In leadership, trust isn’t a given—it’s earned, protected, and sometimes rebuilt. This episode gets practical about the quiet power of credibility and how to lead without playing politics.

- How do you build trust with IT, attorneys, and senior leadership—without overplaying your hand?

- What do you do when you're caught off guard, and your credibility is on the line?

- What are the trade-offs between being liked and being respected—and how do you navigate them with intention?

- And what happens when trust breaks down?

We share a moment that didn’t go as planned, and the lessons that followed. This episode earns its place in the series by grounding listeners in the real work of influence—before we dive into heavier leadership terrain. If you’ve ever led from the middle, the margins, or the hot seat, this one’s for you.

For decades, people have been suggesting that the death of the billable hour was inevitable.  Evan Chesler said, “[t]he billable hour makes no sense, not even for lawyers” in his 2008 Forbes article "Kill the Billable Hour.” We haven't seen a lot of movement since that article, but with the explosion of GenAI in legal, there has been increased discussion and focus suggesting that AFAs will replace the billable hour. Will we be looking back on this time in 20 years and saying, “Remember when we thought the billable hour would go the way of the dodo bird?”

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Recorded on 02-23-26.

We are pleased to introduce the second ILTA Content Teams and NextGen Innovators Group podcast series—an initiative designed to repackage high‑value, evergreen content in a format tailored for today's Next Gen legal professionals.

We are pleased to introduce the ILTA Content Teams and NextGen Innovators Group podcast series—an initiative designed to repackage high‑value, evergreen content in a format tailored for today's Next Gen legal professionals.

This series highlights compelling conversations and thought‑provoking discussions from recently delivered sessions, offering members an accessible way to stay informed, inspired, and connected to emerging ideas shaping the legal industry.

We are pleased to introduce the ILTA Content Teams and NextGen Innovators Group podcast series—an initiative designed to repackage high‑value, evergreen content in a format tailored for today's Next Gen legal professionals.

This series highlights compelling conversations and thought‑provoking discussions from recently delivered sessions, offering members an accessible way to stay informed, inspired, and connected to emerging ideas shaping the legal industry.

Every executive was once an expert—until the job demanded more than mastery. In this episode, we explore the pivotal shift from doing to leading, and what it really takes to make that leap.

- How do you evolve from technical excellence to strategic influence?

- What skills matter most when stepping into executive leadership—and which ones quietly fall away?

- What leadership cliché did you once believe, only to discard with experience?

- And what did you have to unlearn to thrive in your second or third C-suite role?

This episode bridges the gap between ambition and reality, offering honest reflections for anyone preparing to lead at the next level. If you’re standing at the edge of the leap—or already midair—this one’s for you.

Hear from CEO Joy Heath Rush and Board President Jason Dirkx as they recap event successes from 2025, membership growth, new volunteer roles, and what's ahead—including Leadership Days, EVOLVE 2026 in Denver, and ILTACON 2026 in Nashville.

Join host Mary Nehring and guests Tiffany McLean and LaToya Deese-Richardson for an empowering conversation about advocating for yourself in the workplace.

In this episode, the ILTA Women Who Lead team explores why self‑advocacy matters, the barriers many women face, and practical strategies for confidently articulating your value. Through real experiences, actionable tips, and inspiring stories, listeners will gain tools to speak up, seek opportunities, and champion their own growth.

To learn more about the Women Who Lead, visit: https://www.iltanet.org/resources/wwl2

To learn more about ILTA's myMentor program, visit: https://www.iltanet.org/resources/mymentor 

Have you ever heard the saying, "We all have the same 24 hours in a day?" The problem is, we know that's not true. Beyoncé, for example, has a whole team of people to eliminate tasks and burdens from her life, leaving more time to focus on what she wants. IG programs need to “Beyoncé-ify” their workflows, i.e., develop procedures that reduce the burden of the incoming work to create bandwidth for other projects. AI has thrust Legal’s ROT problem into the spotlight, but who has time to clear out old data when hundreds of requests come through daily? This session highlighted case studies and insights from firms that have implemented a proactive approach, including how they got leadership's go-ahead and what they learned.  

Recorded on 01-27-2026.

Leadership often comes wrapped in glossy language—vision, impact, influence. But behind the brochure lies a messier truth. In this episode, we step into the stories executives rarely tell: the moments that looked impressive on paper but felt anything but behind the scenes.

- That “C-suite moment” that checked every box—except the one labeled fulfillment

- The disconnect between expectations and reality, and how leaders navigate the emotional fallout

- The conversations you wish you could have had, but didn’t - And the quiet recalibrations that keep you grounded when everything around you feels off-script

This episode moves past the polished narrative and into the lived experience of executive leadership. If you’ve ever felt like the role didn’t match the promise, you’re not alone—and this conversation proves it.