“No one ever explains how you, as leaders, can motivate individuals, create an inclusive and empowering environment, and inspire change; they just imply that it magically happens.” Professor Michele DeStefano

As corporate discussions increasingly refer to innovation, collaboration, and culture creation, numerous books have flooded the market claiming to have a secret formula for leadership success in each - or all - of these fields.  Unfortunately, many don’t speak to the unique aspects of Law Firm or Professional Services environments and fail to offer Partners and firm leadership actionable strategies and practical solutions to apply in their firm.

Professor Michele DeStefano bridges the gap between theory and practice in her latest book, Leader Upheaval: A Guide to Client-Centricity, Culture Creation, and Collaboration, which has just become available in Australia through Dymocks.

Michele is a world leader in Leadership for Law Firms and In-House Legal Departments and a sought-after speaker on creative problem-solving, collaboration, client-centricity, communication, personal branding, and innovation.

You might be familiar with Michele’s work and research. After all, over the past decade hundreds of Partners and Senior Executives from this country’s leading firms have made the investment in a Harvard Leadership Course.

MICHELE DeStefano IN Person In Sydney

This is your exclusive opportunity to learn directly from Michele DeStefano.

On Tuesday, 15 October, Michele will lead an interactive 90-minute session in Sydney on how individual leadership styles can be transformed and how shifting mindsets can foster a more collaborative, innovative, and inclusive culture.

About Michele DeStefano

• Program Chair, Harvard Law School’s Impactful Leadership Program Executive Education program

• Professor at the University of Miami School of Law.

• Founder of LawWithoutWalls (LWOW), a global community of over 2,000 lawyers, business professionals, entrepreneurs, and students who collaborate to create innovations in the business of law and develop new skill sets;

• Co-founder of Digital Legal Exchange - a global non-profit that aims to inspire general counsel and their teams to become digital leaders in their businesses to drive commercial value;

• Professor at the University of Miami School of Law; and

• the brain behind MOVEL∆W, a company dedicated to changing how professionals collaborate and contribute to culture change.

About Leader Upheaval: A Guide to Client-Centricity, Culture Creation, and Collaboration

When asked about the motivation behind penning this book, DeStefano shares …

“No one ever explains how you’re supposed to move from a problem to inspiration, from an idea to a prototype. I thought I should ‘processize’ it for others, that is, provide practical steps for how leaders can do this based on what I have done with the LawWithoutWalls community and leading over 240 project teams on intensive innovation journeys over the past 14 years.”

Leader Upheaval is an outstanding resource for emerging and experienced leaders in Law Firms, In-House Legal Departments, and other professional services Firms. It encourages leaders to empower individuals, align incentives, and create an environment where innovation, collaboration, and inclusive cultures thrive.

Leader Upheaval provides practical recommendations on enhancing leadership style, explores the common pitfalls leaders must navigate and unpacks why efforts within professional services firms and corporate legal departments fail.

Part I examines challenges and stumbling blocks, with a focus on corporate clients' changing expectations and the leadership gap in professional services firms.

Part II then outlines what it takes for leaders to inspire, lead, and create a positive work culture. It introduces the Three Rules of Engagement and emphasizes the significance of establishing inclusive environments where diverse professionals can succeed.

Part III goes through the different components of effective management in collaboration and innovation efforts (i.e., team makeup, structure, processes, and communication strategies). It also presents The 3-4-5 Method™, a step-by-step approach developed by DeStefano over the past decade to guarantee progress and mitigate the risk of failure.

Leader Upheaval is best for those invested in changing how Firms cater to clients and for leaders searching for more tangible ways to lead and inspire positive change within their teams, practices, or departments. Michele complements this book with The Leader Upheaval Handbook: Lead Teams on an Innovation & Collaboration Journey with The 3-4-5 Method ™, which includes weekly instructions, checklists and timelines that have been successfully applied by hundreds of diverse teams.

Here, she applies design thinking principles for leading multidisciplinary teams in collaborative problem-solving.

“I like to see people change how they think about the world, how they see things, and the way they behave. I wrote the book in hopes of moving people forward, if not miles, at least inches.”

Sue-Ella is the Principal of Prodonovich Advisory, a business dedicated to helping professional services practices sharpen their business development practices.

She works with Law Firms and Business Advisers that focus on positive client relationships, and with individuals who want personal, intelligent support.

Sue-Ella has no commercial interest in engagements with Prof Michele DeStefano.