A lawyer's business development playbook is constantly changing. But there are some steadfast truths about how to win. Listen to this episode, as Norm shares generously and openly from his experience about what works. Norman Bacal brings years of leadership experience to a career that included building a law firm from scratch. In 1989 he opened a four lawyer shop in Toronto and  over the next twenty five years expanded the firm  from a base in  film and television finance into multiple disciplines and practice groups. His most useful skills over that period related to the recognition and development of talent and  building of a unique cultural environment to retain that talent.  When he left his leadership position as national co-managing partner of Heenan Blaikie, the office had grown to over two hundred lawyers and the film was among the best known brands in the country. In his second career as author, consultant and  keynote speaker,  he mentors young professionals and consults with law firm leaders across the county.  He has published three books to  assist the career development of professionals, from articling student to managing partner.You're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.

Growing pains can be a literal pain. It can be helpful to remember that they're actually a sign of success. In this episode, Erin and I talk about navigating growing pains, at different stages of a firm's life cycle. What worked, what didn't and some lessons learned along the way. Erin Cowling is a former corporate commercial litigator and now Founder & CEO of Flex Legal Network Inc. (a company that matches busy lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel with freelance lawyers to assist with overflow legal work on a project basis). Previously, she was a lawyer for several years at McMillan LLP in Toronto. Erin has volunteered her time with both the CBA and OBA Small, Solo and General Practice Section Executives and the OBA Women Lawyers Forum Section Executive. She also taught Legal Research & Writing at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and was the Regional Alumni Advisor (Toronto) for the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, providing confidential career coaching to new lawyers. She has an award-winning law-blog (currently on pause) which includes the popular series “Women Leading in Law” and writes for several legal publications. Erin is also a graduate of ELLA Ascend and ELLA Altitude, two entrepreneurship and business accelerator programs offered by York University. You're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.

Is there a professional community out there that's right for you? How can you make the most of it? If not, what if you were to create your own community? In this episode, Jackie and I swap stories about the challenges and opportunities of community building. Jackie is an award winning certified financial planner, best-selling author, and featured speaker who has helped thousands of clients grow their net worth, build a fortress around their finances, and keep more of their cash in their pocket for 25 years and counting! Her focus is on empowering women towards financial independence.Jackie has been featured on the star, CBC, the agenda with Steve Paikin, BBN, Global news and is also a regular contributor to investment executive, wealth professional, and the globe and mail. As Mackenzie female trailblazer of the year for 2019 and 2021, she also recently won the Canadian advisor of the year at the 2023 Wealth professional awards making her a 3-time winner. Jackie is a leading money expert and a powerful voice in the world of women's financial empowerment.You're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.

Today, we're swapping stories about developing professional relationships, not as a duty, but as an enjoyable activity that can add a lot to life. If you're looking for inspiration on ways to reach out to new people with ease, this episode is for you!Our guest, Samantha Graff Benmor, is an award-winning realtor at The Graff Group and an icon of Toronto Real Estate. Samantha is also the innovator behind Sammy G's Gifts, perfectly personalized gifts for all occasions. If you are interested in learning more about Samantha Graff Benmor, please go to:thegraffgroup.ca  or sammygs.comYou're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.

Effective leadership doesn't happen without confidence. The confidence to use your voice, to ask for what you need, to assert boundaries and to do it with warmth and kindness. So where does that conviction and strength come from? A good starting point is self-acceptance. In this podcast, Georgette and I exchange some entertaining stories about the blocks we have run into as women leaders when it comes to speaking up... and the bold moves we have taken to overcome those issues. Dr. Georgette Zinaty is the Executive Vice-President at Corporate Class and Practice Lead for their Diversity and Inclusion leadership training programs. Georgette is a 2x TEDx Speaker. She is the Founder of a non-profit called WHEW! -which stands for Women Helping Empower Women and she published a book on the scarcity of women and diversity in leadership called Why Not YOU? 100% of all the profits go to support her charity! To learn more about Dr. Georgette Zinaty, please go to: https://www.corporateclassinc.com/ orhttps://www.whewwomen.com/You're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.

How can lawyers build a sustainable law practice? Putting in the right systems and processes will definitely help. But sometimes it's about starting with an uplifting approach and attitude that cultivates connection. In this podcast, Steve Benmor shares how his divorce law practice was (and continues to be) founded on respect for others: his team, his clients and 'fellow' counsel. Note Steve's significant choice to replace the more traditional 'opposing counsel' with 'fellow counsel'. Ultimately, this approach isn't just a recipe for a sustainable law practice. It's a recipe for an authentic life. Our guest today is one of Ontario’s most recognized divorce lawyers, Steve Benmor, a Divorce Strategist & Family Mediator at Benmor Family Law Group and the innovator behind Benmor Family Law Strategies.  To learn more, go to: https://benmor.com/ orhttps://benmorfamilylawstrategies.ca/You're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.

A successful and sustainable law practice can be built on a foundation of great relationships. Listen as our guest Sara Erskine shares how that process begins and ends with shared values.Sara Erskine is a founding partner at a Boutique Bay Street commercial litigation practice, Weintraub Erskine Huang. Sara has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada. She also regularly represents clients before regulatory tribunals.You're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.

When we look at an entrepreneur hitting their stride, it can look like the journey was (deceivingly!) easy. But we all know that success stories don't happen without encountering some bumps in the road. So, when that happens, how can we keep up our strength and continue moving forward toward our goals? Listen to today's podcast guest, Zahra Qureshi, describe how she developed her own personal recipe for resilience! Zahra Qureshi is a CPA, CMA turned entrepreneur in the social enterprise space. Zahra is on a mission is to provide leaders with stronger processes for accounting, financial management, and impact measurement that can support their vision for growth. She is the founder of Optinum, a firm that offers finance and impact planning solutions. She is also the founder of Social Venture Circuit, a community of changemakers. You're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.

 Transparency, commitment and clarity. That's the way to build trusted relationships that work. How is that the same as authenticity? Listen to Trevor Tynes, SEO consultant, describe how he has built his business by showing up authentically, in every way.  Trevor Tynes is obsessed with helping businesses dominate search engines to increase their leads, book more consults, and grow their revenue using Organic SEO, Maps SEO, and Paid Search Ads. He lives a wonderful sober life as a family man and slowpitch enthusiast with a passion for growing emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically and helping others. To learn more about SEO from Trevor, our guest, visit Trevor Tynes, SEO consultant. You're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.

As many family lawyers know... there are two sides to the compassion coin - reward and fatigue.When I first met with Kavita V. Bhagat, I wondered how she managed to maintain her steady depth of compassion. And it wasn't until we did this podcast that I had a true understanding of how deep that well truly went. But just as with all things in life, there's a flip side to the lovely sentiment, fatigue. Listen to this discussion, as Kavita reveals how she navigates daily challenges as a lawyer, mediator and arbitrator working in the area of family law, including domestic violence. As someone who has devoted tremendous time and energy to her profession and her community, Kavita also shared mentorship stories in our discussion. Get ready for an emotional ride... from the chilling to the heartbreaking, touching and uplifting. If you are interested in learning more about from Kavita V. Bhagat our guest, go to  family law solutions.You're listening to Get in the Driver’s Seat! We’re telling stories about leadership moments in small to mid-sized professional practices. I’m your host, Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach for lawyers, architects, consultants and other professionals at Bekhor Management.