From Law to Business: How I Transitioned to Strategic Leadership | Ft. Mahalakshmi Pat

Описание: Industry Magnates Premier: Interview with Mahalakshmi Pat, Head of Legal at ZIESS India, with FaceTime with Leaders - A WDC Initiative

We are honored to premiere the "Industry Magnates" with our esteemed guest, Mahalakshmi Pat. Explore leadership philosophy, ideas, and best practices that have propelled them in their professional and personal lives.

Brief about Mahalakshmi Pat :
Mahalakshmi Pathapati is a senior Legal and Compliance leader with over 12 years of experience across India, the UK, and multiple international markets. Her career reflects a progression from core legal operations to executive leadership, where she now shapes legal strategy, corporate governance, and enterprise-wide compliance for global organizations. Currently serving as Head of Legal at Carl Zeiss (Bangalore) Private Limited, Bangalore, she acts as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, leads the in-house legal function, oversees litigation and regulatory adherence, negotiates high-value transactions, and anchors governance standards to ensure ethical, transparent, and resilient operations. Her expertise spans corporate law, commercial negotiations, risk management, policy development, and court representation, enabling informed decision-making at the highest level.
 Previously, Mahalakshmi held senior leadership roles at Allstate Insuarance, Infosys, Amazon, IMI PLC (EMEAI), Accenture, and London-based law firms. At Allstate, Infosys and Amazon, she strengthened enterprise ethics and compliance frameworks, digitised training programs, and enhanced transparency through robust reporting structures. As Head of Legal & Compliance for IMI PLC’s EMEAI region, she led cross-border legal oversight, established governance frameworks, set up and deregistered legal entities, and enabled market expansion across Dubai, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia—aligning business growth with local laws and global compliance standards. She has also liaised with regulators including the US Department of Justice and earned recognition from IMI’s parent company president for balancing rigorous compliance with operational continuity. A NALSAR graduate with Bar Council of Karnataka membership and QLTT qualification in England and Wales, she brings strong board relevance through her global legal credentials, governance leadership, and proven ability to guide organisations through regulatory complexity, strategic risk, and long-term ethical stewardship.

Watch Exclusive Interview where our esteemed guest shares views on:
00:00 Introduction
03:07 Ms. Mahalakshmi on the moments and decisions that shaped her.
06:01 Ms. Mahalakshmi on lessons from the courtroom and the business floor.
09:20 Ms. Mahalakshmi on her approach to law
13:12 Ms. Mahalakshmi on protecting company and empowering business teams
16:00 Rapid fire with Ms. Mahalakshmi
18:54 Ms. Mahalakshmi on governance, trust, and accountability.
20:40 Ms. Mahalakshmi on joining Directors' Institute

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