Our guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambition has experienced first-hand a shift away from narrow boxes (like male, corporate finance, central London) to a more holistic, humane approach to doing business – at every level.

​Our guest’s anecdote about learning to “dress for success” as an aspiring executive will no doubt resonate with Leaders With Ambition listeners. Alex Liddle, who today is Sales Director for EMEA at PwC, explains how he learned early that presentation matters when it comes to establishing oneself as a serious player. But his stalwart commitment to sporting a suit and tie is just one of the multiple ingredients that explain Alex’s rise through the ranks.

For someone who once felt like a “fish out of water,” Tahisha Fugate, Senior Marketing & Business Development Manager at Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider, has never been out of her depth over the course of an enviable career in legal marketing and business development.

On this episode of Leaders With Ambition, she shares with Host Nicky Acuna Ocana her many professional insights – from joining her first law firm to securing an MBA to paying forward the mentorship that helped make possible her successful trajectory.

Networking has been key, says Tahisha, in her growth and evolution as a marketing leader who constantly demonstrates that all-important value propositionYou’ll hear about why sustained commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is a superpower for law firms as well as how the legal marketing space is being changed and challenged by new technologies.

Don’t miss Tahisha’s words of wisdom and the vision she brings to her leadership role at the Legal Marketing Association – an organisation to which this Washington, D.C.-based dynamo attributes much of her tremendous – and ongoing – success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tahisha Fugate and Legal Marketing

02:20 Tahisha's Journey: From Aspiring Lawyer to Legal Marketer

10:15 The Evolution of Legal Marketing and Business Development

18:27 The Importance of Mentorship and Community in Legal Marketing

22:27 Authenticity and Representation in Legal Spaces

28:11 Challenges and Changes in Legal Marketing Over Two Decades

35:45 Leadership and Coaching in Legal Marketing

40:59 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Law Firms

At the forefront of legal marketing innovation, our guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambition has harnessed the power of creativity, diversity and curiosity at every turn.

​It’s all about the value-add for our guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambition. Andy Cowie, a Partner at James Cowper Kreston, exemplifies the fact that you don’t have to have a lofty credential to rise to the top in professional services. What you do need? Energy, innovative ideas, a collaborative spirit and flexibility. Having a massive network doesn’t hurt, either!

Our guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambition exemplifies what it means to carve out a career niche that dovetails perfectly with professional interests, goals, and talents.

Adrian Hyde, a Partner at Begbies Traynor Group, explains how he came to specialise as a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner and pioneer a whole new type of business advisory services.

He shares with host Nicky Acuna Ocana his journey from growing up the son of a trade union organiser in the East Midlands region to 16 years as a Solicitor in private practice to evolving an enormously successful international (and entrepreneurial) business and crime asset recovery practice.

You’ll learn about the roots of CVR Global, its geographic footprint, expansion, and eventual happy acquisition by Begbies.

Adrian also highlights the ongoing role of mentorship as well as the reasons for his commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).

“You progress through your networking but you also progress by actually having the spark within you that gives you the confidence to go and do the networking,” says our guest. Find out what obstacles currently pose the biggest challenges for business and legal services and get an inside look at the fascinating landscape that shapes the work of Insolvency Practitioners day to da.

Key Takeaways:

Starting out: The diverse young life experience in the East Midlands as the son of a trade union organiser introduced Adrian’s worldview heading into university and beyond.

Jumpstart: What sparked Adrian’s early, ardent interest in the legal space (Hint: A TV drama.)

Competitive edge: How his temperament makes Adrian particularly well suited to his specialty.

Key direction: Why mentorship proved essential to Adrian’s professional development and along the way to his two main career goals: to be a Partner at a London-based firm.

Gathering focus: How Adrian grasped the opportunity to deepen his expertise and role as a credible Insolvency Practitioner (including navigating rigorous licensing exams).

Fostering equity: About the evolution and acquisition of the business recovery team that ultimately became CVR Global – the dawn of a new type of business advisory service.

Dramatic growth: What fuelled CVR Global’s growth, including staffing up from 30 to 100 and expanding the geographic footprint.

Winning combination;How the negotiation process that resulted in the terms of Begbie’s acquisition of CVR Global contributed to a surprisingly seamless transition.

Paying it forward: About Adrian’s service as president of the Insolvency Practitioners Association as a form of giving back, adding to the profession, and helping shape regulation.

Hybrid challenges: What it looks like to balance learning and development with workplace flexibility, including innovative approaches to improve recruitment.

Building confidence: About the benefits of experience accrued through apprenticeships and an immersive approach to learning on the job.Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

02:09 Adrian's Career Journey

08:03 From Law to Insolvency

14:16 The Desire for Partnership

19:53 The Importance of Mentorship

23:09 Determination and Focus

28:26 Creating Something Special

32:02 The Decision to Sell CVR Global

32:46 Introduction and Overview of Adrian Hyde's Experience

38:47 The Importance of Clear Communication and Avoiding Assumptions

51:46 Adapting to Increased Regulation and the Potential Impact of AI

57:02 Promoting Talent Development and Social Mobility through Apprenticeships

01:00:54 The Power of Never Assuming Anything

Alessandra Almeida Jones explains on this episode of Leaders With Ambition that she began tapping into her bedrock confidence only after she committed to being authentic and admitting limitations (which we all have, of course).

As Global Chief Marketing Officer for Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, our guest brings the culmination of her varied life experience to building both the firm’s brand and a vibrant, inclusive workplace culture.

​We’re highlighting the power of resiliency – and flexibility – when Claire Cavanagh, Head of Talent Acquisition at Bird & Bird, unpacks her fascinating career trajectory on this episode of Leaders With Ambition.

She shares with Host Nicky Acuna Ocana the critical role that openness has played in driving her professional services career steadily upward, even amidst the zig-zag of life challenges such as divorce and a pandemic.

A big part of Claire’s ability to recruit top legal talent and promote retention through healthy workplace cultures lies in her lived experience and empathy. She has learned through a variety of roles and in differing work environments that the best leaders are generous with compliments and positive reinforcement.

“Our careers are not in vacuums. We are amongst colleagues all the time and need to feed off each other,” says our guest. “We should be encouraging each other to really be the best we can be.”

That ethos extends to Claire’s passion for sponsorship, enabling the long-term success of women and people of colour as they climb through executive ranks.

A deeply felt commitment to growth and development, inclusion and equity, are at the heart of a robust network that Claire has cultivated since the outset of her career.

Even when confronted with life’s inevitable setbacks, this top legal recruitment expert has stayed true to a defining authenticity that has deepened her, both professionally and personally.

You won’t want to miss words of wisdom from a woman who is all about thoughtful leadership – and paying it forward!

On this episode of Leaders With Ambition we welcome Becky Lowe, UK & International Head of Talent Acquisition for the global law firm CMS.

She was born into a family that emphasised hard work and resiliency, but open-mindedness is the secret sauce that has turbocharged her human resources career.

Becky has held a variety of HR roles in the manufacturing and professional services sectors, including a stint overseeing a staff of 800 at a Big 4 accounting firm.

As she explains to Host Nicky Acuna Ocana;

“I’m not afraid to stretch people and take them out of their comfort zone because that’s the kind of support I’ve had and that’s what has enabled me to grow.”

Not only does Becky make it a practice always to raise her hand, she also brings authenticity, candour and transparency to everything she does.

The goal? This leader is always looking for ways to add value – by enabling transparency, advocating for equity and inclusion, honouring the needs of team members and fostering optimal conditions in the workplace and at home.

Learn about the leadership lessons that have shaped Becky’s successful career – from training intensively as an executive coach to learning how to parent a neurodiverse son to embracing the art of listening as a tool for professional development.

According to Becky, it’s all about being brave and embracing failures as a gateway to growth – for ourselves and in mentoring others!

If you enjoyed this discussion, please click here to find previous episodes of Leaders with Ambition.