From INvolve – The Inclusion People: “Can you recognize myths and misconceptions from reality? 💡 For Pride Month 2024, we spoke to three of our 2023 Outstanding Role Models who debunked some misconceptions and myths about LGBTQ+ communities. Hear what they have to say here.
“Hear from: Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing, Clark Hill; Joelle Archer, Vice-President Research Creative Suite, Morgan Stanley; Deon Pillay CMgr MCMI, Head of Marketing Technology Enablement and Governance, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) … who are using this space to debunk misconceptions.
“Allies – you are crucial for change. Take on board the learnings that these Role Models are sharing and consider how you can best avoid slipping into biases, or perpetuating misconceptions and also how you can leverage your power, influence and platform to support and elevate your LGBTQ+ colleagues.”
TRANSCRIPT for my contribution: So for me, at least in my lived experience the last few years where I’ve had some increasingly visible leadership roles, it’s that well-meaning allies think I am open to unsolicited advice.
Truth of the matter is, it has taken me 51 years to get to the place of authenticity, where I feel comfortable in my own skin, and when allies come forward and try to manage me for style, offering me points on how I dress, or how I speak or how I use social media or how visible I am …
It’s not helpful. It’s actually debilitating.
What we really want is support on substantive issues and opportunities where we can be present with our authentic selves.
So if you are thinking that as a gay man, I’m interested in your advice on how to dress for success?
I’m not one to brag about getting a car – I’ll brag about a whole LOT of other stuff (lol!) but I don’t want to seem ostentatious or showy. Truth be told, we always buy pre-owned cars. My hubby John really could and should have a career/side hustle as a “personal shopper” for people needing cars, appliances, mortgages. Basically anything most of us HATE shopping for, he LOVES … and is exceptionally good at doing so.
Anyway, for multiple reasons, John has had a hard time driving certain makes and models of cars during- and post-pandemic. There are some vibrational frequencies that really mess with his equilibrium, but I’ve been the beneficiary of his automotive experiments the past few years, which has been rather fun. Like trying on shoes. But bigger. With wheels. And made of metal.
That said, about a week ago, we passed a Lincoln Corsair on the street, and I said, “Wow! That’s pretty!” I’m not one to really express strong opinions about cars, so, when John heard that, his head was on a swivel. “Really? Tell me more? What do you like about it?”
Flash forward, and here we are. Me the proud owner of a (gently) used Corsair, chosen by/for me by my loving hubby. I’m quite thrilled with it for multiple reasons that you can likely intuit here, but mostly because of John’s joy and care in finding it for me.
I never thought I’d own a white car – my mother’s colorful commentary about white cars rings in my ears – but it’s technically something called “ceramic pearl,” which all I can figure means it looks white or gray or green or speckled-y or any number of other hues when the light strikes it just so. Kind of a “mood car.” And since I’m color blind, that seems rather apropos!
Thank you, Ernesto Quezada and Pathmonk, for having me on to talk about this wonderful firm Clark Hill where I’m privileged to work with such an incredible Marketing and Business Development team and with such fantastic attorneys and colleagues.
It’s always a thrill to tell our story, discuss our growth trajectory, and our exceptional culture. Appreciate the opportunity very much! #SimplySmarter
Episode description: Join Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill, as he delves into strategic legal marketing insights. With over 25 years of experience, Roy discusses branding, communications, and the firm’s 700+ attorneys across 27 [NOW 28 with addition of Boulder!] offices.
Discover Clark Hill’s comprehensive legal services, from labor and employment to banking and finance, all delivered by an accessible team of professionals. Tune in to explore the values driving Clark Hill’s success and learn how they continue to make an impact in the legal industry.
From my time on the international board of the Legal Marketing Association (five years with 2024 being my last!), one of the things of which I think I’m proudest that the organization has put in place would be our DEI Member Resource Groups, a safe space for learning and commiseration, networking and, well, kindness.
There have been many leaders involved over the past few years in their creation and maintenance and growth. They all deserve so much praise – a special shout out to wonderful Michelle Turner and David Ackert who keep asking for my thoughts for these lovely periodic summaries they’ve compiled.
My thoughts from our recent allies gathering:
“Our allies conversation this month was so robust and so candid and so essential. We had open dialogue about the difference between good intention and real need and about how those of us in diverse groups may not always crave more ally energy/programming, but rather substantive support in terms of career opportunity. When we talk about allyship, it means so much to know people are there supporting us, but it even even means more when they are actively clearing barriers for our professional success.”
Received my copy last night and can’t wait to start reading, exploring, learning – kudos to this incredible cohort of leaders/authors/voices on this wonderful milestone!
You can order your copy of “Own Your Story: #EmpoweredWomenAnthology” here.
“[A] treasure trove of authentic and vulnerable stories, each one a chance to learn, to connect, and maybe even find a little piece of ourselves in the process.” – Eugina Jordan, Author of Unlimited
“An inspiring reminder that when we share our stories, we step into our power and claim our worth.” – Alexandra Carter, Author of Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything
“This book, authored by women who are both excellent storytellers and inspiring community leaders, serves as a showcase of their passion, strength, and resilience. Keep shining and sharing your amazing stories!” – Lucy Chen, Author of Build Resilience: Live, Learn, and Lead
Stories have the power to transform: they foster empathy, create connections, and teach us that we are more alike than different. In this anthology, women from diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, professions, and ages share their unique stories. These are stories of growth, change, loss, love, enlightenment, strength, and resilience. Their vulnerability reminds us that authenticity is empowering—and they lead by example.
Empowered and connected, we can create change in our lives and the world. Let’s harness the power of storytelling to empower, connect, and create change.
Foreword: Our Stories Light Fires; They Break Molds by Eugina Jordan
Introduction: The Art of Storytelling by Susan C. Freeman
Finding My Tribe by Cheryl Aufdemberge
A Unicorn in an Ordinary World by Dr. Rebecca Baumgartner, ACC, CDE
Unbreakable by Natalie Altonia Borneo
What I Was Made for by Michelle Bufano
On Hospice: Life After Death by Sarah Burke
Permission to Live Out Loud by Tiffany Castagno
A ‘Yes … And’ Career Model by Gena Cox, PhD
Breaks Don’t Define You, They Refine You by Marcie Dickson
Grateful: A Life Well Served by Jan Anne Dubin, MBA (She/ Her/ Hers)
Grace, Grit, Grind, and Gratitude by Daphne Turpin Forbes
Breaking the Stigma by Susan E. Frankel
Unexpectedly Redirected: Loss to Possibility by Anne Gallagher
The Power of the Girlfriend Brigade by Alexis Gladstone
The Survivor’s Journey by Lindsay Griffiths
Self-Doubt as a Catalyst for Change by Judy Hoberman-CHPC-Exec. Coach-Sales-Leadership-Speaker
A Journey of Resilience and Hope by Homeira İzadi
The Road to Mastering My Voice by Nori Jabba
Follow the Yellow Brick Road by April Joy (Hurst)
The Chariot, The Tower, and The Page by Drew Kramer
Healing Out Loud by Caroline Markel
The 3 Rs of Resilience by Lesley Marlin
The Power of Owning Your Story by Serena Mastin
From Silent Ostrich to Empowered Peacock by Sheila Murphy
Self-realization and Renewal by Jenn Ocken
When Others Can’t Handle the Shine by Sameena Safdar
Innovate & Change to Succeed by Nita Sanger
Great Expectations: A Love Letter to Women by Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LCSW, JD, PMH-C
When Life Throws You a Curve Ball … by Jennifer Marino Thibodaux
Rising Up by Courtney Thomas
Life Is About the Journey by Jing Wang
Words You Keep by Becky Whatley
Learning to Thrive Not Just Survive by Michelle Wimes (she, her, hers)
Afterword: Own Your Story by Lesley Marlin & Jennifer Thibodaux
Register for the camp and you’ll gain access to 18 live panel conversations and six live podcast recordings this July and August.
ANSWERING LEGAL PRESENTS: Law Firm Summer Reboot Camp
Come join us at our 3rd annual Law Firm Summer Reboot camp! This year’s camp, which remains completely virtual, is expanding to two weeks. We’ll be hosting panels from July 23rd thru July 26th, then again from August 13th thru August 16th.
By signing up for our camp, attendees will gain access to 18 live panel conversations and six live podcast recordings, in which they’ll receive expert advice on reinventing their practice for the final stretch of 2024 and beyond.
This year’s camp will cover a wide variety of different topics!
July 23rd and August 13th will feature legal tech discussions.
July 24th and August 14th will feature legal marketing discussions.
July 25th and August 15th will feature law office management discussions.
July 26th and August 16th will focus on a variety of different topics, with special guest hosts.
All camp attendees will get to follow our live conversations virtually, and can submit questions for guest panelists via chat. Once registered, you’ll receive email reminders of when camp conversations are set to begin.
As the weather heats up, we’ll be gradually announcing the special guests who will be joining us virtually at summer bootcamp.
Thank you, 9Sail and Joe Giovannoli! Appreciate all you do for our profession and our community …
Join us on the latest episode of the Tip of the Law podcast, where host Joe Giovannoli sits down with Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill and past president of the Legal Marketing Association – LMA International board. Discover how Roy’s unique journey from English major, theater practitioner, and healthcare exec to legal marketing has shaped his innovative approach.
In this episode, Roy shares invaluable insights on:
🔹 Strategic focus in legal marketing 🔹 Building expertise and credibility 🔹 The importance of internal support and storytelling
Don’t miss out on Roy’s expert tips to elevate your legal marketing strategies and drive meaningful results.
One key takeaway was the importance of strategic focus. Roy emphasized that firms need to analyze their data and prioritize the practice areas that have the highest revenue potential, rather than trying to please every attorney equally. Marketing dollars and resources are best spent amplifying the messaging around top revenue generators.
Roy also stressed the importance of attorneys establishing themselves as subject matter experts. By publishing content that builds expertise in their specialty fields, attorneys can signal to potential clients the areas a firm specializes in. This includes posting about events, speaking engagements, and podcast appearances on platforms like LinkedIn. Not only that, but by promoting podcast clips and interviews on social media, the attorneys perpetuate the marketing cycle and raise awareness for all parties.
When it comes to content, Roy said repetition, focus, and quality are often where firms fall short. Firms must consistently repeat high-quality messages around a select few priority topics to truly make an impact. Another best practice- and Roy’s takeaway tip for legal marketers- is creating a weekly digest highlighting recent marketing activities and efforts. This engages the internal team while giving marketers newsworthy content.
Overall, Roy provided many thought-provoking insights that firms can apply to strengthen their strategies. By analyzing data, prioritizing key areas, empowering attorneys as experts, and optimizing efforts, firms can maximize the impact of their marketing investments.
Key takeaways:
Law firms should strategically focus their marketing efforts and resources on the practice areas that have the highest revenue potential rather than trying to please all attorneys equally.
Attorneys can build expertise and credibility by publishing content on their own profiles that establishes them as subject matter experts in their fields of practice.
Law firms need to incorporate repetition, focus, and strategy into their marketing plans in order to achieve success.
Creating a weekly digest of marketing activities is an effective way for marketers to keep the internal firm updated on efforts while also giving them content to engage with.
Thank you, The Professionals: Inside Professional Services Marketing magazine, for this feature and shout out.
EXCERPT: “AI is certainly not a new phenomenon, and many firms and individuals within professional services firms are experimenting and even using it to save time. However, for many firms, its full potential to deliver and enhance their business development and marketing efforts has so far not been successfully tapped. To assist with this, a leading professional services BD and marketing agency, The BD Ladder, has released a thought leadership eBook, The Impact of AI on Business Development & Marketing in Professional Services, which features eight articles from leading independent BD and marketing consultants and practitioners within the professional services. …
“In comparison to this Roy Sexton’s article offers a contrary view on the widespread rush to adopt AI. He emphasizes the importance of thoughtful, strategic adoption of AI rather than chasing trends. Sexton warns against superficial compliance and advocates for a deeper understanding of AI’s potential and limitations.”
“It takes work to become an evolved person.” – eToro CEO Lule Demmissie in her revelatory, authentic, moving speech from last night’s INvolve People Gala.
Last year I had one of the honors of my life being named to INvolve – The Inclusion People’s OutStanding LGBTQIA+ Executives list. And last night we celebrated. To say it was an iconic evening would be an understatement. (The TIME 100 were being feted in the same building, and I learned too late that my beloved Kylie Minogue was just a few floors down. That is probably for the best! For her sake. Lol.)
Thank you to INvolve CEO Suki Sandhu OBE for all he has done to create genuine inclusion in this world. His leadership is exemplary. And our gratitude to Deutsche Bank and fellow honoree Jon Tilli for being such gracious and generous hosts. Emcee Peppermint knocked it out of the park, and her fireside chat with fashion designer and “Real Housewives of New York” Jenna Lyons was truly inspiring.
I met some incredible new pals, and feel honored to have been among their presence: fellow Michigander Dow’s Trevor Ewers, another fellow Michigander Luminar Technologies’ Steven Del Gaizo, Verizon’s Kimmah Dozier (she/her), Komatsu’s Iris Wilson-Farley, eToro’s Lule D., Butterfield Group’s Karim Chowdhury MSc Chartered FCSI, EY’s Najiyah Chowdhury ACA, SafePlace International’s Maggie Lower 🏳️🌈 and Rachael LeClear, INFEMNITY Productions LLC’s Nina Kennedy, and Trans Formative Schools’ Alaina Daniels, and so many others whose names will occur to me, no doubt, throughout the rest of the weekend. Lol.
Thank you to Clark Hill and my amazing and kind colleagues Susan Ahern , Linda Watson , and Kathleen Sullivan for their support of my personal leadership journey as well as everything they do to champion inclusion at our wonderful firm. Thank you also to newsPRos’ Jaime Baum for her support in this recognition, and for the joy she brings every day to this work. Thank you to beautiful pal Maria Fracassa Dwyer for the fashion advice, and Amazon for supplying my couture. 😅🌈 ✨
Regan Robinson and Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill (ME!), delve into how his background in theater equips him with what’s needed to be future ready, and why his diverse passions provide a rich framework for seeing its possibilities. They explore the misconceptions about authenticity (which inherently promotes a long-term perspective), and how authentic leadership must be nurtured by creating a safe space for expression and learning from mistakes.
Roy Sexton leads Clark Hill’s marketing, branding and communications efforts in collaboration with the firm’s exceptional team of marketing and business development professionals. He has over 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, business development and strategic planning.
Roy is passionate about problem solving, facilitating business growth, crafting communications strategy and enhancing law firm culture. He works closely with the marketing team to advance the firm’s digital and social media presence and external engagement, using multi-channel distribution and data collection. This enables the team to quantify results and use those results to produce thoughtfully and strategically organized content for clients and prospects.
Roy was named one of INvolve People’s 2023 Top 100 OUTstanding LGBTQ+ Executives internationally. He was listed in Crain’s Detroit“Notable LGBTQ in Business” in 2021 and “Notable Leaders in Marketing” in 2023, and he was aMichigan Lawyers Weekly “Unsung Legal Hero” (2018).
In 2022, Clark Hill’s marketing campaign, which Sexton played a key role in developing, received the Best Marketing Campaign award from the Managing Partners’ Forum in London, celebrating professional services organizations. The campaign was noted for its focus on values, diversity and inclusion. The Clark Hill marketing and business development team was also awarded “Best Marketing Initiative” by Managing Partners’ Forum in 2020.
Roy is a published author of two books: Reel Roy Reviews, Volumes 1 and 2 and he was named “Best Actor in a Musical” by BroadwayWorld Detroit in 2017 for his performance as Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Ann Arbor Civic. Roy hosts the monthly Expert Webcast series All the World’s YOUR Stage: Authentic Culture Drives Authentic Growth.
About Future Fit™ with Regan Robinson
Future Fit™ unravels the secrets of how the world’s most innovative leaders stay future-ready in a fast-paced world. Hosted by futurist and strategist Regan Robinson, each episode explores how trailblazing executives turn uncertainty into their strategic advantage. Gain powerful insights and practical approaches as these visionary minds share the unconventional and imaginative ways they thrive today while leading their teams into tomorrow.
If you love what you’re getting out of our show please subscribe, rate and review.
About Regan Robinson
Regan Robinson is a holistic futurist and business strategist that empowers visionary companies to turn uncertainty into advantage and effortlessly innovate and strategize for their future. Over the course of 20+ years, she has helped some of the world’s most influential brands and companies strategize and grow. Regan has spearheaded revenue increases of 300%+, led as an executive at 3 start-ups and established business models, new capabilities, infrastructure and roadmaps for companies like VICE Media and Edelman Digital.
Are the kids all right? Are we too concerned with trend-chasing as opposed to delivering real value? Find out my thoughts on marketing, BD and AI in my article in The BD Ladder’slatest eBook.
Download your copy today and read the thoughts and opinions of industry leaders including Ben Chiriboga, Lynn Tellefsen Stehle, Ben Trott, David MacDonald, Megan Senese, Jennifer Ramsey, Richard W Smith, Michelle Howard, and Paul Roberts.
Thank you to Ben Paul and Lucy King who invited me to take part.
The kids are NOT all right … one marketer’s (cheeky) thoughts on trend-chasing and real value
By Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill and Immediate Past International President of the Legal Marketing Association
I suppose I’ve become more of a contrarian as I’ve progressed through my career. I love new ideas, change, and growth, but sometimes my Spidey-sense goes off when I feel like too many people are all rushing off after the same shiny object and I don’t perceive a great depth of thinking in their discourse. Now I’m not saying that’s the case with AI right now.
I’m implying that’s the case with AI right now.
Why do I say this? Well, for one, we’ve all been living with AI in one form another already for 20+ years. It’s baked into just about every cell phone and home media device, ubiquitously scattered across the land. It’s part of all major software applications. It’s part of every shopping recommendation we receive – and heaven knows AI-shopping suggestions sustained my spirit during the pandemic!
But in 2023 it suddenly captured the zeitgeist and, at least in my chosen profession of marketing, it seemed as if everyone feared they didn’t sound “smart” if they didn’t jump into the fray. For a while, it seemed all slapped the sentence “AI won’t take your job, but people who know AI will” into every piece of thought leadership, whether pertinent or not.
It’s AI o’clock … do you know where your children are?
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m as enamored of AI-prompts and AI-streamlined tasks as anybody. As a glimmer into my psychology: I remember I fought voice-to-text for years, until my poor thumb screamed “give me a break with all the texting!” And now I haven’t typed anything on my phone for the better part of a decade (I think). I also am not sure I’ve proofread any of my texts in the better part of a decade either come to think of it.
And I guess that’s a bit of my concern. There’s a meme I share on social media every time I see it, and much like Yogi Berra I’m sure I will mangle its verbiage. It’s something to the effect of … “Hey, rather than have AI replace all the artists and screenwriters, let’s have it clean up the oceans.” That speaks to me. I will sound like a tin-foil hat wearing conspiracist but did the accountants get together with IT and say, “You know what … we both hate writing. Can we work on something to replace THAT?” I know AI does SO much more, but this is what hits close to home for me. Truth be told, writers are generally paid a pittance anyway, and I’m not totally convinced that what comes from AI prompts is as compelling as what comes from the human mind and heart. Plus, if the robots are doing all the writing and the responding, who’s doing the reading? Asking for a friend. Isn’t the point of marketing copy to connect with fellow humans and influence their purchasing decisions? At least that’s what I always thought.
What does appeal to me is the idea of AI clearing the decks of tasks that are not value-add and replacing with ones that generate market insight, while expanding the reach of the human minds in the room. I do believe in my bones we are at an incredible tipping point where data is concerned; AI rapidly scouring all the interwebs to inform our creative decisions, to target the right clients and customers just-in-time, and to close the deal will create greater efficiency and outcomes. This will also empower the creatives to do their work, to not have to fight their internal clients endlessly (that’s honestly where all the marketing waste is), and to focus on what they do best: innovate and connect.
I caution us as professionals to not lose ourselves in a sea of buzzwords and trends. For the past decade, every conference season, I slog through a million panel discussions where everyone hyperventilates over the next big “disruption.” Shall I rattle off a few? Big data. Internet of things. Blockchain. NFTs. Um … Clubhouse. I could go on.
What I am interested in is how we can already leverage what we have been using unknowingly for ages, not to downsize teams or confuse an already broad generational contingent even further, but rather to quickly craft holistic solutions that empower creators and consumers alike to connect over what they really need.
We’ve already seen the speed with which digital solutions can disrupt (negatively) real life, particularly the impact that social media has had on community fragmentation, political turmoil, and the dissemination of fraudulent information. When education and human comprehension don’t keep pace with technological advancement, human beings veer into “Dark Ages” dystopian times. Disruption seems clean and sleek and sexy in the rearview, but it is messy in real time. People are messy. We can’t help it. I’m not saying that’s bad and I’m not saying that’s good. I loved Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat as much as anyone. But it remains a concern and as breathless as we are about these new tools and solutions and what they can do for the “bottom line,” let’s also consider what they will do to an already fragile human condition.
I will leave you with this anecdote, names changed to protect the innocent. I have an attorney friend – a Baby Boomer. I’m not being ageist – it’s important context. This attorney reminds me of my beloved late mother. Both reflect a fascination with social and digital platforms and a desire to connect as broadly as possible, seeing the potential in these channels for commiseration on scale and enthusiastically embracing it all. Both also are petrified they are going to “break something” every time they touch social media. Doesn’t hold them back but fear always lurks in the background.
(Sidebar: I grew up in the era when parents told you not to sit too close to the television for fear of ruining your eyesight nor to turn it on and off and on and off for fear of breaking it. In fact, we – gasp! – took our TVs periodically to the “repair shop.” I wonder if this is why an entire generation lives in abject terror over tech. Just a theory.)
One day this attorney asked me why they don’t see the words “[their name] likes this” under posts on social. I said, “Well, when you click ‘like,’ OTHER people see that.” They then got insistent: “No, I want it to say [my name] LIKES this.” I explained again. Then a light bulb went off. I looked at their activity and realized in the time we were chatting they had started typing this as a comment “[their name] likes this” over and over and over under different posts. Paging Amelia Bedelia!
Now flash forward a few months, I get another call. On a Sunday. This attorney is apoplectic. “Why does it show I’ve left all these comments on my very important clients’ posts? I didn’t say these things. I wouldn’t say these things. Can I sue LinkedIn? I’m so embarrassed.” Again, I calmly asked, “Now describe to me what you are seeing?” (I learned this in years of similar panicked chats from my mom. I think I could have a side hustle here.) With some time, I figured out they thought the AI prompts under a given post were a string of comments they had actually left. They were so distressed about it that they had then sent emails to all said connections apologizing. THEN they reached out to me. Not a great look for someone trying to show their facility and agility in this digital age.
So, what’s the problem here? Why am I sharing this? I actually GET why the attorney was alarmed. Now, I knew what I was looking at when I saw those prompts, but they didn’t. Because the tech industry sometimes moves at the speed of “we’ll get to it when we feel like it” and other times at the speed of “we’re changing stuff and not explaining it and you can just figure it out or not,” there is likely a deep rift we will create across generations if we don’t pause a bit and implement things sensibly. Did this attorney NEED a prompt to say, “Congrats on your work anniversary?” Do any of us? Was that actually a problem that needed to be solved? And how many troubles have been created inadvertently in the process?
What’s that line sardonically offered by Jeff Goldblum’s Jurassic Park character Dr. Ian Malcolm (who specialized in chaos theory BTW)? “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
Now, I know those reading this ramble will shake their heads in judgment and think, “I’m shocked. SHOCKED! I had no idea Roy was such a wet blanket luddite.” Listen, I’m not. I love what we are able to do with digital and social tech and how AI can supercharge our ability to connect meaningfully and hopefully change the world for the better. But I’m not honestly seeing much of that yet in the discourse to which I’ve been privy. So just imagine I’m Ian Malcolm here. And remember he’s one of the few characters who survived.
P.S. Confessional … I first asked Chat GPT to write this article for funsies. I hated the result. Tossed it all out. And then I wrote this. You might hate it. But I don’t. And I still think that matters.
P.S. Above depicted one of my most treasured invitations I’ve ever received in 12 years of being a member of the Legal Marketing Association. Thank you, Tahisha Fugate, MBA [she/her]! Love you and love this dynamic, brilliant, fantastic, fun group of incredible human beings.
LinkedIn post from Tahisha: “For the third year in a row, a group of Black Women in Legal Marketing and friends gathered at #LMA24. Women from firms of all sizes, across the U.S. and Canada, connected and engaged. We were thrilled to be joined by some legal marketing business partners, including Chambers USA, Passle, RubyLaw, and Jaffe to name a few.
“A special thank you to my firm Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP for their continued support of this event! I look forward to seeing everyone in DC next year. #legalmkt #marketing #businessdevelopment #DEI”
Some people write really profound things on LinkedIn. And I admire that. I think I occasionally have a profound thought, but I’m not sure I ever share it. Maybe I’ll work on that. Maybe I won’t.
But here is the stray thought I had today. My mom showed me she loved me in so many ways, but one strikes me today that I miss.
About once a week from my college years until she became obsessed with her computer in the mid-aughts, my mom would send me an envelope stuffed with newspaper clippings and cartoons, Scotch-taped within an inch of its life. I would open it, flip through the jaggedly torn items, smile, maybe scratch my head over a few pieces that had uniquely scribbled notations, and then call her. I always would call her. If I didn’t, she would call ME obsessively and ask, “Did you get the envelope?”
Kind of drove me crazy at the time. But I miss it now. But the observation I make from this is that I use social media much the way she used those newspaper clippings. Sharing a random grab bag of memes and articles and photos to stay connected with people I care about and to show them I love them.
So if you find yourself unlucky/fortunate enough (you pick!) to be connected with me on social media, know this is my love language. And it comes from a long line of colorful Southern women who clipped cartoons and zany items from the newspaper. Ah, newsprint. I miss that too.
My mom did this, my grandmother did this, my aunts did this. And I suspect many many others in our family tree did as well.
You’re welcome. And if your love language is writing thoughtful essays on LinkedIn, well, I see you, I appreciate you, and game meets game. And if you haven’t discovered your love language yet, give it a go. It will make this world a better place.
