Sara Moss, General Counsel, Estee Lauder.

Summary: Sara Moss defied the odds by not having any clear expectations of her legal career. Sara was a cheerleader in high school, married her high ...

Sara Moss defied the odds by not having any clear expectations of her legal career. Sara was a cheerleader in high school, married her high school sweetheart, became a teacher and had four children. That could be the end of the story, but Sara defied stereotyping after getting influenced by the women's movement to head to law school.

Sara attended NYU Law School, where she was part of a group called the Wonder Women. She clerked for the first female African American District Court judge, Constance Baker Motley, worked at Davis Polk & Wardwell and the U.S. Attorney's office. She became a litigation partner at Howard, Smith & Levin (now Covington & Burling). In 2001, she was GC of Pitney Bowes in Connecticut. When the 9/11 attacks occurred, she found herself unable to get back to her children in Manhattan, so she quit. While she never worried about getting "a job," she also never expected to have the opportunity to be a GC again given the available industries in NYC. She even considered a stint on Court TV. Then one day, she received a call for the position of GC of The Estee Lauder Companies. Sara shaped her career with passion and hard work, but not with surgical precision.

Being a GC can be a remarkably lonely job. Sara's favorite cartoon portrays a rhinoceros who states that just because he has a thick skin doesn't mean he isn't sensitive -- like any true New Yorker, Sara is tough, sensitive, and has a big heart. She enjoys being a mentor and speaking on women's issues. She is a member of an informal women's GC group started by former Goldman GC Esta Stecher, where they share information and mentor new GCs.

Best advice to new GCs: Sara says, in the beginning, take 30 minutes each week for one-on-one meetings with your President/CEO to learn about the business, how you are doing, and what the business' needs are. In time, you won't need the meetings anymore; you will have learned what is important and gained a better understanding of the business and your boss. As a GC, you are no longer in charge of the perfect brief, but of business strategy. Remember, you need humility to learn the job.

To become a GC, work as hard as you can and get as much experience as possible. The job is about experience, common sense and judgment. Don't be afraid to ask for help. As GC, you can call anyone for advice. Ask for primers on relevant subjects you don't know, and learn about how to apply it to your job.

We are fortunate as women in-house counsel: We have the income to outsource the help we need to juggle the balls of home and family, and still fit in fun on the side. Sara feels fortunate. She raised her kids within 20 blocks of her office, even when they attended four different schools. Sara's advice: Triage your time to focus on the critical issues and delegate the rest. Most importantly, enjoy your family.

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