Judi Otteson, IPO Master

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If Judi Otteson does her job right, then a company’s name is likely to appear outside the New York Stock Exchange or in Times Square at NASDAQ. The in-house expert with over two decades of experience has carved out a niche for herself that many might find inherently stressful. Not so, however, for Otteson. You call her if you want to build a legal department from the ground up or take your company public.

Otteson has thus far assisted three different Silicon Valley companies through the IPO process, most recently the de-SPAC for Matterport Inc., where she served as general counsel for three years. Now at autonomous vehicle (AV) company Gatik AI Inc., the GC has spent the last two years building the legal function at the company, which is at the forefront of the autonomous transportation industry.

While milestones like achieving an IPO or creating industry-leading legal teams is her goal, that doesn’t mean she takes her eye off the short-term goals; she’s also laser-focused on the difference she can make now.

“I love being a GC for a smaller company that is looking to do big things,” Otteson says. “After a company goes public, it’s a huge moment for not just me, but the entire team. I’ve been lucky enough to develop a reputation for helping startups and other dynamic organizations through certain parts of their journeys. It’s my favorite part, pushing them to do more and do it better, and I love what I do.”

The GC is known for her ability to create and drive what she calls “a kinder, gentler legal organization.” She believes that startups, whose survival is never guaranteed, benefit when employees aren’t afraid to reach out to the legal department. A compassionate legal function doesn’t ensure a company’s success, but it fosters a culture of transparency and accountability that’s crucial for long-term stability.

Otteson is selective about which companies she works with. She makes sure her philosophy meshes well with the leadership team of her prospective employer. Joining Gatik involved a lengthy courtship—particularly because she wasn’t looking for a job when the company came calling.

“I wasn’t in the market for a new job,” the attorney says. “But a recruiter reached out and made it clear Gatik wanted a conversation. I didn’t even have a résumé, but CEO and Cofounder Gautam Narang was intrigued by my LinkedIn.”

Slowly, Otteson met with more and more members of the Gatik team. After a series of discussions, she understood that her skills would be a great fit for the organization.

“I don’t decide for the company. My job is to provide informed guidance so they can make the best decisions possible.”

Judi Otteson

Walmart, Kroger, and Tyson Foods have used Gatik’s Level 4 autonomous delivery vehicles. As pioneers in a relatively new space, Gatik’s innovations come with a level of uncertainty that would send some risk-averse attorneys screaming in the opposite direction, but not Otteson.

“The most important thing is to make sure that the business folks and I are aligned,” the GC explains. “I’m going to make sure they understand risk, and we’re going to make an informed decision together. I don’t decide for the company. My job is to provide informed guidance so they can make the best decisions possible.”

While Otteson’s timeline with employers varies, she always focuses on company milestones, whether that’s going public or reaching the next growth phase. Success requires hard work and laying a strong foundation as you walk it—areas where Otteson excels.

With the hindsight of the last twenty-four years, Otteson says there aren’t any worthwhile shortcuts that don’t include a great deal of hard work. She pivoted several times early in her career. Before law school, she got her master’s degree in social work. After realizing it wasn’t the career path she wanted, she went to law school intending to become a public defender. But her heart couldn’t leave the work at work.

Although she wouldn’t change her journey, she hopes more young female attorneys will find more confidence earlier in their careers. It took Otteson time to feel comfortable in her own skin, and she’s only recently realized how good she is at her job.

“I hope that more women attorneys learn to believe in and trust themselves,” the GC says. “You know what you need to know, and that doesn’t mean that you know everything. I will be the first person to tell you I don’t know something, but I’ll also be the first person to find out the information. You figure it out. Don’t worry so much and have trust in yourself and your skills.”

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