Originally posted on LinkedIn on December 2, 2023
Ranking alongside dinner with Lee Kuan Yew, one of the more interesting days in my early career was meeting Henry Kissinger, who passed away last week.
It was 2004. James C. Goodale, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, where I was a corporate law associate, hosted a television talk show, The Digital Age. One afternoon, an email from Jim came around asking for volunteers to research legislation proposed to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission - as background for an upcoming interview Jim was planning with Dr. Kissinger. I remember looking over the partition and right at my roommate Tatia Miller and saying “Let's do this!”. Her broad warm grin signaled “yes”.
A couple of days of brief-writing later, we met with Jim to structure an approach for the interview. Our discussion focused on the creation of a new Federal agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. My recollection of the actual interview itself is a little foggier – we got to meet Dr. Kissinger briefly, but the camera and lighting crew basically took over from there. Tatia and I were delighted to receive associate producer credits, and a VHS (yup, tape) copy of the episode.
Interview on YT: https://lnkd.in/eikW__24
In my writing - about building teams, developing future leaders and similar topics - you've likely noticed my inclination towards attacking problems through organization, creating programs of work, and institutionalizing process. I’m people-focused, but results-driven.
However, many decision paths in my career emerged from the somewhat less structured approach of saying “yes” to the intriguing question, being curious about what would happen “if”, and keeping an eye open for the "not-so-ordinary". The opportunity at Debevoise was itself one such serendipitous series of fortunate events, stemming from a casual conversation with Jeffrey Cunard and Bruce Keller, who were teaching at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, where I was a fellow. That year, I also met the amazing Anita Ramasastry of the University of Washington, and had I been more mature and sensible, might have navigated her generosity more adeptly to pursue a different career path. Live and learn.
Not long after I married, my wonderful wife Florence advised me, when I was particularly vexed over a career decision, to “not look back in regret”: to do the interesting things whenever they came my way. The passing of Dr. Kissinger - a man whose legacy divides opinion - prompted a recollection of her precious wisdom; her support and encouragement mean everything to me.
To my Debevoise friends, Erlyne Josma Nazaire, Freddy Taveras, Elisa Basnight, Nicole Valentine and many others – those were long, sleepless, but glorious days. I am so glad to see you thriving and serving. I miss you!
J