In today’s expanding technology marketplace, the hottest topic, commodity, and, at times, area of controversy is the Internet of Things (IoT).

"People hear the word ‘boards’ and they make many assumptions. Many of them are simply false,” says Aileen Casanave, deputy general counsel at Jiff, Inc.

Albert Schweitzer, a French-German theologian, organist, philosopher, and physician, once said, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”

Merely twenty years ago, artificial intelligence (AI) was the plot line in movies, books, and short stories.

Law is a notoriously high-stress field, yet there is still a pervasive stigma with the subject of mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

Why should lawyers consider joining startups? “Because it’s hair-raising fun! You feel like you’re on the precipice of a cliff and guzzling from the fire hose most of the time,” Suzy Fulton, vice president of operations and general counsel at Appspace, colorfully answers.

The most memorable compliment Mariah Panza Garcia, general counsel of the Conco Companies, has received from her teenage daughter, then elementary school-aged: “You are always the best dressed mom when you drop me off at school and when I grow up I want to wear clothes like you.”

“I know exactly which three dishes I want to try," says Alexa King with a smile after we greet and exchange niceties at a trendy Vietnamese restaurant in Mountain View, California. King is the EVP, general counsel and corporate secretary of FireEye, a leading network security company.

How do you enjoy a rollercoaster? By fully embracing every curve and losing yourself in the moment, of course.

“Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally," poet David Frost once famously said. Catherine Lacavera, Director of IP and Litigation at Google, embodies Frost's mantra as she explores the intersection between law and technology.

Eve Chaurand, former general counsel and head of business development of Ask.com, is currently general counsel of Change.org.

As the general counsel of the Golden State Warriors, one of the NBA's best basketball teams, David Kelly lives the life of at least five different general counsel

In 2015, Emily Ward, vice president and deputy general counsel at PayPal, was busy. Her itinerary included helping lead aspects of PayPal's separation from eBay, aiding PayPal's transition as its own company, organizing ChIPs' global event in Washington DC, remaining active in her professional and personal communities, and even adopting a child.

A few years back, when I was a very pregnant junior attorney, a male judge asked me during my trial, "Ms. Mack, how does being pregnant affect your ability to try this case?" Without missing a beat I told him, "Your Honor, as my stomach grows, my brain stays the same."

Sara Marston, general counsel of Refinery29, the fastest-growing independent fashion and style website in the United States, faces these questions daily and loves every minute of it.

There are times in their careers when lawyers have deep, dark, burning questions.

Costin suggests that unsettled issues that directly impact a business are actually opportunities for in-house lawyers.

Throughout my career I have found interesting and satisfying employment and extracurricular opportunities in many different, though entirely predictable ways

Lauri Shanahan, who went from being the chief legal and administrative officer of a multinational corporation (Gap Inc.), to sitting on the board of directors of three companies, insists that a key to her success has been to step back and reflect more often.

Some attorneys have hoarder tendencies. They hold on to outdated contract writing practices long after these practices no longer meet their original function or need.

Sometime between entering law school and taking the bar exam, many attorneys decide that to affect change and help serve the interests of justice they must join a non-profit organization or provide pro bono services.

While many lawyers may be interested in joining a board of directors of a for-profit public or private company, reaching this goal can entail a degree of complexity that even the Byzantine Emperors would have envied. Consequently many lawyers are puzzled by the process and give up well before they even begin. Likewise, companies and many current board members do not often project a lot of enthusiasm when it comes to adding lawyers to the board.

Jan Kang, vice president and general counsel for AOptix Technologies, knows a thing or two about Moore's Law. While Moore's law remains a standby in computing, when it comes to social networking, Kang has blown the traditional growth prediction out of the water.

A company's board of directors has a duty to oversee all aspects of the company's risk management efforts.

Michelle Banks of Gap Inc. — the American multinational clothing and accessories retailer behind brand names Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta and Intermix, with more than 140,000 employees and over 3,700 company-operated and franchise stores worldwide — cares about women.