Thank you, Lewis Gray ⚡️ and Elliot Elsley and DSMN8 – The Employee Advocacy Platform!

View full episode here: https://dsmn8.com/blog/scaling-employee-advocacy-podcast/

Greatly appreciate the opportunity to share what I’ve learned about digital and social media marketing and about building dynamic communities. You are both such wonderful souls – your kindness means the world to me. Thank you for all you are doing to shine a light on these essential connection techniques ✨

Lewis writes:

I had so much fun making this one.

Our latest podcast episode features the incredible Roy Sexton. During his tenure at Clark Hill, he spearheaded the company’s highly successful employee advocacy program.

In this episode, Roy shares:

↪ How to navigate employee advocacy in legal marketing.
↪ The importance of engagement metrics and audience growth.
↪ Strategies for scaling programs and fostering a sense of community among employees.

Sneak Peek: Roy’s candid reflections on managing cultural shifts and his advice for marketers dealing with leadership constraints are unmissable gems! 💎

Listen in to learn from someone who has not only transformed a brand’s visibility but also inspired authentic engagement at every level (in one of the toughest industries to do so!)

Now, as the CMO at the Vedder Price law firm, Roy’s influence will no doubt continue to shape how law firms approach advocacy in regulated industries.

Wishing you all the success in your new role, Roy! They’re lucky to have you.

Elliot writes:

I had a lot of fun recording this one with Lewis Gray ⚡️.

Before Christmas, Lewis and I sat down with Roy Sexton to chat about all things employee advocacy in the Legal sector.

I’ve worked with many organizations in regulated industries that have launched employee advocacy programs, but Roy’s leadership in legal marketing is reshaping how firms should approach this strategy.

During his time at Clark Hill, Roy built a successful advocacy program that empowered employees to grow their own personal brands while amplifying the firm’s message.

In the episode, we discussed:

• Strategies for managing advocacy in regulated industries.
• Key metrics to measure success beyond basic engagement.
• The role of leadership in fostering a culture of participation and trust.

Roy also shares his experience navigating the challenges of scaling advocacy efforts while maintaining authenticity and empowering employees to take ownership of their contributions.

Their colleague Bradley Keenan writes:

What does employee advocacy success look like?
 
Is it earned media value?
 
Audience growth?

Demand generation?
 
Maybe.

After all, it will vary depending on the organization’s goals.
 
Roy Sexton, now CMO of Vedder Price, has a fresh perspective on employee advocacy success, which he was kind enough to share on our latest podcast episode.

Roy, then Director of Marketing at Clark Hill Law, spearheaded employee advocacy in a traditionally regulated industry, fostering a culture where lawyers confidently shared their expertise online.

Roy’s take on success really resonated with me:

“When you see the organization just doing it – when it’s in their bones, their DNA – and lawyers are comfortable expressing themselves authentically, that’s real advocacy success.”

As Roy prepares to embark on his new role as Chief Marketing Officer at Vedder Price, we’re really grateful he took the time to share his invaluable expertise.

Hear how he transformed social media engagement into a cultural movement, making advocacy second nature at Clark Hill. Available to watch/listen in all the usual places! https://lnkd.in/eAbkyM3e

Let’s wish Roy all the best as he steps into his next chapter at Vedder Price 👏

Their colleague George Saffer writes:

One of the most enjoyable conversations I’ve had about advocacy since joining this space was with Roy!

Roy’s perspective challenges how many of us define success in advocacy:

🗣️ “You know you’ve succeeded when advocacy becomes second nature. Employees feel comfortable sharing their voices, and it’s just in their DNA now. To me, that’s success.”

Our team was lucky enough to have Roy on the podcast recently. If you’re interested in learning how Roy’s made advocacy second nature, give it a listen.

Their colleague Emily Neal writes:

What does employee advocacy success really look like? 👀

It’s different for every company, but for Roy Sexton, it’s not ALL about the numbers.

It’s about creating a culture 🤝

Joining Lewis Gray ⚡️ and Elliot Elsley for a podcast episode, Vedder Price’s new CMO shared a story about how his team’s advocacy efforts at Clark Hill Law sparked something bigger.

“You know you’ve succeeded when advocacy becomes second nature. Employees feel comfortable sharing their voices, and it’s just in their DNA now. To me, that’s success.” 👏

This episode is packed with actionable advice for those working in marketing for the legal sector (or any regulated industry).

If you’re aiming to build an advocacy program that empowers employees to show up authentically, this is a great opportunity to learn from someone who’s done exactly that!

Episode description:

[Episode Fifty-Three of ‘The Employee Advocacy and Influence Podcast] 🎧

In this episode, Lewis Gray and Elliot Elsley sit down with Roy Sexton, former Director of Marketing at Clark Hill, to uncover how the firm successfully set up, launched, scaled, and managed an employee advocacy program in a highly regulated industry.

Roy shares his journey, from overcoming early challenges to implementing strategies that turned employees into brand ambassadors. Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale your employee advocacy program, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Roy highlights the importance of internal training, awareness-building, and creative ways to keep employees engaged and consistently share content. The conversation also dives into the personal benefits employees have gained, how Roy measures ROI, and how this impacts Clark Hill.

Key Takeaways:

Scaling Employee Advocacy with Authenticity

One key insight from this episode is the importance of authenticity in scaling employee advocacy. Roy emphasizes that organizations thrive when employees share their genuine experiences, thoughts, and insights rather than scripted or overly corporate messages. This authenticity creates trust, not just with the external audience but also internally within the team.

Roy shares how empowering employees to voice their own stories can humanize the brand, making it relatable and credible. He discusses how this approach can inspire other employees to participate and amplify the message, ultimately driving organic growth for employee advocacy.

Navigating Social Media in Regulated Industries

For organizations in regulated industries, social media can feel like a minefield. Roy sheds light on navigating these challenges by balancing compliance with creativity. Lewis and Elliot also highlight that education is key for equipping employees with clear guidelines and frameworks that help them feel confident about what they can share without overstepping boundaries.

This episode highlights the importance of collaboration between marketing, legal, and compliance teams to develop content that resonates while staying within the rules. This collaboration ensures employees can contribute to advocacy programs without fear, even in highly regulated environments.

Measuring the Impact of Advocacy Efforts

A key takeaway all hosts discuss is the importance of measurement in scaling employee advocacy. Roy discusses how organizations can set clear KPIs to evaluate the effectiveness of their initiatives, such as engagement rates, content shares, and even lead generation.

By regularly analyzing these metrics, teams can identify what works and refine their strategies. Roy also highlights the value of engaging employees to share their experiences and suggestions, ensuring that the program evolves to benefit everyone involved.