It’s Not All Billable Episode 3: Jonathan’s Origin Story – Big Family, Big World, and a Career Across Borders
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Episode Summary
Hosts Jonathan Bench and Kato Aerts continue their origin-story series with an episode focused on Jonathan’s path into law. Kato interviews Jonathan about growing up as one of twelve children in small-town Wisconsin, his early love of books, language, and performance, and the experiences that took him from the Midwest to Hong Kong at nineteen, where his interest in China and international culture took root. Jonathan shares how faith, family responsibility, curiosity about the world, and a search for meaningful mentorship ultimately led him to business law at the intersection of geopolitics, language, and cross-border dealmaking. Along the way, they discuss balancing a large family with a demanding practice, the importance of visibility and mentorship in building a career, and why “it’s not all billable” is a guiding philosophy about connection, purpose, and serving clients beyond transactions. Connect with Jonathan and Kato on LinkedIn for more insights.