Ruchi Desai - Co-Founder and Co-CEO, EIGHT Brewing Co.

The new year calls for fresh starts and new goals, and a little inspiration from Ruchi Desai is the perfect anecdote to that start of the year energy. Ruchi is now Co-Founder and Co-CEO of EIGHT Brewing Co. But how did she transition out of a career as an intellectual property attorney? Spoiler alert: patience, curiosity, and time as an intern were all part of the journey. If you need a reminder to always believe in yourself, read below.

Let's start from the beginning. Why did you decide to pursue a career in the legal field?

That’s a great question. If I’m being honest, I didn’t really know what it meant to do so. I took a class while in undergrad called the Economic Analysis of Law, which was largely informed by the jurisprudence of Judge Richard Posner. At the time, I was pursuing degrees in international relations as well as finance, and the course sparked my intellectual interest. Upon graduating, I went to work for a hedge fund in New York. I knew I wanted to pursue a graduate degree, but with a strong business background from Wharton, an MBA didn’t seem like the right fit. Remembering this course, I decided to apply to law school with the idea of working either in entertainment or arbitration.

You also pursued a LLM in London. Did you intend on practicing in the UK?

I actually already had an offer at a U.S.-based law firm upon graduating from Harvard. I had studied abroad in college and spent one of our J-terms (at Harvard, January could be spent interning) in Sydney. I was aching to live internationally again. Pursuing an LLM was the best way to broaden my general knowledge and understand how certain legal issues were thought of outside the US. It also afforded me a year to live in London and travel throughout Europe.

Your career has been a balance of holding both business and legal roles in various different organizations. Tell us a little bit about the evolution of your career and how you navigated the different opportunities.

It’s been a meandering road for sure! I started my career as a derivatives trader in the midst of the mortgage-backed security implosion in 2008. I later worked as a lawyer focusing on intellectual property and start-up advisory. I realized I wanted to be building teams and brands that had a tangible impact on people’s lives, which is when I left my law firm to launch my first company. While that venture did not end successfully, it was an incredible experience that had me leading an engineering summit in South Korea, meeting with the leadership of Pandora in Amsterdam and Google in Palo Alto, as well as emailing with Tim Cook. I learned many valuable lessons that I have carried into my subsequent roles leading strategy and operations at CPG companies, fintech startups, and healthcare service providers. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to partner with my co-founders, Doug Campbell, Jake Duneier, and of course, Troy Aikman, to launch my current venture, EIGHT, which has been an amazing adventure to-date.

One of the key drivers throughout my career was a thirst for knowledge and passion for the unknown. I enjoyed new challenges and getting up to speed in a new discipline or industry. That attitude could be challenging as it can be difficult to transition from such different roles, but it’s also helped create an interesting and continually engaging career.

More recently, you became the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Eight Brewing Co. Tell us more about Eight and why you decided to take the entrepreneurial leap.

I’ve always been inspired by companies and brands that tap into a consumer need and make a significant cultural impact. When my co-founders and I started talking about EIGHT we saw an opportunity to do just that by taking on the giants that currently dominate the light beer market. EIGHT is a light lager made with 90 calories, 2.6 grams of carbs, and all organic grains. Unlike our competitors, EIGHT has no adjuncts (fillers like corn syrup, rice, etc.).

Our mission is to encourage the pursuit of greatness, raising a glass to special moments along the way. We are built for the early risers – people who wake up every day with a purpose and the ambition to get one step closer to their goals or 1% better than the day before. EIGHT is a crisp, refreshing beer that people can enjoy without compromising the hard work they put in every day.

It's clear that having a JD doesn't mean you need to practice the law forever. How has your legal background assisted you in your current venture as a co-CEO?

Well, for starters, it definitely helps save on legal fees! I’m able to handle much contract review and negotiation in-house. On a more serious note, however, there is almost no part of business that isn’t touched by some legal considerations. The benefits of legal training extend far beyond the practice of law. Law school, my LLM, and practicing at a firm honed my ability to take in a large amount of data and facts and recognize patterns. I can quickly understand a situation and evaluate various options. Legal research and finding precedent to support my analysis helps me identify potential solutions, what’s relevant to my particular situation, and how we can leverage that learning.

Do you have any advice for other lawyers hoping to shift out of the law into a business role?

Be patient, believe in yourself, and be humble. Transitioning into a strategy and operations role after a legal career can be challenging. I left my law firm earlier in my career than I had originally intended. In looking for new roles, I often got pigeon-holed into quasi-legal roles; was told I didn’t have enough relevant experience or that I had too much experience and education for the role.

I had to continue to believe in myself, what I was capable of, and what I could contribute. Eventually, I built a business-focused resume, starting with more junior roles and consulting projects – I was even an intern again! Each of those experiences contributed to my overall repertoire of skills, and I draw from them regularly.

What is the worst piece of advice you've ever received? And what is the best.

That’s a tough one. When I was struggling to find good, interesting roles, many people told me to go back to a law firm. At least then, I’d have a steady salary rather than what I’d built piecemeal from various consulting roles. I could see the merit in that course, but I also knew I wanted to pursue a career in business. It took a lot of patience, missteps, and humility to find myself in my role as Co-CEO of EIGHT. Despite the many ups and downs, I’ve drawn valuable insights from each of my previous roles that I draw upon regularly.

The best advice I’ve received was “always be learning.” My father lives by this mantra and has repeated it to me since I was a little girl. Seemingly simple, it’s taken on different meanings throughout my life. In starting my own business in a completely new industry, I started by reading everything I could, asking questions, and finding mentors across the value chain. We’ve consistently hired people who know more than we do and are experts in their respective areas. We approach every question with an open mind, seeking input from all sources, as good ideas can come from anywhere.