LinkedIn's Vision Of Providing Economic Opportunity Drives Everything We Do: Aditi Jha, Board Director, Head, Legal & Public Policy

Krishnendra Joshi Dec 21, 2024

For Aditi, a typical day involves a mix of corporate compliance, technology regulation, disputes, business strategy and public policy. Often, my planned tasks are disrupted by urgent issues, but the variety keeps things exciting. In this interview with BW Legal World, she talks about her illustrious journey in law, LinkedIn's vision and much more.

Ms. Jha, tell us about your initial years. What motivated you to study law?

A: Law was not something I had wanted to do for a long time—it happened more by chance than by choice. In high school, if you were a good student, you were expected to become either a doctor or an engineer. I excelled in academics but was deeply interested in extracurricular activities like debates, dramatics, and writing for newspapers.

Role models play a significant role, and I was inspired by a senior from my school who went to National Law School in Bangalore. I decided to write the law school exams despite my mother's wishes for me to pursue medicine. Although I missed the National Law School exam due to a scheduling conflict, I appeared for the NUJS in Kolkata.

I joined the first batch on NUJS, and it was a transformative experience. I thrived in an environment of debates, first-principle thinking, and exposure to top-notch faculty, including Supreme court and high court judges, leading senior counsel and experts from the World Bank and UNDP.

Q: Now coming to your work at LinkedIn, tell us about your roles and responsibilities. What does a day in your shoes look like?

A: Before LinkedIn, I worked as in-house counsel at ITC, where I gained extensive experience across various legal domains as well as various industries. I later pursued my Master’s in Law, Science, and Technology at Stanford, which exposed me to the fascinating interplay of law, ethics, technology, and public policy.

In 2016, I joined LinkedIn as their sole counsel. Initially, the tech sector was less regulated, but over time, regulatory changes and the company's growth in India have made my role dynamic. Besides leading the legal function, I now handle government affairs and public policy and serve on the board.

A typical day involves a mix of corporate compliance, technology regulation, disputes, business strategy and public policy. Often, my planned tasks are disrupted by urgent issues, but the variety keeps things exciting.

Q: LinkedIn's mission is to create economic opportunity for the global workforce. Could you share insight into how your legal strategies align with this vision?

A: LinkedIn's vision of providing economic opportunity to every member of the global workforce drives everything we do. For instance, on the public policy side, we collaborate with organizations such as the World Economic Forum on reports like the Global Gender Gap Report, which leverages LinkedIn Economic Graph insights and data.

We also work with governments and think tanks to shape workforce and skill development policies. On the legal side, our strategies ensure LinkedIn remains accessible to everyone. Whether it's product features or customer contracts, our vision is central to our decision-making.

Q: What is your approach to embedding diversity and inclusion (D&I) values within the legal and policy function at LinkedIn?

A: I lead the International D&I program for LinkedIn’s legal and policy functions. Here are a few key initiatives:

Law Firm Program: We influence our external law firms to staff diverse teams on LinkedIn matters.
Internal Practices: D&I is embedded in our hiring, promotions, and vendor selection processes.
Educational Outreach: We organize sessions for minority and first-generation law students, teaching them how to build LinkedIn profiles, write resumes, and ace interviews. We even arrange professional headshots for their profiles.

Additionally, we host discussions on topics like cross-cultural communication, helping our global teams build trust and work productively.

Q: What are your thoughts on data privacy and the challenges of aligning it with LinkedIn's global objectives?

A: At LinkedIn, we abide by all local laws and always keep our members first. We are GDPR-compliant and are committed to aligning with India's upcoming data protection regulations when they come into effect..

Q: What does the future hold for legal teams embracing technology?

A: In the future, all companies will essentially be technology companies, and legal teams must adapt. While technology will automate repetitive but necessary legal and administrative tasks like matter management, document review, contract management etc. it will allow lawyers to focus on strategic, creative, and leadership tasks. Technology will empower legal teams to be more strategic, data-driven, and proactive. By reducing administrative burdens, enhancing risk management, and improving overall efficiency, AI will enable in-house counsel to focus more on higher-value work, from advising on strategic business decisions to managing complex litigation. Embracing technology will make legal teams more efficient and innovative.

Q: How do you see governance and compliance frameworks changing with the emergence of AI?

A: We are in the midst of an AI transition. Different governments are adopting varied approaches to regulating AI, influenced by their respective markets. This will lead to diverse regulatory models globally.

Q: Tell us a little about your life outside work. What are your hobbies? Do you get a chance to pursue your other interests?

A: I’m a mother to five-year-old twins, which is a full-time job in itself. While this has limited my time for personal pursuits, I’ve recently been more intentional about taking time for myself. I enjoy jazz and western classical music, and I often attend concerts at the NCPA.

Q: Being a mother to twins, does it hamper your work-life balance? What are your views on the work-life balance debate

A: I’m not a fan of the term "work-life balance" as it implies work and life are opposed. I see work as a subset of life, alongside family, friends, and personal interests. Balance is a sliding scale, and priorities shift based on circumstances.

My advice to young mothers is to avoid comparisons and focus on what works for you and your family. media can sometimes set impossible standards, so so it’s crucial to filter out the expectations that don’t align with our authentic selves or realistic goals.

Krishnendra Joshi

BW Reporters Krishnendra has 6 years of experience in Content and Copywriting. He realised the value of persuasive writing while working with LawSikho. Writing a few marketing emails taught him that right wordings create the right impact. Reading The Boron Letters by advertising legend Gary Halbert inspired him to keep learning about the craft of writing. He does not restrict himself to legal content writing alone. He has written content for clients in the SaaS Industry and Personal development Industry. He believes in writing for multi niches to enhance his creativity and train his writing muscle.