Yolanda Goettsch
Lawyer Coach
Yolanda Goettsch—a former public company GC, Nasdaq DGC, SEC attorney, and AmLaw 100 corporate lawyer—is enjoying life and helping senior leaders and rising executives take the next step in their careers.
Yolanda helps senior leaders and rising executives take the next step.
Former general counsel and corporate secretary at a Nasdaq-listed, globally recognized brand, Yolanda Goettsch has 20+ years of legal experience working with board of directors, executives, and lawyers across jurisdictions and industries.
Most recently, Yolanda served as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: COCO), a leading beverage company, Delaware public benefit corporation, and certified B Corporation. As GC, Yolanda led the Legal & Compliance team through the company’s initial public offering and in the transition from a private to public company.
Prior to that, Yolanda was Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at Nasdaq, Inc., where she led the Nasdaq Stock Exchange’s Listing Qualifications department. She also served as Deputy General Counsel in Nasdaq’s legal group advising on SEC financial reporting, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, technology initiatives, and corporate governance.
Yolanda also previously served as Senior Counsel, Legal Policy in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of General Counsel, where she counseled the Commission on SEC rulemaking, enforcement actions, and policy matters. She also spent several years in private practice in the DC offices of WilmerHale and Fried Frank. Yolanda began her career as a judicial legal clerk in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Yolanda earned her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and her B.A. from Yale University.
As a first-generation lawyer that has worked her way up to leadership positions in multiple legal settings, Yolanda can provide a valuable perspective and practical advice for lawyers in—or seeking—senior in-house or other leadership positions. She has particular interest in technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), digital assets (cryptocurrencies and NFTs), and blockchain.
She is a certified holistic career development coach.
Yolanda's Focus
Yolanda is a great choice for...
Corporate board and non-profit board members
Chief Legal Officers (CLOs)
General Counsel (GCs)
Deputy General Counsel (DGCs)
Executive and executive-track lawyers
In-house counsel
Law firm counsel and associates
Aspiring law firm partners
Government and service lawyers
Lawyers in JD-advantage roles
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in-house counsel
Individual contributors and leaders of small teams
First-generation lawyers
She counsels on issues such as...
On-the -job success as a Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel
Stepping up into your first GC role or public GC role
Leveling up, including preparation for public company CLO or GC roles
Shifting from executive-track to executive
Shifting from individual contributor to manager and executive
Transition from federal government to private sector
Transition from law firm to in-house
Winning business from CLOs / GCs
Developing personal leadership style, presence, and culture
Defining and achieving individual career goals
Managing up, down, and laterally
Strategically building skills needed to advance in your career
Developing long-term career goals
Career advancement and progression
Résumé critiques and strategies
Preparation for CLO / GC interviews
Background in Law and Legal Hiring
[coming soon]
Professional Associations and Affiliations
Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni
Food, Beverage & Grocery Professionals Group
Digital Asset Regulatory & Legal Alliance (DARLA)
Columbia Alumni Association
Yale Alumni Association
Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches
Bar and Court Admissions
New York
New Jersey
District of Columbia
Certifications
Certified Holistic Career Development Coach