Bylined Pieces

As appeared on LinkedIn, July 19, 2023. "The stress of having so many bosses, so little time, and few resources is getting to me." I spent time the other day speaking with a brand new CMO and offered some advice it has taken me years to learn. It may not be suitable for everyone, but if a pearl works for…

As appeared on LinkedIn on July 10, 2023. "What’s wrong with our strategic plan?" The managing partner said that while the firm had created a strategic plan with a well-known consulting firm, it wasn’t doing the job that the partners expected – and the firm wasn’t achieving its goals. He wanted to know why that was the case. While there…

As appeared on Linkedin on July 6, 2023. The names have been changed to protect the superstars. I was getting settled in my airplane seat, flying home from visiting clients in California. As the plane door closed, I quickly called my husband to tell him we were taking off. While he usually replied with a perfunctory, “Have a good trip…

As appeared in June 2023 on LinkedIn. With the new round of associate layoffs reported by The American Lawyer, Law360 and other publications around the world, I’ve been thinking about what associates who have been let go might do to redefine their careers or to think about their next steps. I hope that by sprinkling a few ideas into LinkedInland, others will join…

Report by Deborah Farone, Executive Committee Member of the International Bar Association’s Law Firm Management Committee, and a Member of the Women Lawyers Committee. On Wednesday 16 May 2023, more than 415 registrants representing 81 countries participated in the webinar ‘How women can be rainmakers and control their destiny’. The amazing panel included Shawn Atkinson from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe…

As appeared on LinkedIn on June 13, 2023.    Be prepared. I was fully prepared for today. It was the first time I used doggy daycare for my puppy Lucy. With advanced planning, I packed Mrs. Lucy Doberman’s food, shiny new bowl and her favorite toy. Yet I recall there were plenty of times when I forgot an important occasion-based…

As appeared on LinkedIn on May 9, 2023.   Leading a marketing function requires more than talent. It demands training. I recently went to the opera for the first time in 3 years and began thinking about opera singers. I am intrigued by how they consistently train in order to keep their vocal cords in top condition.  Even between performances, they…

As appeared on LinkedIn on May 2, 2023.  In December, Southwest Airlines canceled 60% of its flights in two days, leading to one of the most costly episodes in airline history. Southwest had one particular vulnerability that other businesses, like law firms, face every day. They had outdated internal systems. In Southwest's case, they needed updated software to help schedule…

As appeared on LinkedIn on April 11, 2023.  In professional services, it’s the people who create the business. In marketing an organization, the macro decisions matter: What is your organization’s brand aspiration? How do you recruit new lawyers? What is the culture and compensation system, and how do those impact developing clients? While all of those elements affect the success…