Andrea Ravich
Director Counsel, Retail Strategies, Target
Fox Rothschild, 2013 – 2018
- J.D., New York University School of Law, 2012
- B.A., Pomona College, 2006
What attracted you to your current position at Target?
I wanted to dig in and learn a business from the inside. I feel fortunate to have landed in the retail space. As the primary counsel for Target’s digital media business, I am working at the forefront of advertising technology and data privacy issues. I’m challenged every day. I love that about 50 percent of my day is spent thinking through legal issues and the other 50 percent is on strategy and the kind of cross-functional collaboration that happens within a major corporation.
What is your “superhero” skill that you bring to your work?
Something I value about myself as a legal practitioner is my focus on interpersonal relationships. Client counseling, whether you’re in-house or at a law firm, is about listening, advising and really hearing what’s troubling your client and getting to the heart of the problem. Knowing the law is part of the solution. But frankly, it is not always the biggest part. It takes tapping into empathy and interpersonal skills to solve challenges.
How do you develop client relationships?
I have always attempted to take full advantage of my free time outside of the office, and I firmly believe in living a full life beyond one’s career. Being an extracurricular person informs and pays off in my professional life because it helps me connect with people in a variety of ways beyond pure business.
In law school, I was as interested in my classes as I was in being a part of the legal parody musical and exploring Greenwich Village. Being a “joiner” can lead to a richer practice and personal life.
Where would we find you when you’re not working?
You can find me doing comedy and improv at a small theater here in Minneapolis. I’m also in a pinball league and play recreational volleyball in a league with my husband. I’m out and about as much as possible in the evenings and on weekends, and traveling whenever I get the chance.
Who were your most memorable mentors and how did they shape your career choices?
My mentors at Fox taught me how to serve clients starting from a place of yes. Our team often worked with early stage companies that were constantly innovating in the medical technology space and building devices that would impact people’s lives. When presented with a challenge, from FDA approvals to rounds of financing to eventual company acquisitions or exits, my mentors listened to our clients and responded by saying, “Yes, I hear you; here’s a solution I’ve been thinking about.” I learned a lot from corporate partner Bill Kaufman, private equity and investment management partner Phil Martin, M&A partners Tim Scallen and Brett Hanson, and medical technology partners Tom Letscher and Patrice Kloss, all of whom practice in the Minneapolis office.
These folks invested in me and invited me into calls with their clients, often founders or other company leaders. Eventually, they encouraged me to actively participate in and lead those calls. I am forever grateful to them for trusting and teaching me with their work and expertise.
