Sheila Patel | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

Sheila is a Serial entrepreneur. Being an Experienced Senior Law Partner with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry while starting a commercial real estate firm and The LIFE Bags Co. Skilled in a plethora of areas such as Negotiation, Team Building, Organizational Leadership, Writing, Fundraising and Designer. Recently, Sheila took on the wild west space of Cannabis and has quickly become

a leader in the Illinois arena with a true understanding of the intersection between real estate and franchise law while considering Social Equity. Sheila's strong entrepreneurship professional experience is supplemented with her education which includes a Bachelor's Degree in International Studies from Pepperdine University, a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University & an Executive MBA Certificate focused in Center for Non-Profit Management from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management.

Current position (3)

Senior Partner

SAP LAW

Commercial Broker

Coldwell Banker

Founder

The Life Bags Company

Degrees (3)

BA in International Global Studies

Pepperdine Univierty

1994 to 1997

Juris Doctorate

DePaul University College of Law

2001 to 2004

Executive MBA, Center for Non-Profit Management

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management

2015 to 2016

Presentations

Presentations (1)

Get in or Get out

My elevator pitch is literally about deciding to get into the elevator. The metaphor of an elevator either going up or going down in business - not knowing if your choices will get you to the penthouse of will you end up in the basement. Additionally, who joins you on what floors and where are they are headed matters. So, I tend to ask my clients, especially, in the industries I represent - to "get in or get out" of the elevator quickly. Things move fast in real estate or cannabis. You have to pivot and make changes as the laws and markets change. Cannabis is still federally illegal and yet it is a growing industry. SO decisions must be made swiftly and you must have a stomach for assessed/strategic risks. And you don't know which way the elevator is headed. Therefore, "get in or get out" has become my mantra. Additionally, I work with mainly women and minorities who have historically had less access or opportunities - risk assessment may be a new strategy for growth.