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Welcome to Leaders with Ambition, the podcast that dives deep into the careers of some of the most successful leaders working in professional services firms.
We aim to discover the secrets behind their success, the challenges they face and to find out what traits make a successful leader.
About the host:
Nicky Acuna Ocana is the Regional Managing Director of Ambition, an international recruitment agency specialising in business services recruitment (Finance, Accounting, BD, Marketing, Insolvency, Restructuring and Corporate Finance) in professional services firms.
We aim to discover the secrets behind their success, the challenges they face and to find out what traits make a successful leader.
About the host:
Nicky Acuna Ocana is the Regional Managing Director of Ambition, an international recruitment agency specialising in business services recruitment (Finance, Accounting, BD, Marketing, Insolvency, Restructuring and Corporate Finance) in professional services firms.
54 Episodes
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As a Black woman breaking new ground in the area of Legal Project Management, Blandine brings to bear not only her law degree but also an unshakeable ability to demonstrate strength and advocate for herself as well as others.
During this insightful conversation, Blandine highlights the benefits of maintaining purpose through self-awareness, networking, and bravery.
You’ll also learn how authenticity, self-confidence, and openness to mentoring have formed the cornerstones of an extraordinary career – one that has taken Blandine from helping to manage the legal and financial fall-out after Lehman Brothers’ dissolution to establishing the critical ROI that business services have to offer law firms.
And all along the way, wherever she has worked, Blandine has contributed to building healthier, more diverse cultures, most recently at DLA Piper and Norton Rose Fulbright.
“What drives me is bringing order to chaos and solutions to people’s problems,” explains Blandine, who exemplifies what it means to identify a core skill set, passion, and purpose - then wield them in transformational ways!
You'll also hear Blandine's take on the current challenges facing law firms as well as her advice on strategies for young people looking to build a dynamic, fulfilling career in professional services.
If you enjoyed this discussion, please click here to find previous episodes of Leaders with Ambition.
Strong, healthy workplace cultures start with intentionality and, as we learn on this episode of Leaders With Ambition, clearly defined core values are the bedrock.
Nick Waterworth, co-founder and Executive Chair at the Ambition Group, shares with host Nicky Acuna Ocana the forward-thinking global recruitment company’s origin story, from its inception in 1999 to the bright post-pandemic future now taking shape.
You’ll learn about the ethos that shaped what Nick and his co-founder Paul Lyons envisioned as their mission right from its outset, including both a focus on a personalised customer experience and a global approach that has made Ambition an innovative industry leader across the UK, Asia, Australia and the U.S.
Even as Ambition has navigated steady growth through the decades, its corporate ethic and personality have remained the same: Intimate, values-driven and rooted in well-established networks, deep relationships and industry knowledge.
This lively conversation covers the entire journey, from Nick’s career highlights to the inevitable bumps along the way to a host of exciting new projects hitting their stride.
He also offers advice about the importance of engaging mentorship and gives us a glimpse into his leadership priorities in the face of a global pandemic. (Hint: Nick emphasised transparency, communication and empathy – a formula that resulted in his team emerging from Covid-19 stronger than ever.)
The episode concludes with words of wisdom from Nick, who shares a bit of the secret sauce behind Ambition’s special alchemy: A close-knit culture, shared purpose and honesty.
Professional success stories often focus on skill, confidence and good luck. But in this episode of Leaders With Ambition we are hearing from a corporate warrior whose superpower was in many ways born of vulnerability. Tammy Bessinger, FS UK Markets Finance Lead with a Big 4, has built an enormously successful consulting career in part due to key skills learned as the result of medical and emotional challenges; skills like resiliency, empathy and authenticity. As she shares with Host, Nicky Acuna Ocana, Tammy did not come to her corporate success and trusted advisory position without first navigating trauma – and acquiring insights that have made her not only a richer resource for senior leaders but also a more intuitive and compassionate leader of teams. You’ll learn about the tools Tammy, a native of South Africa, has learned and why she believes we should embrace – rather than marginalize – the fact that we are all human and subject to hardship. It’s okay not to be okay! Tammy’s insights about taking a pause to reflect and paying it forward for others going through … life … provide a thought-provoking perspective. Find out why it’s possible to balance just getting on with it (as Tammy has done) with self-awareness (which has given her the ability to relate both to the busy leaders with whom she consults and the colleagues who help her deliver successful solutions). Tammy’s story of trial and triumphs is your invitation to examine vulnerability – and its gifts – from a new perspective.
If you enjoyed this discussion, please click here to find previous episodes of Leaders with Ambition.
It’s okay not to know! That’s the message from Maureen Penfold, Managing Partner at Moore Kingston Smith and Nicky Acuna Ocana’s guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambition. Her career reflects a unique mix of authenticity and confidence – including the ability to seek the counsel of others.
Navigating a traditionally male-dominated professional services firm has required clarity and communication, says Maureen, whose steady hand guided Moore Kingston Smith’s evolution through the pandemic. But in the end, above all else, “it’s really about those relationships and the people around you that make you successful.”
You’ll learn about how this mother of two adult sons has balanced personal and professional demands (having a supportive partner is key) and why inclusivity and mentorship are so important – especially in today’s fast-paced, global workplace environment.
Maureen ticks off some of the challenges currently faced by large accounting firms (such as managing technological advances and regulatory requirements) and she also shares words of wisdom for anyone just getting started on their professional path; “Nobody knows everything. Just because you don’t know doesn’t mean the world is going to fall apart. You can learn!” says Maureen. “Authenticity is realising that you can learn from others.”
The travel bug – with its freedom, independence and insights into cultures of all kinds – attracted Lee Curtis from an early age. As he shares on this episode of Leaders With Ambition, his father’s decision to launch the family on a two-year sailing adventure maps directly to a peripatetic, entrepreneurial career that has led to Lee, from Nottingham, becoming Head of Global Sales at Simmons & Simmons.
Having developed business and marketing teams across three continents (Australia, Asia and UK), Lee brings all the skills, passion and curiosity that make him an intrepid traveller in his role selling legal services. He explains to Host Nicky Acuna Ocana the trajectory of his career development and how he has arrived at the forefront of Fintech, taking Simmons & Simmons’ innovative suite of tech tools to clients with tremendous success. “I’m passionate about the application of supporting technology to enable efficiency in the way we deliver legal services,” says Lee, “That’s what I do on a daily basis.”
He’s also challenging the status quo by demonstrating that BD and marketing functions are critical to promoting legal services in today’s fluid, competitive marketplace.
With his engaging personality and great ability to form connections, Lee’s career highlights will come as no surprise. But he also talks about some of the hurdles he faces day to day as a non-lawyer working among the brilliant legal minds.
The episode closes with three pieces of advice that anyone working in the corporate world won’t want to miss. “Five years ago at Simmons, we were still talking about sales as a dirty word,” says Lee. Find out why that’s not the case anymore and how more and more law firms are getting onboard with business development and marketing as being essential to global growth and success!
If you enjoyed this discussion, please clickhere to find previous episodes of Leaders with Ambition.
Being bold may not always come naturally to Jess Gowar, who is Nicky Acuna Ocana’s guest on this episode of Leaders with Ambition. But she has cultivated her capacity for clear, straightforward communication and in doing so, has risen to become Partner for Markets & Clients at BDO UK.
Originally from Canada, Jess is a dynamic marketing professional who has evolved from a new arrival in London (when she literally got lost at the airport) to becoming a leader, mentor and exemplary industry networker. In this episode, Jess shares her career journey, philosophy about branding, thoughts on the value of data-driven marketing approaches and the constant work-life juggle.
Variety and challenge are the elements, Jess says, that bring the fun! This conversation serves as a reminder of the importance of connecting with authenticity and candour, even for those of us who are introverts by nature. The work that Jess has done to carve out a place for marketing at the leadership table is incredible.
The episode wraps up with Jess’s thoughts on career lessons, highlights and challenges – as well as this advice to keep in mind; “I don’t like being wrong, but when I make mistakes I want to learn from them,” she says. “I think making mistakes is more valuable than not making them and that challenges me to be bold in ways that I might not naturally be.”
If you enjoyed this discussion, please click here to find previous episodes of Leaders with Ambition.
Confident, not cocky. It’s a description that perfectly describes Host Nicky Acuna Ocana’s guest, Peter Skinner on this episode of Leaders with Ambition.
Having moved through the ranks of many of the UK’s most influential law firms, Peter has at every juncture taken the opportunity to stretch himself and bring others along as well. Currently Head of Business Development & Marketing at Wedlake Bell, he is sharing with us insights into his professional journey and lessons learned along the way (including those picked up through bumps in the road).
Peter gives a big shout-out to the mentor who shaped his understanding of what it means to effectively manage people, providing them the permission and safety to try new things. It is, he says, about creating a supportive workplace culture that honours authenticity, diversity and the freedom to fail.
Peter also welcomes his teams to challenge the boss and ask for his time when they need it. Having made amazing inroads as a Europe board member for the Legal Marketing Association, Peter tells us about his commitment to advancing education, networking and live events that reflect his passion for ongoing growth and development. For this BDM leader, each and every day offers an invitation – for him and those around him – to learn, evolve and engage. “Create the right environment and the people who work beside and with you will perform and deliver,” he says. “It makes a learning environment that people very much want to be in.”
Susanne Pugsley’s highly successful career trajectory has been defined by the professional and personal commitments she has consistently honoured.
In this episode of Leaders with Ambition, we learn how this dynamic mentor and pioneer in the area of legal marketing carved out a niche that was anything but foregone. As she explains to Host Nicky Acuna Ocana, the first critical career decision Susanne made was to change course when her vision of becoming a Lawyer proved not to be the right fit. We learn about what it looks like to stay nimble, adapt to evolving opportunities and always remain true to oneself.
Host Nicky Acuna Ocana’s guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambition has had an impressive and fascinating career in Marketing and BD. Starting out as a creative with a love of words, Eddie Bowman explored several sectors early on (including a stimulating and fun experience working for the advertising giant Ogilvy & Mather) before migrating into the world of Big Five accounting and ultimately legal services.
All throughout, as a marketing leader, he was learning lessons daily about how to align teams and make projects happen. His skillsets proved a perfect fit for his role as business development marketing lead at Simmons & Simmons – a fantastic partnership from which he recently stepped down after more than six years. In this episode, Eddie reflects on a variety of topics, including how to combat Imposter Syndrome, lead with quiet, inspiring authority and build trust among peers up and down the firm.
He also shares career lowlights, highlights and thoughts on the traits that are critically important to achieving one’s full potential – in order to derive meaning from as well as success on the job. That certainly describes Eddie’s track record over a long career, but he also has no problem humbly admitting that there were times when he fell short.
“Pursue with rigour and desire each new opportunity and I promise you, the other benefits that you need will follow,” says Eddie. We look forward to seeing where this dynamic leader lands next!
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Change, challenge and growth are all central drivers in the career of Adam Soames, featured guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambition. In many ways his 27-year career in professional services reflects perfectly the very things that he avidly loves about team sports: collaboration, creativity, hard work and hard play! With his MBA and executive coaching certification, Adam is well known for bringing a fresh, motivational style, most recently as Global Head of Business Development & Strategy at Hogan Lovells.
The insights he acquired through his world travels early in life and the tireless entrepreneurialism his parents modelled have contributed to Adam's success, working in high-profile roles leading transformation across highly competitive business development and marketing environments within accounting, consulting and legal.
This lively conversation with host Nicky Acuna Ocana highlights the importance of networking, mentoring and – above all else – continually challenging ourselves to stretch and grow. A lifelong learner, Adam has keen advice for young Business Development and Marketing professionals, especially those looking to garner trust in a legal context: “It’s quite tough when you first go into law,” he says, “but the beauty of it is that lawyers respect specialists … and when you’ve demonstrated what you can do and deliver, they really let you get on with things.”
Adam revisits career accomplishments as well as lessons learned while navigating bumps along the way. The episode wraps with Adam sharing six pieces of wisdom – including seeing challenges as opportunities, staying agile when circumstances demand that we adapt and always remembering “the first rule of selling in any world – but particularly professional services: If you don’t ask, you don’t get!”
Rob Fowler’s career has been defined by grit, tenacity and a powerful commitment to paying forward the mentoring that has guided him at every juncture of his career, from the braveness of attending law school without a training contract to his current role helping to shape the leadership agenda at Taylor Wessing as Head of Talent Acquisition.
As he shares with Host Nicky Acuna Ocana on this episode of Leaders with Ambition, Rob has incorporated a passion for growth and inclusivity into every role he has played – within both legal and business environments.
He offers thoughts about how to advance meaningful, inclusive leadership agendas, the power of networking at every stage of you career and why we all should consider authenticity a non-negotiable.
By enhancing our personal brands through education and awareness, Rob believes, we are also bringing along the wider business brand. You’ll get an inside look at the role ongoing development plays within Rob’s Talent Acquisition Team as well as a front-row seat on some of the successes and challenges that have shaped his career.
The episode wraps up with a list of development resources and words of wisdom for anyone in search of the confidence and support to make a leap – whether in the realm of law, business or diversity and inclusion.
Host Nicky Acuna Ocana’s guest on this episode of Leaders with Ambition epitomises resilience, both personal and professional. Sheetal Sanghvi, a Partner specialising in Innovation Reliefs at RSM UK, has risen through the ranks over the past two decades through a combination of adaptability, hard work and openness to support.
Her story of perseverance, which starts with the loss of her father at a very young age, will inspire you to meet challenges with optimism, knowing that “you can only achieve if you have experienced failure” When her lack of technical expertise was an impediment, she sought education.
When her career in corporate tax seemed hindered, she pivoted. And when a broken ankle (suffered during the RSM company football tournament!) side-lined her in recovery, she used it as an opportunity to reassess and re-orient her career path.
“I know that whatever comes my way I can deal with, personally or professionally,” she says. That’s self-evident in the super-sized confidence that Sheetal brings with her into any situation. She shares career achievements as well as challenges and wraps up with valuable advice.
By her example Sheetal is showing younger women – especially Asian woman – that they, too, can bring their authentic selves to work and find a niche that they love. “And if you do that,” she says, “you never have to work a day in your life.” Sheetal is certainly a testament to that!
Cultivating and nurturing relationships with contacts as early as possible in our careers is key to the kind of success and longevity enjoyed by Nicky’s guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambition.
Kristina Kicks, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory, entered a traditionally male-dominated sector that she has navigated successfully, thanks to her work ethic and the robust network she has cultivated throughout her career.
Having decided early on to specialise in insolvency, Kristina never stood down from challenges. To the contrary, she fundamentally believes that there is something positive to learn from every challenge.
This engaging conversation highlights how Kristina has balanced her commitment to family and friends with a robust career path, including nearly two decades of steady advancement and leadership roles at Grant Thornton.
She shares career peaks as well as insights into how best to manage the inevitable stumbling blocks, thoughts on the importance of diversity and her dedication to serving professional organisations supporting the growth of newcomers and established peers alike.
Words of wisdom from this pioneering role model will undoubtedly resonate, as will Kristina’s fundamental commitment to fairness and a values-driven approach that has helped her and the teams she leads to reach ever greater heights.
Careers are long and so are memories! Host Nicky Acuna Ocana’s guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambitions is Owen Williams whose career demonstrates why it’s so important to cultivate – and maintain – healthy work relationships.
Over the course of his busy and highly successful career, Owen has been afforded the opportunity to circle back repeatedly to former employers to take on exciting new roles.
As Director of Marketing & BD at Simmons & Simmons, Owen’s skill sets are an amalgamation of leadership and growth opportunities at multiple firms.
The common denominators throughout his career:
Curiosity.
Openness.
A sense of fun and even greater sense of commitment to excellence.
He and his teams are all about working hard and to the highest standards, delivering on-time and generating good will. As a leader, Owen’s focus is on hiring the right people, supporting creativity and growth – then getting out of the way.
At this stage in his dynamic journey, Owen can clearly see the many workplace mentors who have shaped his path and is gladly paying it forward, providing guidance to others coming up through the ranks. Learn about Owen’s career highlights as well as the challenges he has encountered while driving change within the professional services space. He also offers words of wisdom for those who aspire to greater leadership roles and opportunities.
Above all, Owen leaves us with a vivid example of the power of networks to build meaningful, fulfilling careers in which professional relationships are rich and recurring. (Hint: Don’t burn bridges!)
“Careers are long. And memories are maybe even longer,” says Owen. “So it’s vitally important to maintain healthy relationships and leave on good terms.” The dividends are real!
When all is said and done, the basis of any successful career is believing in ourselves. That’s the message shared by Sadie Baron, Chief Marketing Officer at Reed Smith, who shares her fascinating journey on this episode of Leaders With Ambition. Without a university degree, she has climbed through the ranks of professional services firms due to her relentless work ethic, intuitive communication style and an array of savvy management practices.
Host Nicky Acuna Ocana elicits Sadie’s thoughts on everything from the difference between mentoring and coaching to strategies for combatting Imposter Syndrome. The conversation also covers the personal toll taken by the pandemic and how Sadie’s willingness to be vulnerable inspired solidarity and gratitude among her team.
You’ll learn about Sadie’s approach to work-life balance – which includes embracing the fact that there won’t always be equilibrium. It’s about choices, she says, and accepting inevitable consequences with grace and a sense of humour. Although her career took time away from some of her two children’s activities, she recognises that she has given her son and daughter an enduring and inspiring example of the power of growth, curiosity and engagement.
In her role both as a Chief Marketing Officer and board member at the Legal Marketing Association, Sadie motivates others through her emphasis on authentic communication and candour with kindness. She has also developed a well-articulated set of management principles that include:
Assume the best of others.
Refrain from micromanaging.
Exercise values of equality and fairness.
See each person as real and individual – embracing diversity in its many facets.
Encourage people to bring their most authentic selves to work.
Never believe the first version of anything. There are always shades of grey.
Share feedback on an ongoing basis.
Remember: It’s never personal. It’s a job!
In wrapping up the episode, Sadie reflects on her career’s many highlights, as well as challenges. She encourages a growth mindset to keep things fresh (up to and including a change of job venue) and emphasises the critical importance of seeking help from mentors and coaches. The networks we cultivate in many ways determine the quality of our professional journeys. “I’m a girl from Norfolk with no degree who looks after a $1.4 billion+ global law firm with a team of 100+ around the world,” says Sadie, whose future is clearly boundless!
The career of Francis Mainoo, Head of Sales at Moore Kingston Smith, illustrates the power of possessing a growth mindset. Whether out on the field as an Army Cadet or as a candidate at Harvard’s Executive Programme, Francis embraces every challenge as an opportunity to grow. Francis has also been willing to fail, knowing that his support network will always be there to lift him up - as he too lifts up others coming through the ranks.
On this episode of Leaders With Ambition, we learn about Francis’ focus, determination, positivity and vision for what might be achieved, not just on the job, but across society. It has all been part of a learning journey that has taken him through a series of demanding roles at firms such as EY and Merrill Lynch. Francis’ many successes have been achieved by challenging existing sales channels and strategies and identifying ways that businesses can enhance their marketable activities.
One of the superpowers that Francis shares is his openness to vulnerability, whether in playing the role of trusted advisor to clients or himself relying on advice from others. “Don’t try to be the smartest person in the room,” says Francis, who was raised by strong, wise women who guided and empowered him. “You should want to be in a room where you can learn and grow.”
Francis has reached one career peak after another by working hard and – as importantly – bringing his most authentic self to every interaction. You’ll enjoy hearing about his passion for serving as a mentor to others, fostering equity, diversity, inclusion and a rich web of colleagues who, like Francis, will go on to pay it all forward again and again.
In this episode of Leaders with Ambition, Nicky’s guest, Moira Slape, Chief People Officer at Travers Smith, shares lessons learned over a highly successful career.
From legal secretary to the highest ranks of decision-makers, Moira has carved her own path by leveraging several key traits - most notably an incredibly strong work ethic. It has been a journey full of constant learning and development, which Moira unpacks over the course of this fascinating discussion.
Moira explains why trusting one’s instincts is critically important and why hiring people from diverse backgrounds is a corporate super-power - something she understands intuitively because of her own working-class roots.
In this episode, you will appreciate Moira’s practical tips for navigating career transitions as well as her thoughts on the importance networking and mentorship (both giving and receiving).
Above all, it’s clear that Moira loves what she does and has thrived in the management of people because she brings to her work both a great capacity for empathy and an unwavering authenticity.
Have you ever felt self-conscious at a networking event? For Roy Sexton, it has been a journey from standing awkwardly at his first Legal Marketing Association conference some years back to now being the organisation’s President-elect.
In this episode of Leaders with Ambition, Nicky elicits fascinating insights from this dynamic marketing professional whose unique path to leadership within the legal services sector was paved by hard-won wisdom and empathy.
As Director of Marketing at Clark Hill Law, Roy always operates with authenticity in mind. Whether as boss, mentor or colleague, he makes a point of always bringing his authentic self – which includes a sense of humour, self-deprecation and willingness to speak his mind.
While some of these skills came organically – through Roy’s theatre background and upbringing – he also notes the influence that early leadership training has had on him, as well as the networking abilities he cultivated while studying for his MBA and during his career.
In this episode, Roy shares his career highs as well as challenges both past and heading into his term presiding over the Legal Marketing Association. We get a glimpse into his professional experience as well as thought-provoking views on the nuances of diversity, equality and inclusion. From how to overcome Imposter Syndrome to how the pandemic has affected law firm culture to the fine line between confidence and arrogance, this jam-packed hour of conversation will leave you with interesting insights and helpful advice.
This episode of Leaders with Ambition features Rosie Le Gros, Global Business Development Director at Kennedys, who shares insights from her professional journey. Her focus and impressive track record are built on a fundamental desire to make a positive impact, even at the risk of disrupting the status quo.
Rosie walks us through her earliest career moves. Back then, she had no idea that a random junior-level marketing role would catapult her into Ernst & Young’s massive global organisation or how a decision to move into legal services would result in an acquisition that has helped to open doors for her ever since.
Rosie has held a series of transformational roles at Kennedys, prepared at every juncture by the flexibility and adaptability she learned through her early career experiences. “Every role I’ve worked in has taught me something or set me up in a better way for the next opportunity,” says Rosie.
Rosie understood early on that it was okay — even desirable — to stretch outside her comfort zone and raise her hand eagerly for every opportunity. She advises aspiring leaders constantly to be scanning the horizon for gaps to be filled, projects to be undertaken. If you don’t see an initiative? Create one on your own!
Progression up the corporate ladder doesn’t always require a change of employers. To the contrary, Rosie believes institutional knowledge can lead to fantastic niche positions based on credibility and trust among key executive stakeholders.
And being a working parent? Rosie reflects on how the experience has made her a stronger leader, and not just because the juggling requires prioritising and great time management. What she found equally clarifying was the chance to step back, look at the bigger picture of where she was in her career and what she was bringing as a leader. She is laser-focused on setting expectations and encouraging open communications among team members. As Rosie says, “You can be inspired by people all around, sideways, above and below.”
Among the tips Rosie offers for young professionals looking to move through the ranks:
Don’t chase titles. Chase opportunities.
Push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Find your voice and speak up.
Appreciate differences of opinions.
Ensure your visibility. Promote your profile and share your story. No one is going to do your PR for you.
Be authentic. People will otherwise see straight through you
In this episode of Leaders with Ambition, Nicky’s guest demonstrates the power of passion, self-awareness and continuous growth. Senior Client Development Manager at Eversheds Sutherland, Dominic Ayres, shares both big-picture advice and foundational tactics for building and sustaining a career fuelled by genuine passion.
Among other things, you’ll learn tips and insights from his new book, "How to Advance Your Career in Professional Services Marketing: Be More Purposeful and Strategic with Your Career Direction." It’s the book he wished he could have referenced when he was just starting out as an aspiring marketer fresh out of university.
Dominic also offers up thoughts on work-life balance, the importance of intentional self-development and following your passion. His digital marketing expertise has been a differentiator, but it’s also a discipline that's constantly changing. You’ve got to constantly be seeking knowledge, advises Dominic, whether through podcasts like Leaders With Ambition, books, white papers or mentors.
Enjoy this lively conversation and if marketing is your passion – as it certainly is Dominic’s – then check out his playbook, which contains everything you’ll need to know on your way to becoming a CMO.
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