The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/43128
"Attitude and execution go hand-in- hand; you cannot succeed without both." Toastmasters group early in my career but didn't feel that was enough to hone my skills sufficiently. I needed to experiment and push myself, so I started volunteering at small events and giving presentations that were in my comfort zone and allowed me to speak in front of groups of professionals I did not know. That really helped me develop public speaking and presentation skills that have helped me when working with the leadership in my firm and doing presentations at large events. Carlos: I started out too focused on myself — achieving success for the sake of recognition and elevating myself for self-satisfaction. I also struggled with listening. I wanted to be heard, yet cared little about what others had to say. Eventually, I came to desire to see the world from others' perspectives and I created a personal growth plan based on the core values of passion, integrity, commitment, knowledge and stewardship that I was taught growing up. I learned that in order to add value, I had to understand what others need and what is expected from me. Now I consciously listen, and try to communicate according to the situation. I've also had to learn not to torture myself when I make a mistake. Instead, I look at a situation or project where I failed, and I learn from it, so that I don't make the same mistake again. Who are your professional heroes, and why? Carlos: I have several heroes. First is my brother, whose only option has always been to be the best. By constantly 24 www.iltanet.org Peer to Peer challenging himself, he has become one of the most recognized electrophysiologists in Latin America. Two others are Pedro Acosta, my former senior manager, and John Davis, former IT director at Nexsen Pruet. Both instilled principles in me, such as a passion for learning, that support my career. Many ILTA members would also fall into my heroes category — Bob DuBois and David Michel, to name two. Both men possess a unique leadership style, and they have equally contributed to making me a better professional by helping me understand the power of volunteering, leadership, networking and communication. Son: My biggest heroes are my parents. Throughout my life I've seen them run their own businesses, take risks and learn from successes and failures. And no matter what life has thrown at them, they always maintain a high level of professionalism and perseverance. I've learned so many things from them that have helped me in my career, but one of the major lessons was this: Attitude and execution go hand-in-hand; you cannot succeed without both. Meredith: There are three people from my firm whom I credit for helping make me the professional I am today. Randal Mashburn was my mentor when I started out. He is an exceptional man, and I truly could not have become the KM director without him. Two others I've worked closely with are Jim Hughes, my direct report, and Bill Painter, our Strategic Planning Officer. Both have put a lot of faith in me and have modeled for me professionalism at its best. Outside of my