“Curiosity and empathy – the human edge behind business success” … article contributed by yours truly to PSMG’s Centrum

15 December 2025

2 Comments

Roy Sexton says ultimately two traits predict whether a professional services marketing team will translate client intelligence and new technology into real growth: intellectual curiosity, and empathy. These are not soft skills; they’re growth skills.

Click here for original article on PSMG’s Centrum

“The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General.”― Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Harrison Bergeron

Have you read this short story by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., an incisive satirist who – much like The Simpsons – accurately anticipated where our collective human foibles would take us as a global society?

The tale depicts a world where differentiation is a threat and authentic connection even more so, and in a byzantine mix of tech and legislation, people are saddled with physical governors (headphones blaring cacophonous noises for the musically gifted, leg weights for the agile, etc) to bring everyone to a non-threatening state of utter conformity.

Why am I sharing this? Because, sometimes, a given industry or profession while celebrating innovation in the abstract creates layers and layers of risk averse bureaucracy that derails these aspirations.

A company may hire experienced talent but won’t empower them to level up from their prior roles. Technology may even be introduced that, on the face of it, is intended to supercharge creativity and engagement but brings a sea of mediocrity. And when faced with true innovation – novel ideas from the human heart – leaders may recoil in fear, dismissively asking, “Is anyone else doing this?” Hence, truly great ideas then may share the dark fate that befalls Harrison in Vonnegut’s piece.

In a market where many firms now license the same research tools, CRMs and AI assistants, the differentiator isn’t the software. It’s the people running it. Two traits predict whether a professional services marketing team will translate client intelligence and new technology into real growth: intellectual curiosity (a hunger to ask better questions and test new approaches) and empathy (a disciplined ability to see matters through a client’s eyes).

These are not soft skills; they’re growth skills. When you design hiring, training and operating rhythms around them, data gets used, technology sticks, and clients feel understood. Intellectual curiosity and empathy are skills to be celebrated and encouraged, not constrained.

Curious teams use more (and better) data and adapt faster. Research summarised in Harvard Business Review shows curiosity improves problem solving, collaboration, and decision quality – especially when faced with uncertainty. A cross-industry study by SAS found “high-curiosity” employees use more data types in their work (customer, performance, and employee data) than their low-curiosity peers, which is exactly what modern client intelligence demands.

In other words, curiosity turns tools and dashboards into insights and experiments instead of shelfware [HBR, 2018; SAS, 2023].

Empathy is the growth engine that converts those insights into loyalty and referrals. Corporate counsel [GC] overwhelmingly recommends firms for one reason above all: superior client service. In BTI’s national study, 70 per-cent of unprompted recommendations cited client service – not price – as the driver; four in 10 GCs specifically included “understands my business” within that service definition [BTI Consulting, 2022].

For law firm marketers, empathy isn’t performative warmth. It’s operational: interviewing clients, translating their risk language into campaigns and pursuit strategies, and coaching lawyers to reflect that understanding in every touchpoint.

Client listening is the bridge between curiosity and empathy, and it measurably pays. Thomson Reuters’ Stellar Performance research found only about 27 per-cent of clients are asked for formal feedback by their firms, yet clients who participate give those firms a 34 per-cent share of their external legal spend versus a 14 per-cent baseline. They are also more likely to recommend the firm [Thomson Reuters, 2023]. If you want a single, evidence-backed action that grows wallet share and affinity, institutionalise and scale client feedback.

Collaboration multiplies the effect. When clients see a collaborative team – three or more lawyers with complementary strengths acting as one – the share of wallet can rise from 14 per-cent to 56 per-cent, according to Thomson Reuters’ Market Insights data.

Yet most firms underuse this lever. In a Thomson Reuters Institute survey, 71 per-cent of marketing and business development [MBD] leaders said collaboration across practices had not increased; among the minority who did see collaboration rise, 100 per-cent reported positive results [Thomson Reuters, 2024]. Curiosity assembles the right team; empathy keeps it coordinated around the client’s definition of value.

Technology adoption is finally catching up, but outcomes are uneven because the human layer is missing. The ABA’s 2024 Legal Technology Survey shows AI adoption nearly tripled year over year, from 11 per-cent (2023) to 30 per-cent (2024) overall, with 4 per-cent % of 100+-lawyer firms reporting AI use.

That’s encouraging but contrast it with CRM reality: LSSO reports 80 per-cent-plus of firms have a CRM yet only 20 per-cent rate it effective. Separate data show only 40 per-cent per-cent of lawyers use CRM at all and just 25 per-cent use it regularly [ABA, 2024; LSSO, 2022]. The lesson: tools don’t create growth; curious, empathetic operating habits do.

If you need one more reason to connect client intelligence with empathetic execution, consider the economics of retention and relevance. McKinsey finds effective personalisation – grounded in data and client understanding – lifts revenue five to 15 per-cent and improves marketing ROI 10 and 30 per-cent. Pair that with Bain’s long-standing finding that a five per-cent increase in customer retention can raise profits 25 to 95 per-cent [McKinsey, 2021; Bain & Company, 1990]. In legal, where switching costs and trust are high, the compounding effect of keeping and growing the right clients is profound.

 

“Growth comes when a curious team keeps digging for the real problem and an empathetic team keeps designing for the client’s reality.”

 

How to build a curious-and-empathetic marketing engine

At this moment you might be thinking to yourself, as a hard driving, get stuff done business leader, “All well and good, Roy. Thanks for existential musings and obscure literary references, peppered with some soul-crushing factoids. How do I operationalise any of this?” I’m glad you asked…

1. Hire for it (and audition it)

Add structured prompts to interviews: “Tell me about a time you changed your mind from a client/customer interview,” or “Walk me through a time a data point contradicted your intuition—what did you do?” Ask candidates to run a 20-minute mock client/customer discovery interview (with you role-playing as said client/customer) and to write a three-paragraph summary of business issues, not just legal needs. You’re testing listening, probing, and synthesis, not polish.

2. Make client listening a weekly ritual, not an annual event

Aim for a simple, tiered programme: quarterly deep-dive interviews for top accounts; semi-annual pulse surveys for the next tier, and lightweight win/loss calls within two weeks of every major pursuit. Track three fields in CRM for each contact: top business priority, top personal KPI, and last feedback date.

3. Pair “nerd brain” with “heartbrain” in account teams

Create micro-squads for priority clients: one data-first marketer (curiosity to mine matter history, industry signals, buying-center maps); one relationship designer (empathy to craft executive conversations). Publish a one-page “client understanding brief” before every pitch.

If you haven’t conducted a DISC assessment [dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness] among your teams, do it. I know it feels like a throwback to some, but DISC works because it WORKS. If you want to find out quickly the superpowers and collaborative strengths of your teams – and have some revelatory and fun team building in the process – take the time to do this. The results will be informative and will be instrumental for the success of this tactic.

4. Turn technology into habits

Make “Friday five” a standing rule (log five meaningful updates per lawyer), create auto-ingestion of contacts from email and events, and build a two-minute “after-meeting” form. Empower your MBD colleagues to remind, support, and cajole their lawyers. That interaction will surface new opportunities and create crucial connection points.

5. Personalise at scale but start narrow

Pick one vertical and two common business problems. Build a reusable insight spine: pain-point hypotheses, diagnostic slides, a “what we’re seeing” briefing, and case blurbs. Use client intelligence to sequence outreach. Again, engage your MBD teams here. The conversations must not be siloed. This information will be crucial to work smarter (not harder).

6. Measure what matters

Track: share of wallet; feedback coverage; cross-sell collaboration; cycle time to value; and adoption.

7. Coach lawyers the same way you coach marketers

Run short clinics on layered questioning, mirroring, summarising, and closing with next-step experiments. Pair rainmakers with marketers in client meetings.

Bottom line

Client intelligence and modern tools are necessary but insufficient. Growth comes when a curious team keeps digging for the real problem and an empathetic team keeps designing for the client’s reality. Do that consistently – through feedback, collaboration, and disciplined use of technology – and the well-documented economics of retention, personalisation, and share-of-wallet, start working for you.

 

About the author

Roy Sexton has more than 25 years’ experience in various industries with nearly 15 spent in the legal marketing field at prominent global firms. His career knowledge includes public relations and marketing planning, business development strategy, digital and social media outreach, attorney onboarding and practice development.

“When you go to a restaurant, you know they can already cook the food … what sets it apart is ambiance.” Rachel Clar, Esq. hosts yours truly for “Coming Out as Yourself in BigLaw: Strategy Over Sanitizing”

10 December 2025

1 Comment

Thank you for having me, Rachel Clar, Esq.! I enjoyed that conversation on the power of authenticity very much, and I found the engagement from our wonderful attendees so affirming. Thank you for being you.

Watch the video replay here.

The more you try to fit in, the easier it is to be undervalued.

You sit in silence as he mispronounces your name again, because correcting him feels riskier than letting it slide.

This is the invisible tax so many women in BigLaw still pay.

Not because they lack skill.

Because they were taught to shrink to stay safe.

Rachel coaches BigLaw women across the AmLaw 200.

Roy leads marketing inside a global firm and has lived this firsthand.

On Wednesday, December 10 at 1 pm ET/noon CT, join Rachel Clar, Esq. and Roy Sexton for:

Coming Out as Yourself in BigLaw: Strategy Over Sanitizing

We will unpack how your identity can support your strategy in the rooms that decide your future.

This Live is for attorneys who want to:

→ Speak directly without being labeled difficult
→ Ask for resources in ways that raise your status
→ Decline misaligned work without whispers about your lack of dedication

This session sets the stage for a deeper dive in winter 2026, where you can learn to use your voice in ways that shift outcomes inside your firm.

All registrants get The BigLaw Power Moves Cheat Sheet, which includes ten strategic cues to get yourself heard in high-stakes moments.

P.S. Which moment feels most familiar:
Being talked over.
Being labeled “too direct.”
Being the default note taker.
Being the token woman in the room.
Or saying yes because no feels dangerous?

Screenshot

P.S. I received this lovely note from an attendee …

I completely loved your and Rachel’s session — and found SO MUCH of it to resonate deeply within me. Here are just a few of the MIC-DROP statements you made that I wrote down! 🎤💥

–the importance of *earning* the right to express more and more of one’s unique authenticity through work quality and reliability

–how you used compassion, humbleness and humor in response to someone butchering your name to convert that challenging moment into a critical bonding/trust moment with him

–don’t look to the company who is paying you to define who you are (boom!!)

–the hidden cost of sanitizing oneself and the profound effects of doing so on mental health, anxiety and overall thriving

–WTF happens in law school such that it spits out people who are in a frantic race to be the first to be second?!? LOL!! #truth

–one can have an abundant mindset in a world/environment of scarcity through authenticity (can I add another BOOM!!??)

–distinguishing between non-negotiables in one’s identity and “gravy” — and how this directly dictates one’s energy and passion

–how you were using your gayness as a lens to signal to everyone else who is feeling othered to be themselves

–the right people will COME TO YOU when you are in your authentic self

🥹🥹🥹

 P.P.S. Rachel’s summary …

You don’t have to be all things to all people.
Because then you’re nothing to no one.

Thank you, Roy Sexton, for sharing so many pearls on yesterday’s Live, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗟𝗮𝘄: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Here are a few that stayed with me:

1️⃣ 𝗢𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵, 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

2️⃣ 𝗢𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺
𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.

3️⃣ 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻
𝘈 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦-𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵.

4️⃣ 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴.
𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘺, “𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.”

5️⃣ 𝗢𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂
𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶?
𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶?
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺?

6️⃣ 𝗢𝗻 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 (𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀)
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.

7️⃣ 𝗢𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦.
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 —
𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵-𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲?
Authenticity isn’t a branding exercise.
It’s the foundation of trust — for your clients, your firm, and for yourself.

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁?

 

“Act like you belong, then belong.” Chandler Quintin and Video Brothers quiz yours truly on the latest episode of #RockPaperFunnel

9 December 2025

3 Comments

Thank you, Chandler Quintin and Video Brothers! This was such an enjoyable conversation, and I’m a BIG believer in having fun while ALSO having substantive discussion (which this was/is). While I didn’t win the contents of the “silver briefcase,” I won a new friend and had a great time along the way!

EPISODE DESCRIPTION: 🪨📄✂️ It’s time to go down the funnel with Roy Sexton, CMO at Vedder Price, in this episode of Video Brothers’ #RockPaperFunnel.

Roy’s proof that “boring” industries are only boring when the people leading them are. He took an English & theatre background, walked into Deloitte “a thousand years ago,” and somehow turned it into a career building brands for some of the sharpest lawyers in the world.

From reimagining three different law firm brands to walking on stage in rainbow sequins with a drag queen at a legal marketing conference, Roy doesn’t just talk about inclusion and humanity in business… he performs it.

And now at Vedder Price, he’s helping attorneys show the world what actually sets them apart: substance, empathy, and real business understanding (not just another “world-class service” tagline).

Stay sharp. Stay weird. And above all… stay memorable.

“No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.” Wicked: For Good

2 December 2025

2 Comments

Wicked. I read Gregory Maguire’s book thirty years ago and was transformed. In this pre-internet era, the idea of approaching a well-worn tale like The Wizard of Oz (which had always been an obsession of mine) from the “villain’s” perspective was relatively, er, novel. But Maguire had more than a gimmick – he had an incisive message to relay, a takedown of the patriarchy, an attack on racism and classism, a desire to champion the rights of all creatures great and small. I had never read anything like it.

 

A few years later, Stephen Schwartz (another obsession) adapted the novel into a big, brassy Broadway musical. My husband and I would finally see the show in Toronto a few years after its debut, and John fell deeply in love with the score and the narrative around an underdog and a top dog striking an unlikely friendship that changed both of their lives … for good. I enjoyed the show but felt something had been lost. The novel’s thornier edges had all been sanded down and replaced with an equally moving but slightly different message around empowerment in the face of institutional adversity.

 

Twenty years later, director John M. Chu crafted a cinematic hybrid of sorts between novel and stage show to generally positive results. Wicked, Part 1 as it has come to be known felt like a revelation (again), bringing the zip of Schwartz’s score into an overlit landscape that didn’t shy away from Maguire’s cultural critique, while remaining a family-friendly, infinitely merchandisable affair. Chu made the arguably controversial, definitely monetizable decision to break the stage show into two films. Given that the first act of the stage show remained unencumbered from too many specific ties to L. Frank Baum’s Oz books and was thereby free to do a good bit of world-building around the school years of Elphaba and G(a)linda, the first film felt like a complete thought, ending with the triumphant anthem “Defying Gravity.”

 

So what to do with the stage show’s more problematic second act which episodically barrels through key moments in Elphaba’s and Glinda’s adult life, intersecting frequently, sometime elegantly, often cumbersomely with key moments in Dorothy’s overly familiar journey through Oz? On balance, Chu blessedly gives us some breathing room to digest all that is happening. It took me four views of the Broadway show to actually remember and process what the heck transpires in that second act. Offering that second act material more cinematic real estate is both good and bad. In Wicked: For Good, we get far more character moments, enriching the dynamic between the former school chums as they lead their separate yet symbiotic lives. The downside? There’s more time for us to scratch our heads and ask, “Wait, where were Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion just then?” From a chronological perspective, at times it just feels like that math ain’t mathing.

 

But Chu was damned if he did, damned if he didn’t. If he drastically reworked act two to unravel some of the nonsensical bits, 20 years of Wicked-heads would have revolted. If he changed too little, the more casual audience members (and mean-spirited critics) would declare this second installment a letdown. “It’s just not as much fun as the first one.” Well, duh. Elphaba does still have to become the “Wicked Witch” we all knew and feared as children. Schrodinger’s witch as it were.

 

For the tl;dr crowd, I enjoyed the film. A lot. It took me a week, though, to figure out what if anything I wanted to say about it. So here’s this. Go see it. Be open-minded. Hold space for revelatory turns by both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. And remember how disappointed you were with The Empire Strikes Back as a child, but how eventually it became your favorite Star Wars film in adulthood because it dares to be dark … and, well, real. Or as real as fantasy can be. Through a mirror darkly revealing that even in a magical land of escapism there are, in fact, lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh my.

“The more you try to fit in, the easier it is to be undervalued.” Coming Out as Yourself in BigLaw: Strategy Over Sanitizing … Wednesday, December 10 at 1 pm ET/noon CT, with Rachel Clar, Esq. and Roy Sexton

19 November 2025

2 Comments

The more you try to fit in, the easier it is to be undervalued.

You sit in silence as he mispronounces your name again, because correcting him feels riskier than letting it slide.

This is the invisible tax so many women in BigLaw still pay.


Not because they lack skill.


Because they were taught to shrink to stay safe.

Rachel coaches BigLaw women across the AmLaw 200.


Roy leads marketing inside a global firm and has lived this firsthand.

On Wednesday, December 10 at 1 pm ET/noon CT, join Rachel Clar, Esq. and Roy Sexton for:

Coming Out as Yourself in BigLaw: Strategy Over Sanitizing

Register here: https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:7396873216117542913

We will unpack how your identity can support your strategy in the rooms that decide your future.

This Live is for attorneys who want to:


→ Speak directly without being labeled difficult
→ Ask for resources in ways that raise your status
→ Decline misaligned work without whispers about your lack of dedication

This session sets the stage for a deeper dive in winter 2026, where you can learn to use your voice in ways that shift outcomes inside your firm.

All registrants get The BigLaw Power Moves Cheat Sheet, which includes ten strategic cues to get yourself heard in high-stakes moments.

Wednesday, December 10 at 1 pm ET/noon CT
Join live or get the replay.

P.S. Which moment feels most familiar:
Being talked over.
Being labeled “too direct.”
Being the default note taker.
Being the token woman in the room.
Or saying yes because no feels dangerous?

“There is a place for people like me — we belong.” Grateful to be named, for the third year in a row, to INvolve’s Outstanding Role Model List, supported by YouTube

12 November 2025

2 Comments

I’m incredibly proud to be recognized among such inspiring LGBTQIA+ leaders for the third year running. Visibility and representation aren’t just nice-to-haves — they’re essential. These awards go far beyond the fleeting buzz of personal recognition; they signal to the wider business community the real power of authenticity … of those who are brave enough to bring their whole selves to work, and to speak openly about it. As a young gay man growing up in Indiana in the 80s and 90s, seeing a list like this would have meant the world to me. It would have shown me that there is a place for people like me — that we belong. I’m deeply grateful, and hopeful, that in some small way I can help pass that message forward to the LGBTQIA+ community today.

Founder & CEO of INvolve, Suki Sandhu OBE, says, “I’m so thrilled to be celebrating this global group of trailblazing Executives, Future Leaders and Advocates who are working to ensure LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace can thrive. All the individuals featured in our Outstanding Role Model Lists supported by YouTube are championing inclusion and leveraging their expertise and knowledge to drive impactful initiatives and strategic change within their organizations. It’s vital that LGBTQ+ employees across global organizations can succeed and achieve career success, and these Role Models are essential drivers of change who are smashing barriers to progress. We could not effect change without them leading the way.”

The Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model Lists supported by YouTube showcase LGBTQ+ business leaders and allies who are breaking down barriers and creating more inclusive workplaces across the world. They aim to represent the wide range of impactful and innovative work being done for inclusion across different countries, organizations and sectors, and celebrate the diverse range of inspiring individuals who have made it their personal mission to make a difference.

In their recognition, INvolve wrote, “Roy Sexton, Chief Marketing Officer at Vedder Price, is a visible and authentic advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion. As 2023 International President of the Legal Marketing Association and current co-chair of their DEI shared interest group, Roy centers DEI in the organization’s strategy, leading impactful town halls and creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ members. At Vedder Price, Roy mentors colleagues and fosters a culture of belonging. His leadership extends to over 150 interviews, keynote speeches, and panel presentations, amplifying the importance of inclusive leadership. Roy has been recognized by a number of organizations including Crain’s and Corp! Magazine for his leadership capabilities, particularly as an executive within the LGBTQ+ community. He served as a board member for a number of Michigan-based charitable organizations, such as the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Roy’s visibility as an openly gay executive inspires others to embrace authenticity and drive change.”

INvolve is a consultancy and global network driving diversity and inclusion in business. Through the delivery of advisory solutions, awareness workshops, talent development programs, INvolve drives cultural change and create inclusive workplaces where all individuals can succeed. They publish annual role model lists recognizing and celebrating business leaders and future leaders who are breaking down barriers at work and inspiring the next generation of diverse talent.

 

“Create a footprint for who you are, what you like, and what you enjoy” … yours truly interviewed by Deborah Farone for her upcoming book through Practising Law Institute (PLI) – “Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Lawyers Build Thriving Practices,” to be released January 2026

23 October 2025

2 Comments

Truly honored to have been interviewed by my dear pal Deborah Farone for her upcoming book through Practising Law Institute (PLI) – Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Lawyers Build Thriving Practices, to be released January 2026.

(The quote in the graphic – taken from the book – references my, er, obsession with social media. 😅)

The book can be pre-ordered here with a 20% discount: https://www.pli.edu/catalog/publications/treatise/breaking-ground-how-successful-women-lawyers-build-thriving-practices/440257 … so proud of you, Deb, and thank you for the kindness you always show me and so many others!

About the book: “Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Lawyers Build Thriving Practices is based on more than 60 in-depth interviews with leading women rainmaking lawyers, law firm chairs, business development experts, and academics from across the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia. The book explores how women at the top of their profession cultivate client relationships, develop new business, and build sustainable practices—while navigating the particular challenges of the legal world. Through personal stories, candid advice, and actionable strategies, the book offers a roadmap for lawyers at every stage of their careers who want to grow their practices and build trusted relationships with clients.”

Educated Spaghetti: Marketing Ideas That Stick, hosted by Right Hat’s Lise Anne Schwartz, with yours truly as her inaugural guest … “Episode 1: How to Build Consensus”

5 October 2025

Leave a comment

Ever wonder why some marketers thrive in law firms while others crash and burn?

In this episode of Educated Spaghetti: Marketing Ideas That Stick, Lise Anne Schwartz and Roy Sexton, Chief Marketing Officer at Vedder Price, dish up ideas on building consensus for professional services marketing projects. They discuss the biggest mistakes of would-be consensus leaders, why Roy loves the word “pilot,” and his surprising take on creating lasting agreement. Plus, Roy shares his favorite resource and secret sauce for getting people to support a new project.

In this episode:

(00:00) The number one thing holding companies back

(05:05) Childhood experiences that shaped a consensus builder

(10:26) Pilot strategy that turns law firm skeptics into advocates

(17:41) When to proceed without consensus (and how to do it safely)

(23:54) Why trying to leave a legacy guarantees you won’t

(32:06) Roy’s secret sauce: listen more than you talk

About the Host

Lise Anne Schwartz is an experienced brand strategist and writer known for creating authentic, original work that audiences remember. With 20 years in professional services marketing, she brings a unique blend of perspectives as a former lawyer, journalist, copywriter, and pastry chef. Her strong focus on storytelling and user-driven communications, combined with skills in surfacing key insights from stakeholder and audience interviews, makes her exceptional at bringing complex ideas to life. Having conducted over 100 buyer interviews and earned degrees from Northwestern University and Columbia Law School, Lise Anne regularly writes on professional marketing topics.

About Right Hat

Right Hat is a marketing and design partner driven by curiosity, courage, and optimism to help clients take their communications to new heights. Specializing in communicating the value of complex, intangible offerings like professional services, education, and tech solutions, they serve as brand strategists, website designers, creators of sales tools, and extensions of in-house teams. Through deep industry knowledge and determination to push past the ordinary, Right Hat combines design, content, and digital strategies to bring powerful brands to life with fresh ideas that help clients stand out in crowded markets.

Educated Spaghetti w/ yours truly as their inaugural guest … Episode 1: How to Build Consensus: https://youtu.be/YCuS5LmS8YA?si=aKWCorURTVmd0f74

With an open heart and a healthy sense of humor, serendipity can serve one nicely.

3 October 2025

4 Comments

A year ago this week I gave a speech at LMA Southeast Region’s conference. (Yes, I explain the zany suit if you watch.) I’d honestly forgotten about this. Dear friend Nancy Leyes Myrland had a reminder pop up today and sent this video she had captured. I might’ve watched this at the time – but I honestly can’t recall. And I only watched a few minutes of it just now. Like many people, I don’t like the sound of my own voice and I really don’t like watching myself. C’est la vie.

But moreover, I had a lot going on existentially last year. That may be why this was lost to the ether of my addled mind. I do know I wasn’t really happy. (I am now.) I felt a bit lost, misunderstood, possibly angry. I felt I’d done my best to give what I could to this world, but was receiving too many signals that it wasn’t enough, that there should be “less of me out there,” that I had somehow disappointed people I had admired and honored. Like all things, much of that was probably in my own head.

But this speech was born of that moment, in which I did my best to lay bare – with humor and gratitude – how I saw myself and how I believed so fully in the differentiating power of authenticity. (And still do.) Was this my ego showing? Probably. Was it a form of self-indulgent group therapy? Indubitably. Was it an effort to try to help others avoid the pain I was feeling then? That was my prayer.

What a difference twelve months makes. I’ve had a LOT of change this year. I hope I’ve grown. Jury is out on that. But for this moment I feel like the bet I placed on myself – as expressed in this video – was the right one.

I’m so unbelievably grateful for the opportunities that have come my way in this time. The me in this video had no idea a remarkable, transformational, literally life changing offer was just around the corner. This new role and new adventure in a new city with a lovely new team and colleagues have meant the world to me.

The video isn’t the complete speech – some of the intro and conclusion is missing – and, honestly, I like it like that. There are few discrete beginnings and endings in life. With an open heart and a healthy sense of humor, serendipity can serve one nicely.

Thank you again to Nancy for this and for always helping me remember I matter. That we ALL matter. And that our stories make a difference. Also, grateful to Toni Toomer Wells and Matthew Gallagher, co-chairs of last year’s event, for believing in me and giving me the chance to share these thoughts with the universe. I hope they can continue to be helpful to whomever is kind enough to give this a watch.