A Miami business lawyer with 20 years of practice tells ESSEC students that business law is really about soft skills and people, not just mechanics. He lives by Hunter Thompson's motto to treat life as an adventure, and he's watched their reflective letters grow from notes into novels over the three days.
Chapters
Good to see everyone. This is actually my third time, uh, actually doing the seminar, and the first time was just mind-blowing. And then last year we did it virtually because of the COVID so it was just good. But this is actually my first experience with the plenary section because we didn't have them there first time, so it's nice to see everyone here together. I'm from the US, I'm from Miami. I just arrived yesterday, so I'm on team no sleep. I'm gonna have lots of adrenaline to be going these last 3 days. Uh, so who am I? I'm a business lawyer. I've been a lawyer for about 20 years. I know I don't look quite that old, but I've been spending quite some time. And my motto really is— this is my favorite quote by Hunter Thompson— and really is to live life as an adventure. You know, you guys are what, 18 years old, right? That's your, like, average age. And how lucky you guys are to really be, like, in a course like this, really learning about the things that really matters actually in business, right? Because I've been practicing business law for nearly 20 years, and it's all about the statistics and the, like, the mechanicals. But really, I think, like John Sebastian said, it comes to, like, working with people, with your leaders, and actually being a leader. It's really the soft skills that really actually determines, like, you know, how you actually, you know, proceed in life. So I really want you guys, when you go through these next few days, to really take it seriously. And I think you'll be very, very surprised. One of my favorite parts about this seminar is really reading the letters. Is because in the very beginning I find like the students are kind of like, ah, you know, how long does it have to be? Do you have to do this? Blah, blah, blah. And then by the end, when I get it on Sunday night, I start reading it. First of all, you guys start writing novels. You tend to find you have a lot to say. So I wanted to just impress upon this, to come with open arms and just to like, you know, give it y'all. We're all going to be here for you. And I just want to— what I always say to every student is that beyond these 3 days Please use me as a resource. I'm on LinkedIn, so if I could ever help you beyond these 3 days, I'm definitely here for it. Business law is my expertise, corporate culture inspiration. I've been speaking for quite some time as well too. My hobby is actually Bikram hot yoga. I dance too, I dance salsa, so we can all do like a little, you know, thank you, thank you for all this. And really live your life as an adventure. Thank you so much.
