Steven Dickson is no stranger to challenge and change. He has been in-house with the municipal sector for approximately 15 years, moving among three of the largest municipalities in Canada (Hamilton, Mississauga and Peel). While his current position is Senior Legal Counsel at The Regional Municipality of Peel, he was recently seconded into a new role as the Director, Housing Development Office, which oversees the entire housing development process for the Region.
“My interest in furthering my growth and understanding as corporate counsel remains strong,” he explains. “This passion is what drove me to excel in post-graduate degrees, volunteer with professional associations such as the CCCA and build my career with more senior positions.” It was also what led him to enrol in the BLPIHC.
“In-house lawyers can add so much value by being not only experts in law, but also experts in our clients’ operations,” he adds. “The more knowledgeable and integrated we are in our employers’ business, the more valuable we become.”
According to Steven, in addition to the networking opportunities of the BLPIHC, the program provided him with the necessary financial literacy, impactful communication takeaways and guiding principles to move into senior leadership roles—essentially, the skills he needs to strengthen his strategic lens.
“The practical ins and outs of corporate counsel life continue to evolve,” he says. “Being subject matter experts in law is now becoming a starting point for in-house counsel. With clients’ expectations growing, we need to find new value-adds. Knowing your organization’s operations will lead to new opportunities to help lead, manage and grow operational areas beyond a purely legal role. You must look for ways to use your strategic insight and legal training in ways that allow for your value to shine.”
To him, future-proofing means continuing to build knowledge, find new processes and be more efficient while maximizing effectiveness. It means he will never stop learning or finding ways to be better.
“Leaders and organizations succeed by building on their strengths and seizing valuable opportunities when they arise,” he says. “I am in a leadership position with plenty of opportunity and growth on the horizon, so I strive each day to improve as a leader and as a trusted advisor, and further expand my knowledge. The program has added a distinct advantage for my career progression and ambitions.”
This article was originally published in May 2020 and has been minimally edited to update titles.