The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced March 17, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person May 10.
Next is Chief Legal Counsel finalist in the Public Company category Matthew Madalo, senior vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary of Siemens Government Technologies. Here, he talks about what has made him successful in his roles, shaping the next generation of industry leaders and more.
What are you most proud of having been a part of in your current organization?
We’ve implemented steps to streamline our review process of proposals and contracts to improve collaboration with stakeholders inside and outside our organization. We’ve also provided our sales teams with more streamlined access to legal information through tools they rely on for tracking orders and opportunities, helping them do their jobs more efficiently and effectively particularly on fast turn RFPs. To borrow a phrase from our DOD customers, it’s imperative we support our project teams at the “speed of relevance” to fulfill our commitments.
What has made you successful in your current role?
I’m incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by a strong team, who all share a common goal that we strive to “solve for yes.” Often, legal, contracts and compliance teams can be viewed as hurdles by sales teams and others.
While there’s always essential due diligence work required given the nature of our mission in supporting government customers, it’s imperative we approach each opportunity and business relationship from the perspective of how we can make it work for us, our partners, and our customers. I like to think of our team as a strategic enabler for the business.
How do you help shape the next generation of industry leaders?
I recently began a new role serving as an Adjunct Professor at The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. I’ve been very fortunate over the course of my career to work across many facets of government law and compliance, so, sharing examples of those insights in the classroom is one way to help shape the development of future leaders in the industry.