BEARD STRATEGIES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager
- Operations & Client Experience Manager
Jamie has been working in the legal field for over a decade. Early in her career, she served as an associate attorney in two AmLaw 200 firms, representing clients in large and small commercial real estate practice groups. Before shifting her focus to law firm consulting, she spent time in an in-house role for a major charitable organization.
Her approach combines her kind, knowledgeable presence with incisive analysis, driving actionable talent and leadership assessments that help law firms achieve at the highest levels. She is also an accomplished facilitator, quickly building trust and deftly drawing out candid insights that leave law firms, attorneys and professional staff with the sense that their voices have been truly heard.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Senior Consultant
Marian is an executive coach, former practicing lawyer and consultant on leadership and lawyer development. Through coaching, Marian partners with her clients in a dynamic process to help them to grow their capabilities, envision new possibilities and leverage their strengths to accomplish their goals.
Marian particularly enjoys coaching professionals on career transitions, having successfully navigated two major transitions herself. Prior to coaching, Marian practiced law for 16 years, then pivoted to a career in lawyer training and development at an Am Law 200 firm. As a professional development director, she created a variety of innovative training, mentoring and coaching programs, in addition to implementing a competency model to guide lawyer evaluation and advancement. Marian has also held leadership positions in several nonprofit and professional organizations. After 10 years in the training and development field, Marian earned her coaching certification and left her law firm position to pursue coaching full-time.
Mary Ellen has over 30 years of experience leading talent development in professional services consultancies and law firms. A proven leader in diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), talent development systems, leadership growth and culture-building initiatives, she is also a seasoned human capital consultant.
Mary Ellen helps organizations gain a holistic perspective on talent development challenges. In her view, the most effective way to resolve problems, achieve business success and foster a thriving, inclusive culture is to be intentional about every aspect of recruitment, retention and engagement. Ensuring that equitable opportunities and a sense of belonging are extended to all firm citizens is a critical component of successful outcomes.
Naomi is a formally credentialed executive coach and longtime member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is credentialed by the ICF as a Professional Certified Coach and by MentorCoach® as a Certified Mentor Coach. She is certified to administer and interpret a variety of standardized leadership assessments - including Myers-Briggs, Everything DiSC®, and Hogan assessments. Naomi is a frequent presenter at law firm and professional association events, and her writing has appeared in the New York Law Journal and in a variety of online and print publications, including the ABA Journal online, the National Association for Law Placement, and the 2021 book Accelerating Trends in Law Firms, published by Globe Law and Business.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Effective RTO Strategies: Prioritize Flexibility to Strengthen Culture / Reading Time: 4 Minutes Effective RTO Strategies: Prioritize Flexibility to
Susanne's passion for consulting with law firms and coaching attorneys began with the realization that she loves the legal industry, but not practicing law. Leaving her practice was a difficult decision, but one that guided her into truly joyful work - and an experience that gives her a profound understanding of the challenges that attorneys face. For close to 20 years, she counseled students and alumni at Golden Gate University School of Law's career center, and her experience there also informs her coaching and consulting work today.
Heavily involved with industry associations - like the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) and the American Bar Association (ABA) - Susanne is uniquely positioned to deliver actionable insights. She also specializes in overcoming imposter syndrome and helping introverted attorneys thrive in law firm environments.
Job Titles:
- Business & Data Systems Project Manager
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Project Consultant
- Strategic Partner: Project Management & Marketing
Tara has two decades of experience as a writer, marketing consultant, content strategist and communications professional. Her passion is providing engaging, beneficial experiences that provide genuine value. Her efforts focus on raising Beard Strategies' industry profile while enhancing its relationships with its clients - in service of law firms' and their people's success.
Tara spearheads creative, thought-provoking communications and marketing efforts and oversees many of the team's large-scale projects, including leadership reviews and multifaceted talent initiatives. She holds an M.F.A. in Writing and Poetics from Naropa University and a B.A. in English from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.