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Leading during a pandemic brought a unique blend of terror, excitement, and resilience. Leaders had to project confidence while grappling with uncertainty, fostering a sense of unity while dealing with personal challenges. As we look back on this period, I’ve distilled nine invaluable leadership lessons that hold true for anyone in a leadership role, regardless of their title or position. We may be through the worst of the pandemic, but in these modern times, it seems that we are regularly hit with crisis after crisis. So as we continue to have “unprecedented times,” let’s delve into some insights that have come to light.
Armin Lange is a founding partner of Grundwerk Legal, a labor & employment boutique in Frankfurt, Germany and one of the ILN’s four German firms. In this episode, Lindsay and Armin delve into the current uncertainties in the general business market and their impact, what people often misunderstand about labor law, and the challenges facing today’s law firms.
You can listen to the podcast here, or we’ve provided a transcript of the highlights below.
Let’s face it – we’re still in the midst of a changing world, and the dynamics of networking have evolved considerably. However, amidst the changes, some principles remain unwavering. As we approach the start of another fall amid ongoing uncertainty, let’s delve into how networking strategies have adapted and what remains constant.
Barry Cohen is a partner with Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an ILN member firm. In this episode, Lindsay and Barry discuss what Chat GPT means for the future of law firms, the challenges facing modern firms, and the lessons he’s learned over his career as a litigator.
You can listen to the podcast here, or we’ve provided a transcript of the highlights below.
On our podcast, Law Firm ILN-telligence, one of my favorite questions to ask our guests is about the most important lesson that they’ve learned over their career. During the dog days of August, it can feel like a bit of a slog, so I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you to inspire you to push through the long days!
If you’re connected to me on LinkedIn, you know that one of my favorite places to find thoughtful content about doing business in the modern world is Harvard Business Review. Not only do they offer articles that make me think critically about the way I’m leading my own organization, but their authors often offer practical, pragmatic advice on what to do better or differently – particularly when it comes to those things that we can be tempted to read about but not create any actionable change, like diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Immediately, I feel like I’ve lost all of our senior lawyers with this title, but please do bear with me – I know you know I sometimes like to write “touchy-feely” posts and frankly, they’re necessary in the legal industry. And these days, more than ever.
Why?
Well, vulnerability is an underestimated power. Leadership isn’t just about being in charge and making strategic decisions. It’s about cultivating a profound connection with your team, clients, and peers. And vulnerability is the key that unlocks the door to this meaningful connection.
Lorna Patajo-Kapunan is the founder of Kapunan & Castillo, a full-service law firm with extensive experience in varied areas of law, and a member of the International Lawyers Network. In this episode, Lorna returns as a guest to discuss the impact of the pandemic on women in general and the Philippines in particular, how technology is shaping the next generation of lawyers, and her philosophy of “20 Hugs a Day.”
You can listen to the podcast here, or we’ve provided a transcript of the highlights below.
We recently held the ILN’s Annual Conference in Rio de Janeiro, and as part of the business sessions, our host firm, KLA Advogados, invited one of their clients to speak about “Client Centricity in Practice.” It was an opportunity to have an interactive discussion with the attendees about questions that they had for our client panelist, who was open and honest about what he looks for in his outside counsel and touched on some hot issues. The session was moderated by Melissa Kanô and Alexandre Pessoa of KLA Advogados, who were joined by Waldemar Thiago Junior, Vice President, Managing Director of Brazil for General Mills. Read more…
I’m fresh off of a 12-day whirlwind business trip.
I traveled 14,983 miles over 19 flights and 1 bus trip. I visited six countries (while transiting through a total of 11 countries). I didn’t get very much sleep or eat nearly enough. But I certainly accomplished the goals that I set out to when I planned this trip, even if I might not organize six flights for one day the next time around.
More than one person asked me if I had plans for time off when I returned, and while I took Monday off, I joked that there’s “no rest for the wicked” because we’re in the crunch period of the end of the year with a lot to accomplish before 2022 ends and for better or worse, all of that falls to yours truly. (more…)