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Throw a dart at Rick Hansen’s résumé, and you’ll recognize the employer names: Perkins Coie, Amazon, Chevron, General Motors, and, most recently, HP Inc. Hansen is HP’s senior vice president, deputy general counsel – corporate, and corporate secretary. He takes inspiration from work that is at the crossroads of law, business, and public policy and requires operating on a global stage.
Another source of inspiration for the SVP is advice from one of the many well-known CEOs he’s worked with. What she told him informed his career journey, and he abides by her guidance to this day.
“This amazing person told me that she didn’t necessarily have a clearly plotted or defined career path but that she got to the CEO chair because she never said no to an opportunity, regardless of how difficult it may have seemed,” Hansen recalls. “By doing so, she earned a reputation as a go-to person and an indispensable part of the team—someone who should be at the table when critical decisions are being made. I’ve modeled much of what I do based on that advice.”
Hansen’s portfolio at HP is broad. He and his team of thirty cover board of directors operations, securities regulation, capital markets, corporation finance, M&A, corporate and corporate governance, executive compensation, and employment matters. What Hansen himself is working on is often dictated by where he’s needed most at any given moment. He enjoys special projects that take him out of his historical comfort zone.
“Rick is not only a great lawyer but also a true business leader, whose curiosity and dedication to doing the right things inspire his team and other leaders around him,” says Ashok Parmar, partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP. “I learn something new from Rick every time I interact with him, thanks to his broader perspectives and insightful leadership.”
At his core, Hansen is a public company lawyer. No day is like the last, but that’s exactly why the SVP loves what he does. At the time of speaking, Hansen was prepping his CEO and CFO for a quarterly earnings call, signing off on quarterly reports, facilitating board committee meetings, advising on a handful of critical M&A and strategic initiatives, and engaging with several large institutional investors.
“I’m never bored because I’m always stimulated and stretched,” Hansen explains. “I’m always pushed to think about things in a different way. The benefit of having so many years of experience is that I have a large reservoir to draw on, which helps navigate issues as they arise. But rarely do I have a day where I haven’t been asked a new question that requires fresh thinking.”
That fresh thinking includes redefining exactly what environmental, social, and governance (ESG) means to a company that wants to do more than check a box. Hansen echoes BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s abandonment of the now politically charged term.
“The term ‘ESG’ has outlived its time and usefulness. Sadly, the term has now been weaponized in such a way as to eclipse its intended meaning,” Hansen says. “I prefer the term ‘sustainable strategy’ because it connotes what sustainability was intended to be and what it ought to be: an integral part of a company’s strategy.”
“Too many organizations have treated sustainability as a side dish,” Hansen continues, “rather than treating it as an essential ingredient of the main course.”
To Hansen, it’s clear that companies that have made sustainability an integral part of their strategy have a differentiating edge on their competitors and with their customers.
Reid Pearson, who heads the advisory team at Alliance Advisors and often collaborates with Rick on shareholder topics, says, “Rick has a unique ability to connect with shareholders and understand what is important to them. He sees the value in sustainability and governance best practices.”
Hansen’s life is not just about the law. He and his wife will soon celebrate thirty years of marriage. His four children (ages twenty-seven, twenty-four, twenty-three, and eleven) keep him young. And his faith drives most of what matters to him in his and his family’s lives.
That’s not to say there haven’t been some wrinkles. Like when Hansen entered law school with a baby girl, followed by the birth of a second baby in his third year and then, just fifteen months later, yet another baby. Or the “little miracle” who joined Hansen’s family unexpectedly twelve years later. Hansen wouldn’t suggest that route for law students today, but these new experiences kept him on his toes every step of the way. Just the way he likes it.
Five Pieces of Wisdom from a Legal Veteran
Rick Hansen has some advice for those just beginning their legal careers, drawn from decades of experience in private practice and in-house at Amazon, Chevron, General Motors, and HP Inc.
- Do what you love.
“Make sure you’re spending time on something that engages, challenges, and renews you—and gives you a sense of fulfillment.”
- Grow where you’re planted.
“Whatever you’re asked to do, however you’re asked to serve, give it your best. People will notice.”
- Don’t be afraid to stretch yourself.
“Challenge yourself to explore new things and get out of your own silo or swim lane. Sometimes you’ll need to fake it ‘til you make it, but that kind of variety has brought me a lot of satisfaction in my career.”
- Be patient.
“Don’t need to be in a hurry. If you’re good at what you do, success—however you may define it—will come in due course. I wish I had been a little more patient early in my own career.”
- Invest in yourself.
“Your career is just that: your career. Don’t sit by and expect others to do for you what you can do for yourself. Take charge of your own growth and development.”
“Rick is a consummate professional. He is a leader in the corporate governance space and his thoughtful and pragmatic approach is an asset to HP. We always truly enjoy working with him.”
–Lori Zyskowski, Partner
“It is our privilege to work with Rick Hansen and his entire team at HP. Rick’s strategic and visionary leadership benefits HP and the teams of talent that surround him.”
–Sarah Young, M&A Partner
