By: Laura Phillips
I was fortunate this month that I was able to get a bit of time with Brita Strandberg, the founder of her own consulting and law firm, Strandberg Strategy. While Brita has had great success as a communications lawyer in private practice, several years ago she was offered the opportunity to join a corporate board, and after some consideration, Brita decided to accept the offer and start her own consulting and legal practice. Brita now focuses on providing strategic advice to telecom and SaaS companies while also serving as an independent director on the Aircall and Numeracle boards of directors. We talked about lots of things, including how board service works, as that is not a common gig for FCBA members.
Q. What attracted you to the field of communications?
A. Prior to finding communications as my chosen field I worked in other areas as an attorney and for one reason or another, I knew the fit was not going to be right over the long term. A few years after law school, when I was searching for a different law position, the opportunity to work in communications came up at a small communications boutique where I learned so much about communications technology and policy. I found there that I loved working with the innovators and engineers deploying new services, translating many of their brilliant ideas into FCC policy advocacy. It was and continues to be a thrill to support providers of emerging technologies, to help them navigate regulatory requirements, and advocate for public policy that supports innovation and competition. In addition to the day-to-day satisfaction of providing important regulatory counseling, I also have had some really great results for clients in high profile FCC Universal Service and numbering proceedings. Who would not love that?
Q. Tell us about the various places you’ve worked through the years.
A. I started in DC as an appellate lawyer and saw after a couple of years that while I was on track for partner, the amount of consistent, sustained high-octane effort required and the relative happiness of the partners I knew well made me question whether keeping on keeping on was the right path for me. I then spent some time working as a civil rights lawyer defending employees and I learned a lot in doing that work. Honestly however, that role did not play to my strengths, and I decided I wanted to find something different. I was so fortunate to then find my way to communications law. Most of my telecom career has been spent at HWG, which is a wonderful firm – full of astoundingly smart and supportive colleagues serving interesting clients. About two years ago I left to start my own shop – Strandberg Strategy – so that I could focus on serving on corporate boards along with my legal work. I have to say that the boss at the new place can be a little demanding, but at least I know how to manage her!
Q. Have things unfolded in your career more or less the way you planned?
A. No and that’s a good thing! One lesson I’ve learned is that the best opportunities are sometimes entirely unplanned, and it is important to be alert to them. You don’t have to say yes to everything, but being open to change, to me at least, has been a critical part of my career development as a lawyer and now as a board member.
Q. What’s the most interesting or challenging thing that you’ve done in your current position?
A. I serve on two corporate boards. As a board member, you have a fiduciary duty to the company, and it is important to understand as much as possible about the business and to focus relentlessly on its success. To be a good board member, I must constantly learn, ask questions, evaluate challenges and opportunities, and effectively engage with management. Assuming this new role has been both exciting and challenging, and every day is different – which I have loved. I’ve particularly valued being a part of the hard conversations that can happen at the board level, and I find that being a good listener and communicator – core lawyer skills – can be useful as we navigate difficult decisions.
Q. Is or was there something interesting or someone who surprised or impressed you during your career and why?
A. I can think of a couple of examples – John Nakahata, my former colleague at HWG, continues to amaze me with his encyclopedic knowledge of communications law and his ability to use that knowledge to support his clients. Rebekah Johnson, the CEO at Numeracle, blows me away with how she has turned her vision for trusted communications into a successful and exciting company. And as for inspiring, I would have to call out all my former colleagues who have dedicated themselves to public service – folks like Stephanie Weiner, Austin Bonner, Sam Walsh, Shiva Goel, Susannah Larson, Scott Blake Harris, and Randy Sifers, among many others.
Q. What do you enjoy reading?
A. My favorite recent fiction read is Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver’s stunning novel. It was magnificent and it spurred me to read David Copperfield, as the author uses the basic Dickens plot to retell the tale in an entirely new era and setting. And I love a good mystery. On the nonfiction side, I really enjoyed American Ramble, which recounts the author’s walk from Capitol Hill to New York’s Central Park.
Q. Is there something (a hobby or other tidbit) people don’t know about you that you are willing to share?
A. Well, I love watching women’s sports – so you’ll often find me at a Mystics or Spirit game. As a former hockey player, I’m hoping that the Professional Women’s Hockey League will expand to our area!
Q. Can you share your perspective on the pitfalls to avoid or other career advice for those who are just getting started in the communications field?
A. In terms of career advice, in addition to being open to opportunities, I’d suggest considering zigging when everyone else zags. A number of years ago there was a moment when we needed to staff a Universal Service Fund audit for a client and I volunteered, and promptly had to find my way around numerous spreadsheets, understand client P&Ls, billing systems and other seemingly very arcane stuff. I get that USF isn’t always seen as the most interesting work. But it is very important to clients as a lot can be at stake for them – and my willingness to dig into USF has served me very well over the years.
Taking that a step further, given the pace of change in technology, there are constantly new areas that you can immerse yourself in so that you can be the next expert in cloud computing, AI, or something else. And don’t ever assume that a project that may look at first like a slog is really that at all. It may end up being a great way to advance and at worst you will have learned something new.
Q. How has your life changed as a result of COVID-19 and what are you looking forward to doing next?
A. Without Covid I might not have been as open to a big career change – joining corporate boards and starting my own practice – and I’m very glad that I made that change. That change has also meant more travel and a greater variety of work. Right now, I’m looking forward to continuing my work with clients and companies that make communications better.
Q. How long have you been an FCBA member, and what to you is the value of FCBA membership?
A. It feels like forever! I have been a member since before my kids were born, certainly, and they are in college now. I’ve benefited tremendously from my FCBA membership. The FCBA offers terrific continuing education opportunities, sometimes allowing younger professionals a new platform to showcase what they know and to be mentored by others outside of their own organizations. The FCBA has also helped me get to know any number of smart lawyers who are generously willing to share their insights and advice. And the events are fun, too!