Jessica Shpall Rosen’s Post

It's #followfriday and time for a shoutout to Sam Cave, Technical Operations Director at Angeion Group! Sam came to legal ops after over a decade working in IT as an engineer. He takes an incredibly pragmatic approach to innovation, focusing on simplicity, scalability and long-term viability. These qualities were on display on Tuesday when Sam joined Legal Exec Neural Network (LEN) to demo how he uses AI and automation tools to power his Legal team. He showed us simple automation solutions and explained how AI could be used to enhance them, with a thoughtful eye to the risk/benefit of using AI. Despite being someone who loves technology, Sam advocates first doing things the slow way (building things in a basic or manual way) before throwing fancy technology at a problem. When you figure out your needs, you can approach the dizzying number of tech options with a clearer idea of how you want it to work for you. Sam is also quick on his feet, as demonstrated by his ability to pivot his demo multiple times. When someone asked a question, Sam built a tool on the spot to show how it could be done. Thanks for sharing with us, Sam!

Amplifying these free legal resources for those bracing for Hurricane Milton 👇 Stay safe everyone!

"I didn't know she was laid off until she was gone." A friend of mine heard this from their manager, who apparently was blind-sided by a layoff impacting one of his own team members. The manager was scrambling to find coverage for a team that was a fraction of its original size. When planning for a layoff, a company needs a tight-knit circle of trusted leaders involved (HR, Legal, Finance, Ops, and more). Not every manager needs to be involved* But when a manager is blind-sided like this, they may be resentful and angry. A venting manager isn’t good for morale (or risk management for that matter). A layoff is a fragile time for everyone. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds of assessing business and legal risk. But the communication strategy can’t be overlooked. It can mean the difference between a unified team and a resentful team. *Of course, if the employees are being chosen based on performance or aptitude within a team, the managers should already be looped in, as they’re likely best to assess this

I had a conversation last week that I'm still thinking about. I was talking to someone who by external measures is at the top of his career and game. Highly successful and accomplished in all aspects. The conversation went something like this: Jessica: "How are things with you and your family?" Him: "You know, [my wife] and I are really focused on how we can level up." I was surprised by this. I asked what he had in mind, and he shared some of their goals. It's incredibly motivating to be around people with this mindset. They're humble but not comfortable. I think the comment is still on my mind because it made me realize this is also a theme in my life. It's something I personally aspire to. I like to read and hear stories of people scratching for something just out of reach. And the people I've surrounded myself with share this mindset. I just hadn't named it before.

When I'm in the Bay Area, I like joining Masters (adult) swim team practices. There's one coach in particular, Reza, who stands out. Here’s why every manager should aspire to be like Reza: 1. Encouraging but firm Reza exudes positivity and is always encouraging. But the other day, I saw him interact with a swimmer who was hesitant. He confidently adjusted his style to persuade her to give it a try. 2. Helpful feedback Even for an experienced swimmer, it's important to keep an eye on your form, to avoid injury and move efficiently. I've swum on recreational swim teams for decades and most coaches don't bother to give feedback. Reza keeps an eye on swimmer's form and offers advice on how to improve (and knows how and when to deliver it, so it's actually helpful) 3. Ability to zoom out and in Reza keeps an eye on what's happening throughout the pool, and also at an individual lane and swimmer level. If you don't have your own fins for kicking, he keeps a special stash of quality supplies in the back room. He makes sure everyone has what they need to enjoy the workout. 4. Clear instruction In a swim workout, the coach gives swimmers a "set," or routine to follow. Sets usually follow a pattern but can sometimes get convoluted (especially difficult because these are usually communicated orally as opposed to in writing). When Reza explains the set, he makes sure to deliver the right amount of information, with clarity. (Of course, he's always there to take questions, but the instructions are clear from the outset) 5. Caring personally I show up for a handful of swim workouts per year, every few months. But Reza remembers where I live and my preferred swim equipment. This makes me feel welcome and supported. I realize a recreational swim team isn't the same as a job--we're there by choice. But it's not that different. Seeing this behavior modeled in the wild makes it easier to remember to practice at work.

It's #followfriday and time to share some love for Laura Neuman, Senior Advisor at The Carter Center Laura has dedicated her entire career to helping, first as a Legal Aid lawyer and then at a policy level to expand transparency and access to information for people around the world. More recently, she developed and leads the "Inform Women, Transform Lives" campaign, where she facilitates cohorts of city governments seeking to improve how they share resources with stakeholders and expand access to opportunity for women and marginalized populations. I met Laura on an airplane in South America long ago, when I was a recent college graduate. That conversation is one of the most transformative of my career. I had been planning to go to law school at the time, but wasn't feeling ready, and Laura inspired me to think about other ways to meet my goals. We stayed in touch, and I decided not to go to law school (at that time). And then a job opened up on Laura's team and I went to work with her. Laura is incredibly hard-working and dedicated, with high expectations for herself and those around her. It was a challenging job but I learned a ton. I credit Laura with helping me become more professional, thorough, and detail-oriented, which didn't come naturally to me. After a couple of other career turns, I eventually came back to the idea of practicing law. I can draw a direct line from my experience working with Laura to becoming a successful associate and lawyer. Over the years, we've stayed in occasional touch by phone, email and LinkedIn as our families grew and careers evolved. But we hadn't seen each other in decades. On Tuesday night, as I was walking up Broadway in NYC, I saw Laura walking towards me and immediately recognized her. It was late, but we spent a couple of hours catching up over coffee. It was incredibly rewarding to be able to reconnect and reflect on how we've grown over the years, both personally and professionally. Laura has made tremendous impact in her career, working tirelessly to improve the lives of people all around the world. This shout-out is a small token of my appreciation for her work and the ways she's positively impacted my career and life. Thank you, Laura! 💜

This past Sunday, I ran the Bronx 10-miler, my first race since the NYC Marathon in November 2023 (my first). At mile 7, I reminded myself that I had already run 26.2 miles, so 10 miles was very doable. I finished strong and proudly wore my medal around town that afternoon. Then I learned from my run club, Pitch and Run, about a special opportunity to run the 2024 NYC Marathon. It’s in 37 days. Even though it will be a VERY accelerated training schedule, I immediately said yes. The NYC Marathon is the biggest block party around. I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. Our kids will be out there cheering for us, and I love showing them what it means to put in hard work and challenge yourself. Thanks to team Knockaround 🕶️ for the opportunity of a lifetime! Thanks to Kevin, Nihal, and Karen for making this happen for our community and building these relationships!

In 2024, I'm combining networking with fun, in many forms: theatre, art, running, hiking and more… That's why I'm thrilled to be a co-host for tomorrow's TechWalk in Central Park. For an entirely different lunch break, join me, Ugoeze Achilike (WellCare Nurses & Staffing NJ) and Christine Farrier Rosemin (founder of TechWalk) tomorrow, departing from Columbus Circle at 12:30 Link to register in comments

An employee chasing a thief is a recipe for disaster. The other night, I was standing on a busy street corner and a guy in a hoodie ran by as he was chased by a uniformed employee. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it was crowded and could have been much worse. The laws are quickly evolving in the area of workplace safety, with CA recently implementing new violence prevention requirements and NY enacting a safety law for retail workers, which goes into effect in March 2025. But even if not legally required to have a formal workplace violence plan, all employers should consider the what-ifs. In the immediate moment, managers and HR teams need to be able to quickly respond, asking questions like: • Is everyone safe? • Do we need to call the police or for medical attention? • Is our area secure? • What do our employees need to get through this? • How should we communicate what happened?

It’s #followfriday and time for a shoutout to Kay Lee! Kay and I have been virtual friends for a while but today we met for the first time in person for a walk in Central Park in NYC! Kay is a veteran of lean in-house legal teams, currently serving as Senior Managing Counsel at Recharge. Kay is also incredibly warm and generous, and has a growth mindset, both in life and as a lawyer and business leader. Exhibit No. 1: Kay recently launched a coffee roasting business, Kai & The Rain, and generously gifted me some freshly roasted beans—can’t wait to try out this new brew! Kay’s a regular at our Legal Exec Neural Network (LEN) and In-House Lean Legal Collective. In addition to learning together, in these communities, we share wins with each other, so it’s been thrilling to follow along as Kay’s coffee hobby has turned into a true business outfit—I can’t wait to see what’s to come!