Manjaree Chowdhary (GC, Maruti Suzuki): Lessons on Leadership, Risk & Resilience | TDL x Zoho Sign

In this episode of The General Counsel Series, powered by @zohosign , Jenna Krishnan sits down with Manjaree Chowdhary, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Maruti Suzuki and former GC at General Electric, to trace an extraordinary 37-year journey across academia, global industry, and leadership. From starting her career as a professor of English literature to becoming one of India’s most respected in-house counsels, Manjari’s story is one of courage, curiosity, and continuous growth. She shares her insights on: - Navigating career transitions with grace and conviction - The art of managing risk, reputation, and relationships - Building empathy and credibility as a legal leader - Women in leadership and the importance of perspective - Embracing technology to simplify work Whether you’re a law student, young lawyer, or a corporate leader, this conversation is filled with wisdom, humour, and real-world lessons on resilience and reinvention. Listen to more episodes of The General Counsel Series - where India’s top GCs share what it takes to lead with both head and heart. Also available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music About Zoho Sign This series is powered by Zoho Sign - a comprehensive digital e-signature solution built for Indian businesses. Learn more or book a demo: https://www.zoho.com/en-in/sign/ Connect with us: Contact: [email protected] Website: https://thedailylawyer.in/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailylawyerig/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-v-krishnan/ Connect with Zoho Sign: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zohosignofficial/?hl=en X: https://x.com/ZohoSign?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zohosign/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@zohosign Explore: https://www.zoho.com/en-in/sign/ Chapters - 00:00 - Trailer 02:04 - Meet the Guest: Manjaee Chowdhary, GC & CCO at Maruti Suzuki 03:16 - From English Professor to Lawyer: A bold career switch 04:26 - Studying in London & discovering new perspectives 06:25 - Coming back to India and starting over at 31 07:52 - Lessons from the early law firm years 09:02 - Joining GE: A turning point and global exposure 10:58 - Moving to Maruti Suzuki: Challenges and opportunities 12:27 - On thinking beyond “legal”: Business-first mindset for in-house lawyers 13:53 - Who is Manjari outside the boardroom? Dance, design & movies 17:44 - Facing complex challenges as a General Counsel 20:11 - Communicating risk and managing expectations with management 23:04 - The evolving meaning of “risk” in a digital age 26:26 - Managing reputational risk in the social media era 28:32 - The vast remit of a General Counsel’s role 29:02 - Women GCs & leadership: Advice for aspiring lawyers 31:14 - Handling chauvinism and building professional respect 36:03 - Technology & the Legal Function: From 0 to 100 37:05 - Legal tech tools, e-signatures & automation in practice 41:36 - Using data & digital contracts to drive efficiency 43:47 - The next 5 years of legal tech – what’s on her wishlist 45:56 - Looking back: What she’d do differently 47:03 - 5 key qualities of a successful in-house counsel 50:48 - Must-read books that shaped her worldview 58:11 - Three Ps for young lawyers: Passion, Perseverance & Patience 01:01:54 - Two life lessons from a seasoned GC 01:03:12 - The best professional advice she’s ever received 01:05:04 - Closing thoughts & gratitude 01:05:41 - Sponsor Segment: Zoho Sign – powering this series #TheDailyLawyer #ZohoSign #GeneralCounselSeries #LegalLeadership #InHouseCounsel #LegalPodcast #WomenInLaw #LawAndLife #LegalTech #JennaKrishnan #ManjaeeChowdhary