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Embracing New Business Perspectives: Chae Initiative Students Visit New York

Chae students visit Blackstone during NYC immersive trip
Students in the Chae Initiative in Private Sector Leadership had the opportunity to visit New York City and meet with alumni working in top-level positions.

The Chae Initiative in Private Sector Leadership, part of The Tsai Leadership Program at Yale Law School, hosted its fourth annual trip to New York City in January. 

The Kirkland & Ellis Immersion Experience in Private Sector Leadership, held Jan. 7–10, offered students the opportunity to connect with alumni working in the private sector. This program expanded their view on the possibilities of leadership in business roles that can come with a Yale Law School degree and how to be well-rounded leaders in sectors across society. 

Chae students pose for a photo during NYC immersive trip
The trip was an opportunity for students in the Chae program to connect and network with YLS alumni who are leaders in their field.

“This year, we designed a program that explored leadership and business management in a diverse range of industries,” said Mary Herrington, co-head of The Tsai Leadership Program and executive director of the Chae Initiative in Private Sector Leadership. “We visited large, medium, and small enterprises, in sectors ranging from finance to media to legal tech to the business side of law. We also hosted the largest alumni reception to date with alumni working in nonlegal practice roles with whom the students forged lasting connections.”

Students met with alumni from top companies including Blackstone CFO Michael Chae ’97, Brunswick Group Vice Chairman Neal Wolin ’88, and Priori Legal Co-Founders Basha Rubin ’10 and Mirra Levitt ’10. On the third night, a cocktail reception and dinner with alumni capped off the day, where students were addressed by keynote speaker Greg Fleming ’88, CEO of Rockefeller Capital Management.

“I enjoyed hearing from alumni who were involved in the start-up space and the political arena,” said Sabah Sial ’27. “I thought it was a great example of how a legal education and career can blend with entrepreneurship and political action.” 

Sial credited the trip as the highlight of her experience in the program so far and found the opportunity to engage with alumni especially fulfilling. 

“Overall, I appreciated that the Chae Initiative trip brought speakers whose careers were clearly nonlinear, and who seemed to embrace the uncertainty and turns in their lives,” she said. 

Professor John Morley ’06 during the 2026 Chae immersive trip
Professor John Morley ’06 with Basha Rubin ’10 and Mirra Levitt ’10

In addition to learning how a legal background can be used to pursue unconventional career paths, students gained an understanding of the private sector’s influence on law firms. 

“I enjoyed learning about how YLS alumni are using their J.D.s in everything from geopolitical risk consultancy to entrepreneurship, but the trip also opened my eyes to how law firms are evolving as businesses and adapting to the changing nature of the private sector,” said Harry Seavey ’27. “I'm thinking about my career differently now because of what I learned.”

Students participated in a workshop at Kirkland & Ellis titled “Thanks for the Feedback & Difficult Conversations” with Neil McGaraghan, clinical instructor and lecturer on law at Harvard Law School and partner at Potomac Law Group. Following that interactive workshop, the students heard a presentation titled “The Business of Law Firms” with Kirkland & Ellis partners and moderated by Yale Law School Professor John Morley ’06. Kirkland & Ellis partner Benjamin Clinger ’08 flew in from San Francisco specifically to meet with the students and share insights on the firm’s position as a business powerhouse in the legal industry. 

“Never before have I been able to hear such candid and thoughtful views on business strategy, organizational culture, and leading private-sector teams at both a small and large scale,” said Justin Chock ’27. “The experience provided me with a new outlook on ways to work alongside private-sector partners in the future as well as new career paths to consider and explore.”

Jeff Berman ’96 visits with Chae students during NYC immersive trip
Jeff Berman's ’96 presentation to the students was the capstone of the trip.

As a final part of the trip, students visited with Jeff Berman ’96, CEO of WaitWhat, and listened to him describe his inspiring career journey. He emphasized the importance of taking risks, following opportunities, and leading with integrity, citing his experience working for Senator Chuck Schumer, MySpace, and the NFL.

Following Berman’s talk, the students attended a Brooklyn Nets game at the Barclays Center, hosted by team owner Joe Tsai ’90. 

“The Chae immersive trip offered such a unique opportunity to engage with Yale Law School alumni who are leading the way in scaling hugely successful businesses across the private sector,” said Ashley Mehra ’26. “Just as meaningful to me was the chance to spend time with classmates who think deeply and intentionally about how they can truly make a positive and lasting impact on society as lawyers. I will forever be grateful to have forged lasting friendships through this fellowship and to have gained a new perspective on life in the law.”