Hello & Welcome!
I started ClientSmart in 2014 to teach my legal industry clients new and refined ways to think about the business of law.
Today, I help tell stories. Whether writing, speaking, or teaching, I help tell stories that inform, influence, and inspire.
OVERVIEW
Since graduating from Berkeley Law School in 1983, I have practiced law and led the sales effort at a law firm, launched several successful businesses inside and outside the legal industry, been on the board of directors of a number of non-profits, spoken at legal conferences and written articles and monthly columns in legal publications.
The next seven slides detail the professional adventures I've had before launching ClientSmart.
It's been a wild and mostly wonderful ride!
What I've Done (so far)
in 7 slides
1 | LAW PRACTICE
- Manatt, Phelps & Rothenberg
- Washburn & Kemp
What I've Done (so far)
in 7 slides
2 | FOUNDER + CEO
In the late '80s, I had a crazy business idea and sketched it on the proverbial napkin. The idea became Project Professionals, Inc. (PPI).
A pioneer in the legal industry, PPI was one of a handful of new companies to provide attorneys to law firms and in-house legal departments on a project and secondment basis. Ten years later, PPI was purchased by an NYSE staffing firm. The company thrives today as part of Special Counsel.
Representative legal departments clients: Honeywell, Apple, PG&E, ARCO, LEVI, Bank of America, Chevron, Hewlett Packard, Litton, Avery Dennison (these same clients who introduced us to their law firms who, too, became clients).
Our clients believed early and forever—great companies— even greater people.
What I've Done (so far)
in 7 slides
3 | FOUNDER + CEO
In 2008 I had another crazy idea—create an online marketplace (Yelp + Ticketmaster) to find and buy classes in the learning for fun space. The idea became TwoSmartDogs.
- Led effort to raise capital resulting in a $700,000+ angel round
- Developed branding and marketing campaigns
- Led sales program
We launched TwoSmartDogs in our test market—Los Angeles—with known brands, including, UCLA Extension, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Brentwood Art Center, American Girl, Whole Foods.
A privilege to work with people with such talent, passion, tenacity.
What I've Done (so far)
in 7 slides
4 | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Before launching ClientSmart, I was a Director at Manatt, an Am Law 200 law firm, where I was the business development lead for:
- Development + execution of revenue growth plans for five practice groups
- San Francisco branding
- Key Client Team
- Women's Initiative Annual Client Conference
- Firm-wide RFP Program
Upfront look at the power of culture and the challenges + opportunities for change. Forever grateful to my mentor at Manatt.
What I've Done (so far)
in 7 slides
5a | EDUCATION
University of California, Berkeley
B.A. Rhetoric
Berkeley Law, University of California
J.D. Law Review + Moot Court Board
5b | BOARD OF DIRECTORS past member
- Public Counsel
- The Fulfillment Fund
- New America Alliance
- CA State Bar Committee, Women in the Law
- LA Chapter, American Corporate Counsel Association (now ACC)
What I've Done (so far)
in 7 slides
6 | Articles, Columns, Panelist, Speaker (representative sample)
- Articles | Bloomberg Big Law Business Thomson Reuters, The Los Angeles Daily Journal, San Francisco Recorder
- Panelist | Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), Legal Marketing Association (LMA) Annual Conference
- Speaker | ACC, CA State Bar Annual Conference, LMA Annual Conference,
- Panel Moderator | WBLI, ACC, LMA
What I've Done (so far)
in 7 slides
7a | GOOSE BUMP MOMENTS
- Award for Outstanding Work, ACCA's Board of Directors
- ARCO's Vendor Service Award for Excellence
- LA Business Journal's Top 100 Women-Owned Business
- Featured in KTLA series Making It — start-up success stories
- Mention in TIME Magazine
- WSJ reports the sale of Project Professionals
7b | FINALLY...
- Cuban-born | Heart in San Francisco
- Fluent in Spanish | Learning Sign
| Let's Connect |
