Leading Through Change: Valerie Lyons Leap to the CMBDO Seat

What does it take to make the leap from a high-performing manager role to leading an entire department through unprecedented times?

In this episode of The Legal BD Corner, I’m joined by Valerie Lyons, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Weber Gallagher. Valerie shares her journey of stepping into a leadership role right as the pandemic hit. We explore how she adapted to a fully virtual environment, strategically built and evolved her team, and implemented firm-wide alignment around a single strategic vision.

We dive into:

• The mindset shift from manager to leader
• The power of aligning marketing with firm-wide strategic goals
• Leveraging AI to streamline operations and increase BD impact
• How collaboration and resource-sharing across departments became her secret weapon
• Why human connection is still the most critical growth driver — even in an AI-first world

Whether you're an aspiring leader or navigating change in your firm, this is a must-listen conversation packed with insights, candor, and actionable takeaways.

👉 Tune in to learn how Valerie is future-proofing BD in the legal world.