Program Details
What sets our approach apart is our roster of highly experienced coaches who, in addition to being certified executive coaches, bring with them a wealth of industry expertise. Many of our coaches have held esteemed positions as general counsel and chief legal officers at leading organizations, giving them unique insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by legal professionals in today’s dynamic landscape.
Berkeley Law’s executive coaching program goes beyond traditional coaching focus areas such as communication, leadership, decision-making, and emotional intelligence. Our coaches distinguish themselves by delving into the complexities and nuances unique to the legal profession. Leveraging their in-depth knowledge and firsthand experience, they provide expert guidance on subjects such as business development strategies and practical solutions for scaling legal departments effectively.
Coaches are currently available for one-on-one sessions, offering both six and twelve-month coaching engagements tailored to your specific needs. The coaching program is scheduled to launch in 2024, but interested parties can contact the coaches directly to inquire about obtaining coaching services prior to Berkeley Law’s launch (provided independent of Berkeley Law).
Meet the Coaches
Mark Kahn
Partner/Head of Consumer, Tech & Media Practice at Protégé Search
Mark Kahn is the newly appointed General Counsel of the Oakland Ballers, an independent league baseball team that will be playing in Oakland starting this season. Previously, he was General Counsel and VP of Policy of Segment (acquired by Twilio in 2020) and former deputy general counsel of WhatsApp. In addition, Mark spent time as an executive recruiter. Mark is also an angel investor/startup advisor and helps his wife run her bakery Kahnfections in the Mission District of San Francisco.
Irene Liu
Executive in Residence at Berkeley Law Executive Education and Founder of Hypergrowth GC
Irene Liu is an Executive in Residence at Berkeley Law Executive Education and the founder of Hypergrowth GC. Previously, Irene was Hopin’s Chief Financial and Legal Officer and the General Counsel of Checkr. She was also formerly a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, and the Federal Trade Commission.
Shana Simmons
Chief Legal Officer at Zendesk
Shana Simmons is currently the Chief Legal Officer at Zendesk. Previously, she was a Chief Legal Officer at Everlaw and Senior Counsel at Google where she led the Google Cloud Go-To-Market Legal team.
Adam Sterling
Assistant Dean at Berkeley Law
Adam Sterling is the assistant dean for executive education at Berkeley Law and the lead instructor for VC University. Previously, Adam was the executive director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Business and before academia was a startup and venture capital attorney.
Ross Weiner
Founder, Partner, and General Counsel
Ross Weiner is an experienced operator and lawyer with over 20 years of experience in financial services and the law. He is a Founder, Partner, and the GC at AXOM Partners, an independent M&A advisor firm. He is a former Partner and General Counsel at Qatalyst Partners. He has also had senior operational and legal positions at Silver Lake and Credit Suisse. He serves as an advisor to numerous startup companies and venture funds, as well as to the Black Corporate Board Readiness program at the Santa Clara University: Leavey School of Business and to the Berkeley Center for Law and Business at Berkeley Law. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Glide.
