the tech boom hit. Long story short after a ~20 year career that had me doing junior level accounting, a division controller, set up a flight department, M&A work, leading export and defence compliance, SOx, etc., culminated in my being responsible for almost every necessary but utterly thankless, invisible back room support function; 200 person global staff and a ~$1B annual spend that no one noticed unless we screwed up. Then we were acquired and most of leadership were axed. Took time off and almost lost my mind, early retirement was clearly out of the question mentally. I then fell into a small startup in a very highly regulated space, run by a very admirable, successful, aggressive and risk tolerant Founder. I was offered the chance to run several functions including legal. Legal? Me?? The company couldn't afford a dedicated Counsel and the various operational needs so I was told to do the best you can and use outside counsel when necessary but don't spend too much....challenge accepted Sir!! I absolutely loved it, great people, best crazy, wild, roller coaster few years of my career, but all good things must end. We grew fantastically to the point where I put my hand up to my boss the CEO and we agreed; '...we need someone qualified, an actual General Counsel who is an attorney and that is clearly not me...'
Now I am part-timing there to ensure a smooth transition to the new folks. I could probably stretch this out, but it is time to move on....like college days drinks w/ your ex-girlfriend and her new guy. You are all friendly, but time to leave
What to do? I haven't stopped 'running' since 1988, and I'll admit to getting accustomed to being the 'boss', but I will get over that...... Stay tuned!
