Tina Tchen worked in the White House during President Barack Obama’s entire administration, first as the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, then as assistant to the president and chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama. Her work for the Obamas developed from her decades of volunteer efforts on women’s and community issues. Her job before entering the White House was as a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom’s office in Chicago, where she spent 23 years as a commercial litigator. She talks about firms losing top female talent, how hard it was keeping her nose out of White House litigation, and if she’d ever go back to billable-hour life. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
What have you been up to since leaving the White House?
