FTG 0040 – Corporate Legal Leadership, The C-Suite, and Much More with Corporate Leader Reggie Hedgebeth ‘89

Overview:

Reggie Hedgebeth ’89 Liberal Arts joins the show to discuss his career in corporate legal leadership. Reggie graduated from the College of the Liberal Arts with Honors in Economics in 1989 and went on to earn his JD at Harvard Law. He shares his career journey where we had served in senior, c-suite level roles for large organizations in a variety of industries from retail to energy to finance with vast responsibilities beyond the legal departments including HR and supply chain management. Reggie, a 2020 Penn State Alumni Fellow, provides his insight as not only a legal officer but as a corporate leader who has experienced the highs and lows of serving in these roles across the country. This episode will be helpful for any Scholar, and especially those seeking careers in law or business. You can read a more robust bio of Reggie and a more detailed breakdown of the topics we cover further down in the show notes. This episode was recorded prior to Reggie’s departure from Capital Group.

Guest Bio:

Reggie Hedgebeth ’89 Liberal Arts most recently served as the Chief Legal Officer of Capital Group, a financial services firm with over $2.6 trillion in equity and fixed income assets for millions of individual and institutional investors globally. Reggie also formerly served as executive vice president, general counsel and chief administrative for Marathon Oil Corporation; general counsel, corporate secretary and chief ethics and compliance officer for Spectra Energy Corp; general counsel for Spectra Energy Partners; senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for Circuit City Stores, Inc.; and vice president of legal for The Home Depot, Inc. Reggie began his legal career as an associate at King and Spalding, LLP, and prior to law school held various finance and commercial real estate positions at GE Capital. Reggie earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Honors from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts in 1989 and his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School.  Reggie currently serves on the board of directors and as chair of the audit committee for BWC Terminals LLC, and the advisory board of The Artemis Fund, a venture capital fund with an exclusive focus on investments in companies led by female founders. He is also a member of the external advisory board of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State, where he was named a 2020 Penn State Alumni Fellow and a 2011-2012 Outstanding Scholar Alumnus.

Episode Topics:

· Coming to University Park from out of state and sight unseen and choosing a major deeper into your academic career

· Using student experiences like serving as a TA and working in student radio in your career

· Comparing the Honors experience at Penn State to law school

· Working in a law firm and then as in-house counsel

· Insights on working as an attorney in different industries including retail, energy, and finance & asset management

· Learning management and subject matter specifics as a chief legal officer

· Networking and the power of building relationships

· The role of the chief legal officer and working in the “C-Suite” with other senior executives and what that means

· Sitting on corporate boards of directors

· Navigating the corporate ladder and relocating across the country

· Getting involved with local non-profits and staying involved with the Honors College as an alum

· Reflective advice from over thirty years in corporate & legal settings for any Scholar