“A former judge once told me to never be afraid of a new opportunity or challenge. While I may not feel equipped for it, I should have the confidence that I will figure it out,’” says Philip Milley, CIC.C. This advice has served him well, leading him to where he is today: Senior Legal Counsel, Canada, at the Mastercard Foundation.
The Mastercard Foundation is the largest charity in the country, with the primary goals of empowering Indigenous youth in Canada and helping to enable 30 million young Africans, particularly women, find dignified and fulfilling work. In late 2018, Philip was only the second in-house counsel hired there, giving him the opportunity to contribute to the organization in many ways beyond simply providing legal advice.
“I have helped integrate the newly formed legal function into the organization and grow our small—but mighty—legal team,” he explains. “This required more than legal knowledge. I had to develop relationships at all levels of the organization and with key partners, as well as build trust through the oversight and delivery of key organizational projects, such as the establishment of an office in Uganda, while clearly discharging of my professional obligations.”
Given the Foundation’s international presence, on the African continent in particular, he must also be culturally sensitive to the context in which his advice is being implemented. “My communication skills have been strengthened thanks to this reality,” he says. “I have also refined my approach to providing legal advice so it is more sensitive to my client’s changing internal culture as more and more offices open in Africa.”
Cultivating Connections
Philip did not do it alone. Following his grandfather’s sage advice, “You can’t learn everything yourself,” he has strived to create connections and learn from others. “We need to work together, rely on each other, and not be arrogant in our work and ability,” he explains. “That is how we find true success and see positive change in our world.”
His most worthwhile career investments have included going to legal events, community groups and other professional development opportunities, where he has met diverse, amazing people. “I believe you need to put yourself in environments where you may or may not be comfortable because they always give you the opportunity to learn something new,” he says. “The truth is you never know where a new connection or conversation will lead.”
That was especially true of the Business Leadership Program for In-House Counsel (BLPIHC), offered by the CCCA in conjunction with the Rotman School of Management, which he completed last year.
“I enrolled in the BLPIHC to further develop my skills as in-house counsel and increase the impact I could have in my organization in meeting business goals,” he says. “From the first session on the first day, I was taken aback regarding how important our instructors’ insights were to my effectiveness at my organization. This was only augmented by what I learned through the peer evaluation exercise. I gleaned greater insights from the course because of the feedback from the senior in-house who evaluated my work, as well as that from my classmates. The relationships I have cultivated with my fellow in-house counsel have also provided an important basis for my growth as a practitioner past my graduation.”
Making an Impact
Continuous professional growth is definitely in the cards for Philip, as the Foundation is scaling up its operations on an exponential scale.
“No two days are the same as I strive to navigate the complex and changing legal needs of my client,” he explains. “It requires agility and constant refocusing regarding what serves my organization’s interests best at the various junctures. While I am often working from our offices in Toronto, I am occasionally required to travel for work. Many of my trips to date have been to various locations across Africa, as well as remote destinations in rural Canada.”
“From a young age, I understood how truly transformative education can be for people and communities,” he continues. “Whether I am working with schools in Africa or partnering with Elders for programming designed to better the lives of Indigenous youth in Canada, I know I am helping to improve the lives of others.”
Bringing together countries and their people is in Philip’s bones. He was born in Ontario, but his entire family are proud Newfoundlanders. To reconnect with his roots, he studied, lived and worked on the East Coast for over a decade before returning to settle in the Waterloo Region with his wife.
While he finds himself on the train several days a week travelling from home to the office, he views his commute as an opportunity to connect with colleagues in Africa, stay on top of emails, prioritize his day, and review and catch up on work.
When at home, he stays grounded by spending time with friends and family, and cooking—“It’s always a good time with delicious food!” He and his wife also love biking, whether that be road, mountain or (most recently) fat tire, and they are fortunate to be surrounded by great trail systems, which they are continually discovering.
As he looks to the future, Philip says, “I don’t know what role I will be serving in the next five to 10 years, but I certainly intend on remaining a legal advisor in the charitable sector. I love knowing that my work is part of finding solutions to social programs that change the lives of Canadian and African youth for the better. Whether I am best suited to remain in the legal function or transition into a managerial role in the senior leadership of a charity has yet to be seen. However, no matter how my role changes, I will continue to hone and develop my skills and expertise to increase the impact of the work that I do.”
Lynne Yryku is the Executive Editor of the CCCA's In-House Edition.