Adam J. Coates – General Counsel & Senior Vice President
From Philadelphia. Currently living in Washington, DC, with my amazing wife and two fantastic children.
In addition to looking after all the corporate, legal, and internal compliance affairs of the organization, I’m responsible for BSA’s Compliance Solutions programs, which support participating members in promoting software license compliance around the world.
I’ve been with BSA for more than 14 years in various roles, but I always focused on these two pillars. Before BSA, I practiced law in the litigation department of an international law firm. I earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania. I grew up in and around Philadelphia, and I have very strong opinions about cheesesteaks.
What’s the most unique part about working at BSA?
The most unique part of working at BSA is its global reach, not just in terms of the scope of our programs, but also in terms of the diversity of our team. We are all fortunate in that we have the opportunity to listen to — and learn from — people with a stunning variety of cultural, professional, and personal experiences. It’s a privilege to be able to draw on that in support of our members’ goals.
What’s the most helpful thing you’ve learned working at BSA?
The most helpful thing I’ve learned working at BSA is that even in a highly quantitative and tech-centric industry like enterprise software, the most important keys to success are those often derided as “soft” skills: active listening, building trust, fostering relationships, and bringing people together to solve problems. You can have the best idea anyone’s ever thought of, but you won’t get anything done unless you can persuade people to get on board with it.
What advice can you give someone who just started their career/wants to pursue a similar career?
My advice for someone just starting their career is to be as open to new experiences as your circumstances allow you to be. Even if your duties are mundane, try to learn as much as you can about the sector you’re in, what your employer’s strategic goals and values are, and what motivates the people you work with. You may not like or agree with what you learn, but that’s still critical data to help you understand and define your own goals, values, and motivations.
Tell us one fun fact about you (that might surprise your colleagues).
Something about me that might surprise people is that I played guitar in a succession of vaguely disreputable bar bands in high school and college. Over the years, we played at dozens of venues in the Philadelphia area and beyond, usually fraternity basements, bars, and pubs. But once, we were an opening act at the legendary Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia’s Chinatown district, where I’d previously seen many of my musical idols, like Bob Mould & Sugar, Superchunk, and Buffalo Tom. A personal high watermark.
How do you unwind after work?
I unwind outside of work mainly by indulging my passion for food and cooking. I love to explore new cuisines — both here in Washington and wherever my personal and professional travels take me — and then learn how to cook them myself. My family has been a very tolerant test bed for these experiments over the years, ranging from Brazilian churrasco-style picanha to homemade Korean kimchi and bibimbap to Japanese okonomiyaki and teppanyaki to Middle Eastern lamb shawarma to Peruvian pollo a la brasa.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
One item from my (extensive) bucket list: A long-form, culinary-focused journey through Southeast Asia. I am particularly fascinated by the cuisines of this region, which so far I’ve only been able to visit briefly for work.
