I have a passion for words & stories.
Whether writing, teaching or giving talks,
I tell stories with the hope they will
inform, influence & inspire.
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your wild and precious life?"
— Mary Oliver
Hello and welcome.
I started ClientSmart in 2014 to teach my legal industry clients new and refined ways to think about the business of law. In 2017, I had an "aha" moment that changed everything. I read a lot both for business and pleasure. On the business side, I noticed that there weren't any articles or interviews that focused on the human side of leadership. So I asked myself, "What if I created a column where I interview influential members of the legal community and ask them questions that reveal "the person behind the title?"
The idea became a reality when Thomson Reuters said "yes" to publishing my column. My first interview was with the always gracious and insightful Mark Chandler, the then CLO of Cisco. The interview became the monthly column, "Upfront & Personal."
What began as a single column has evolved into a series of columns, interviews, articles, case studies, and white papers. It has also evolved into talks and presentations.
I bring to my almost new adventure over 30 years of building relationships in the legal industry. I bring my experience as a serial entrepreneur inside and outside the world of law.
I bring a love of language—its power to inform, influence, and inspire. I bring a passion for telling stories that celebrate people, ideas, and movements.
rose@clientsmart.net | 310.998.7630
CLIENTS
— Representative Client List —
WRITER | COLUMNIST
I write the interview series Upfront & Personal, Curious Minds, and On Leadership. I also pen articles on various legal industry topics, including digital transformation, corporate governance, and access to justice. In October 2021, I launched the series In Practice, focused on how sophisticated general counsels and law departments have reimagined their role.
WRITER | COLUMNIST | MODERATOR
I wrote the limited series, Voices in Sustainability for the Business & Society Institute. I also wrote a number of papers for the Women in Law Initiative, including, Cracking the Glass Ceiling a Piece at a Time: A Primer, Gender Parity in U.S. Law Firms, and Maintaining Wellness in the Legal Industry.
PRESENTER | ADVISOR
Community of Legal Innovators
I've given talks to law school students and legal practitioners on the mindset and strategies necessary to succeed in law or any other career path.
WRITER | COMMUNICATION STRATEGIST
I wrote articles, conducted interviews, and provided strategic communication advice. I also served as a press liaison.
I BELONG HERE...
My passion project for 2022 is to bring you personal stories about belonging at work with I BELONG HERE..., a year-long, monthly series starting January 2022.
Belonging is a feeling. To create a culture of belonging, business leaders need to institute more than policies. They need to institute practices that move the individuals who work for them to feel: I belong here. The series will explore the behaviors, practices, and routines that foster belonging through the stories of those who feel a sense of belonging where they work.
Why is I BELONG HERE... my passion project? Because I've committed to being a steadfast advocate for a more inclusive, kind, and compassionate culture at work.
I hope you join me in helping to make the workplace more human-centered.
Our selves, our families, our communities, and our world needs it. From my heart to yours, Rose
If you feel a sense of "belonging" where you work, I'd love to learn why and publish your story in I BELONG HERE...on LinkedIn.
Email me to learn more at rose@i-belong-here.net.
IN PRACTICE
A CORPORATE LAW DEPARTMENT SERIES
Interviews with the top leaders of modern corporate law departments.
Includes conversations with:
Tonya Robinson (KPMG), Greg Jordan (PNC Financial), Donny Ching (Shell),
Mark Howard (Nationwide) & Dana Rao (Adobe).
TONYA ROBINSON & CARL CARANDE
ROBINSON: Vice-Chair & General Counsel
CARANDE: Global Chair, Advisory
KPMG
Introduction to "In Practice"
GREG JORDAN
General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer
PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES
DONNY CHING
Global Head of Legal
SHELL
MARK HOWARD
Executive VP & Chief Legal Officer,
NATIONWIDE
DANA RAO
Executive VP & General Counsel,
ADOBE
CONNIE BRENTON
VP of Law, Technology & Operations
NETAPP— UPFRONT & PERSONAL —
In this long-running series for Thomson Reuters, I interviewed
general counsels to learn about "the person behind the title."— CURIOUS MINDS —
In this limited series for Thomson Reuters, interviewed legal industry
thinkers & change makers to learn what influences & inspires them.
— VOICES IN SUSTAINABILITY —
In this limited series for Berkeley Law's Business in Society Institute,
I interviewed corporate sustainability thought leaders.Read the interviews on my blog, LOOK . . .
— ON LEADERSHIP —
In this limited series for Thomson Reuters, I interviewed law firm leaders
about their leadership style, firm culture, & approach to client service.
— OTHER NOTABLE INTERVIEWS —
I interview innovators & thought leaders on topics ranging from
design thinking, to EQ, to innovation & sustainability.Read the interviews on my blog, LOOK . . .
HOT BUTTON TOPICS
For the Berkeley Law Center for Law & Business
The INNER MBA: My new adventure
One of the best pieces of news of 2021 for me is being accepted into the Inner MBA program. The 9-month immersive program is focused on training "leaders, entrepreneurs, managers, and employees on how to powerfully grow themselves and their companies."
The facilitators and the faculty are superb, the student body is global, and the curriculum is life-changing. Each of us is here to bring more purpose, compassion, awareness, and kindness to ourselves and our communities.
I'll be posting my 9-month journey here and on LinkedIn. It's going to be a glorious adventure!
— MY WHY —
Why the Inner MBA?
To blend what I'll learn during these 9-months with my personal experience and share it with other legal professionals at law schools, law firms, and corporate legal departments to help make the profession more curious, humble, and compassionate.
