Thank you, Diana Lauritson, MBA, M.S. and Breaking Rank Podcast, for the opportunity and for the lovely chat and for bringing such authentic leadership to our profession and industry
In this episode, Roy Sexton, Chief Marketing Officer, former Legal Marketing Association International President, and trusted leader, gets real about authenticity, leadership, and why he no longer stays in spaces where he’s perceived as “too much.”
Roy shares what it means to:
Give fully to your people and your firm
Lead with clarity and conviction
Walk away from environments that require self-erasure
This is a powerful conversation about boundaries, belonging, and choosing spaces that value your full presence.
In this episode of Breaking Rank, Roy Sexton reflects on what it looks like to lead differently and why conformity was never the goal.
Roy shares how he has pushed back against systems that expect leaders to shrink, soften, or fit a narrow mold. He talks openly about taking risks despite criticism, the pressure to change appearance or behavior to keep others comfortable, and the resolve it takes to choose yourself anyway.
Grounded in empathy and self-awareness, Roy’s leadership is shaped by intention rather than approval. He explores how everyday choices about how we show up, speak up, and stand firm can become powerful acts of leadership over time.
This episode is for leaders who are questioning inherited norms, navigating visibility, and choosing authenticity even when it comes with risk.
I had a remarkable couple of days in our nation’s capital, visiting our Clark Hill Washington D.C. office and presenting at the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s LavenderLaw conference on client value and personal/professional branding. Caught up with some old friends and made some new ones. Grateful for this profession and industry and firm, celebrating our diversity, encouraging our voices, and honoring us all.
Thank you to my Clark Hill colleagues Maram Salaheldin, Mark Ludwikowski, Sally Alghazali, Kelsey Christensen, Kendall Smardzewski, Taylor Tremont, Jennifer Cook, and more for their hospitality and kindness, excellent conversation and commiseration.
Kudos to my dear friend Angelica Crisi of Coston Consulting for organizing such a remarkable panel, facilitating so beautifully, and treating us to an epic Italian dinner. She is a true gem. And not just because she titled our panel after one of my favorite Janet Jackson songs “What have you done for me lately?”
Catching up with my Wabash College Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity brother Marc Nichols in person for the first time in 30+ years (I think?) will be a memory I will treasure a very, very long time. His panel on board governance was required viewing for anybody in this space. Exceptionally well done.
Running into the ever fabulous Lee Ashby Rogers on the career fair floor was an unexpected and delightful surprise. She means the world to me.
And lovely seeing former colleague Elizabeth C. Jeffries who is really lighting the world on fire not to mention meeting her original gay (OG!) “uncle”/mentor Michael R. Komo, Esq. Truly a delightful individual, and I’m sorry he and I didn’t get more time to chat.
Feeling so grateful. ✈️🌈💕
Kudos to these remarkable leaders on their continued journey – Legal Marketing Association – LMA International members please take a moment to review and ratify this slate here: President-Elect Rachel Shields Williams, Treasurer Elect Jessica Haarsgaard, Secretary Diana Lauritson, RLC Chair Morgan MacLeod, Member-at-Large Jessica Aries, and Member-at-Large Amber Bollman. Collectively, these humans have already had such an incredible and positive impact on our profession and industry, and I, for one, can’t wait to see where they take things next!
As immediate past international president of LMA, it has been one of my great honors to help shepherd the nominations process this year, and I want to give special thanks to our 2024 LMA International Nominating Committee for all of their hard work, dedication, insight, and heart: David Ackert, Terra Davis, Emily Schweitzer Hillman, Brenda Plowman, Kate Shipham, and Arthur Uratani. And kudos to LMA CEO Ashley Stenger and LMA Client Operations and Project Management Senior Coordinator Jennifer Weigand for their exceptional support throughout this process. You all should be so proud of the work you’ve done here.
And last but not least, thank you to EVERYONE who expressed interest in these roles and who took time (they likely didn’t have!) to complete the application and interview process. Your commitment and your contributions to LMA are appreciated greatly, and I am personally thankful for all you’ve done and continue to do.
Thank you, Passle! You do so much good for our industry and our profession. Love you all! Deeply honored to be included here among such wonderful luminaries.
Passle writes: “Need some inspiration heading into 2024? Check out our list of must listen podcasts from the Passle CMO Series.
“We’ve broken down the top topics and picked our key podcasts to kick off your year with a bang.
“Thanks to Lynnette Espy-Williams, Roy Sexton, Diana Lauritson, MBA, M.S., Suzie Williams, Maggie Stuart Watkins, Lisa Azzuolo, Paul D. Webb, Chris Postizzi, Mariana Loose, Judith McKay, Emily Rogers, Emily Mckeown.”
This month’s message…is a video! For those who might have been suffering TL;DR* from my last few musings, have we got a treat for you!
A few weeks back, incoming 2024 International President Kevin Iredell and I sat down with our fab Interim CEO Ashley Stenger to record a discussion about LMA’s 2023, present and future.
For me, November is always a nice month of reflection, before the hustle and bustle of year-end and sundry holiday festivities overtake our already taxed brains and hearts. I hope you take a moment to enjoy this conversation.
NEXT STEPS: 1) Please WATCH THE LMA FIRESIDE CHAT VIDEO and then 2) join us for a LIVE Q&A on Wednesday, November 29 at 12:30 p.m. CT, which will serve as our Annual Meeting of the Members to answer your questions and for more insights into LMA’s exciting upcoming initiatives and plans. Register now.
I’m so grateful to have shared this time with these two brilliant souls. Ashley has such a wonderful sense of service, calm, and perspective on it all. And Kevin is just a dynamo – strategic, thoughtful, kind. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things they do together in 2024, alongside our International Board, Regions, Local Steering Committees, Shared Interest Groups, and other committees and volunteer leaders.
And I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t offer another playlist. This one is a pretty dramatic auditory shift from the thumpa-thumpa club cuts I usually compile. Again, with that spirit of reflection, these are all standards, show tunes and mellow classics that speak to my heart and put a smile on my face.
For those who might be gathering with families and friends later this month, I’m hoping this might be your soundtrack for reconnection and fellowship. Enjoy this “Stay Classy AmpiMix” on Apple Music and Spotify.
Love you!
Roy
Roy E. Sexton
President, 2023 LMA International Board of Directors
Director of Marketing, Clark Hill
*Too long; didn’t read
Register for the November 29, 12:30 p.m. CT, Fireside Chat Q&A/Annual Meeting of the Members.
Our Legal Marketing Association – LMA International board met this week. My last in-person meeting as president. I told them all this, and I will repeat it here. This will truly be the honor of my professional life. It has been such a gift to serve alongside such a dedicated, creative, fun, thoughtful group of human beings.
It was truly affirming to see how aligned we are in working toward the continued growth and evolution of this organization and community that we all love very much. The October meeting is always a transitional one, as we welcome our incoming board members to listen in on the conversations in which they will soon take active part. It’s a really wonderful group. And I will be also sad to see some exceptional voices roll off the board as is the natural way of these things.
Our incoming 2024 president Kevin Iredell did a fabulous job laying out his vision and approach for next year – and we alongside 2022 prez Brenda Plowman gave our 2025 president John Byrne his commemorative prez cap. #40! I don’t think he’s much of a baseball cap kind of guy, but it was nonetheless a great honor to be able to hand this ceremonial object to such a good, longtime friend, who cares so much about our profession.
In addition, these pandemic years kind of derailed much opportunity for us to bond beyond meeting times and the occasional dinner or conference. Being fiscally responsible, we did squeak in a group Chicago architectural boat tour. It turned out to be such a glorious sunny fall day in Chicago and we had a delightful time learning about the rich history of this city.
And, yes, my 1997 gogo boy, club kid pleather Ricky Martin pants emerged from the back of my closet for our board dinner. My colleagues might wish those pants would go back in that closet never to be seen again. But I felt quite chic.
And finally the board gave me the most heartwarming present. Back in April at the #LMA23 annual conference, they collected sand from the beach and objects from the event that reminded them of me and of our work together. The items are all held in a beautifully engraved apothecary jar, which will be proudly displayed in my home, alongside “Bed Bugs Bunny.” (Thank you for the perfect name, Laura Gassner Otting!) Some of you might recall that I rescued a wet, muddy, stuffed rabbit that I found on the sidewalk in Florida before the event.
These amazing folks know me well. And I love them.
P.S. I rewarded myself with a martini, blue cheese olives, and french fries. I’m such a nerd.
P.P.S. And then ANOTHER martini and mac and cheese with my boo at Seva Restaurant, Ann Arbor. 😅🍸
Oh, thank you, Yasmin Zand and Charlotte Knight and Passle, for this lovely opportunity to discuss #LMA23, my professional and personal journey as a member of the lgbtq community, and what authentic allyship can (and should) be.
Very grateful for you, for this series, and for what you provide our community and legal industry so generously.
Shout outs and thanks to friends, colleagues, and allies, all mentioned (or alluded to!) in the show: Laura Gassner Otting, Athena Dion, Lisa McDonald Kamen, Diana Lauritson, Megan McKeon, Lee Ashby Watts, Jennifer Petrone Dezso, Holly Amatangelo, Kaitlin Heininger, Danielle Holland, Jennifer Weigand, Ellie Hurley, Ashley Stenger, James Fisher, Nancy Leyes Myrland, Gina Furia Rubel, Laura Toledo, Gail Porter Lamarche, Heather Morse-Geller, Lindsay Griffiths, Amber Bollman, Mike Mellor, Ruth Morayniss, Arthur Uratani, Tahisha Fugate, Susan Ahern, Mary Ann Hastings Stephens, Jon Brewer, Joseph Edmonds, Cheryl Bame, Don Sexton, Susie Sexton, John Mola, and more.
Episode description: On this episode of CMO Series REPRESENTS, Yasmin Zand is lucky enough to sit down with Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill Law and 2023 Legal Marketing Association – LMA International President, to discuss his journey both inside and outside of the legal marketing industry.
Roy shares how his formative experiences as a gay man have impacted his approach to leadership and why finding safe and inclusive communities that allow him to be his authentic self has become so central in his career.
The conversation delves into Roy’s childhood, passions, and why his headline performance at the 2023 LMA Annual Conference in Florida was so poignant in support of the LGBTQ+ community in that moment.
