Deirdre Breakenridge: Igniting Your Passion so You Can Excel at Life

Deirdre Breakenridge

Pure Performance Communications

Deirdre K. Breakenridge is Chief Executive Officer at Pure Performance Communications. A veteran in PR, marketing and branding, Breakenridge has worked with organizations including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, JVC, Kraft, Nasdaq, NBA Events & Attractions and PRSA.  

Breakenridge is the author of six business books. Her most recent book, “Answers for Modern Communicators” was published by Routledge in October 2017. Her other titles include “Social Media and Public Relations: Eight New Practices for the PR Professional, and “Putting the Public Back in Public Relations.”

As an adjunct professor, Breakenridge teaches online PR and social media courses for the UMASS at Amherst Journalism Department and for Rutgers University’s PR Certificate course. She speaks nationally and internationally on the topics of PR, marketing, branding and social media communications. Breakenridge is a LinkedIn Learning Instructor with seven video courses on Public Relations Foundations, Media Training, Handling an Unruly Audience, Marketing Communications, Go-To-Market Planning, Competitive Analysis and Creating a Marketing Culture.

Breakenridge is the host of a podcast program, Women Worldwide, interviewing women who share their incredible stories, educating, imparting advice and offering insights to show listeners. Women Worldwide has joined the C-Suite Radio Network, which is the home of podcasts for top business leaders and innovators.

NJBIZ named Breakenridge as one of the Best 50 Women in Business in the state of New Jersey. She also joined the ranks of the Top 250 Women Leaders published by Richtopia in from 2016 through 2018.

Breakenridge blogs about communication, the changing media landscape and collaborative technology at PR Expanded and is the co-founder of #PRStudChat, a dynamic Twitter community with Twitter chats for PR students, educators and PR pros. 

Her latest book, “Answers for Modern Communicators,” is available on here Amazon.

Deirdre and I get quite personal and in interviewing her I felt as if I had known her all my life. I am sure you will appreciate the ups and downs we address in our professional and personal lives. This podcast was very meaningful — and very moving.

Enjoy the podcast.

Deirdre Breakenridge

Contact:

Deirdre Breakenridge, CEO 

deirdre@pureperformancecomm.com

Phone:  732-580-8600

New Book: Answers for Modern Communicators was published in October 2017!

Website: www.pureperformancecomm.com

PR Expanded blog: www.deirdrebreakenridge.com

Women Worldwide podcast: womenworldwideshow.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dbreakenridge

FreemanMeansBusiness.com

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Peer Podcast: Terrie Wheeler

Terrie Wheeler

PSM, LLC.

Terrie Wheeler is a legal marketing veteran, having served for 13 years as an in-house marketing director, then, in 1997 founding Professional Services Marketing, LLC. PSM delivers outsourced marketing and marketing coaching services to lawyers across the country. On August 15, 2018, Terrie launched CLE Connect| Ethical Marketing CLEs on Demand for lawyers in Minnesota. Terrie recently ended a six-year term as vice chair of the MN Lawyers Board of Professional Responsibility. She teaches marketing and client service at three midwestern law schools and is a syndicated columnist for the ABA’s Small Firm Solo Section, and Attorney at Law Magazine. 

Background and Services Offered: 

PSM has 35 employees who provide outsourced marketing department services to lawyers and law firms across the country. Terrie is also a personal marketing coach for lawyers who wish to expand their practices and drive new business. 

CLE-Connect is a new venture focused on a niche within the CLE market – that of offering on-demand CLEs to lawyers in MN. What makes this unique? Each marketing course was approved for ethics credit! 

What Compelled Terrie to Offer the Services She Does?

Lawyers don’t learn how to market in law school. Yet, they join the real world and quickly realize if they can’t develop business, they will not become a partner. Terrie has worked with lawyers her entire career, and loves helping them develop the individual and firm strategies (all as unique as each lawyers’ connections) that will drive new business into their firms. 

She really enjoys having lawyers as clients and figured that if she could successfully serve lawyers as clients inside big law firms, she could also do so as a consultant on the outside.

For CLE-Connect, in Minnesota lawyers can earn 15 of the 45 CLE credits they earn through on-demand programming. There were absolutely NO marketing CLEs of any kind and Terrie was able to create 1-hour marketing CLEs that were also awarded ethics credits! 

Three Things Clients Misunderstand – and Setting the Record Straight 

1. “I have a marketing department, so I don’t need to market.” Not True! Lawyers need to understand that marketing is about messages (website, PR, events, social media) and sales is about asking questions. Lawyers need to learn to think and act like sales people if they want to develop business! 

2. “If I leave my hectic law firm to start my own practice, I will achieve life balance.” Not True! Most lawyers have not read the E-Myth Attorney by Michael Gerber. Being an entrepreneur (E) takes a dedication to building an enterprise, not owning a crazy practice. 

3. “Marketing is about where and how I advertise.” Not Ture! Advertising is really one of the least effective ways in which to develop clients. Building genuine relationships is the answer. Lawyers like to press the “easy” button and throw money at advertising – but generally, it doesn’t work. 

Enjoy the podcast.

Terrie Wheeler

How to Connect with Terrie: 

www.psm-marketing.com 

Terrie@psm-marketing.com 

www.cle-connect.com 

Terrie@cle-connect.com 

facebook.com/ProfessionalServicesMarketingLLC 

facebook.com/cleconnect 

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Authenticity in the Workplace: Really?

Deborah McMurray is the founder, CEO and Strategy Architect of Content Pilot. Her vision has always been to elevate professional services organizations through smarter strategies, dazzling execution and a service ethic that starts with passion and ends with love and care. In this podcast we discuss authenticity in the workplace. We also address topics like being grateful for what we have, what past generations had to deal with that we don’t, and what we are most grateful for.

We touch on some harder hitting issues like the fact that men still run the world and whether it matters that men hold the majority of leadership positions. We talk about whether having more women in power would lift women everywhere in every way. more women in power. Lastly, we address what would be different, if anything, if there were more women in leadership positions.

What Makes Deborah Unique

As a former head of two large law firm marketing departments, she brings a leader’s in-house perspective to every engagement with a professional services firm. Having conducted many hundreds of client interviews, she also brings the client’s voice to every assignment.

Wonder Woman

Deborah McMurray,

CEO of Content Pilot

Our approach is strategy-first in everything we do. Our clients’ strategic vision and goals reign supreme, and we are both the standard-bearers and protectors of them. With your strategy as our foundation, we design for your firm five years from now – pushing you to see greater possibilities than you might imagine today.

I have co-authored several books published by the American Bar Association Law Practice Management Division, with the latest being, “The Lawyer’s Guide to Marketing on the Internet, 4th edition.” I also wrote the 2nd and 3rd editions with co-author Greg Siskind.

—Deborah McMurray

Deborah From Her Own Point of View:

Projects she Loves

Anything with strategy. Unearthing positioning strategy is a special talent and I am known for it. Working with our creative director and project managers on smart and beautiful design for websites and brands, crafting a new and elevating content strategy, and writing copy with heart that hits the intellectual and emotional mark – I love all of this.

I am literally thrilled when we work with major law firms on their new proposal systems and experience management projects. Again starting with strategy, we climb into their processes, understand their teams and their technologies and find ways to streamline, make them better, more productive and efficient.

What Makes her Proud

I am proud of three decades of service to the legal marketing community, having held many local and national roles in the Legal Marketing Association. I was inducted into the LMA Hall of Fame in 2008 and the College of Law Practice Management as a Fellow in 2007. I was delighted to be on the inaugural list of National Law Journal’s “2013 Top 50 Legal Business Trailblazers & Pioneers” and included in LawDragon’s Top 100 Legal Consultants for several years running.

My charitable service is intensely meaningful, too. I am Board President of the Resource Center, the largest LGBT and HIV provider of services in North Texas. And I am a long-time board member and advocate for the Dallas Theater Center.

Nuts and Bolts

• Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, MN

• Master of Music, honors, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

• Frequent author and blogger, speaker at regional, national and international conferences and law firm retreats, tweeter

Enjoy the Podcast

Deborah McMurray

How to Reach Deborah McMurray:

deborah mcmurray

CEO+Strategy Architect

D214.351.9690

C972.897.4921

deborah.mcmurray@contentpilot.com

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Badass Lady Gang Member a.k.a. Wonder Woman in Business, Lindsay Griffiths Shares New News!

Lindsay Griffiths

International Lawyers Network

Lindsay Griffiths is [currently] the International Lawyers Network’s (ILN) Director of Global Relationship Management. In this role, she develops and facilitates relationships among ILN member firm lawyers at 90+ law firms in 67 countries, and seeks opportunities for member firms to build business and relationships, while ensuring member participation in Network events and initiatives. Ms. Griffiths works closely with the Network’s Executive Director on the oversight and management of day-to-day operations. She develops strategies and implementation plans to achieve the ILN’s goals, and shares responsibility with the Executive Director for recruitment, member retention, and a high level of service to members.

At least that’s what you THINK she is — and what she does — for now.

In this episode of “Wonder Women in Business Podcast,” Badass Lady Gang Member, Lindsay Griffiths shares with us some surprising news about her newest professional accomplishment and some of her proudest personal and professional achievements. Lindsay speaks about a unique and unexpected inspirational mentor, someone you’d never guess. Together we dish about gender bias, particularly “prove it again” bias in the international arena.

This was one of the most fun podcasts to date. Enjoy — and Go Red Sox!

Enjoy the podcast.

Lindsay Griffiths, ILN

To Contact Lindsay:

Lindsay Griffiths, Executive Director of Global Relationship Management

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindsaygriffiths

Websites:

iln.com  (International Lawyers Network)

zenlegalnetworking.com  (Zen & Art of Legal Networking)

lindsaygriffithsphotography.wordpress.com/  (Lindsay Griffiths Photography)

Phone: 201-594-9430 (Work)

Email: lindsaygriffiths@iln.com

Twitter: @LindsayGriffith

FreemanMeansBusiness.com

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Wonder Women in Business: Couldn't Be Wilder About Carrie Wilder!

Carrie Wilder

Expedia Group

Director of Market Management, Argentina

Cross-cultural communication has become strategically important to companies due to the growth of global business, technology, and the Internet. Understanding cross-cultural communication is important for any company that has a diverse workforce or plans on conducting global business. As one might imagine, such efforts are extremely important at global companies like Expedia.

Today, we welcome Carrie Wilder, Director of Market Management in Argentina for Expedia Group Lodging Partner Services. Expedia Group powers travel to a highly valuable global audience of travel consumers, collaborating with the world’s leading consumer brands to provide incremental demand and direct bookings.  Travel agents have direct access to one of the broadest selections of travel products and services on the world’s travel platform.

A graduate of Georgetown University, in Washington D.C. Carrie has acquired 25 years of international experience in the hospitality industry both in renowned hotel companies and consulting firms. She began her career with Marriott and Hilton in the U.S, and upon relocating to Buenos Aires she joined the pre-opening team of Park Hyatt Buenos Aires where she stayed for 6 years as Front Office Manager with financial and operational responsibilities for Rooms Division. 

As Director of Marketing, Communication and Services in the consulting firms Service Quality Training and Creative Concepts Massimo Ianni, Carrie was able to apply her experience in service, training, and customer care in  a variety of projects all over Argentina. Constantly looking for new challenges and the opportunity to create innovative concepts, she joined in the development and opening of the Faena Hotel & Universe as Director of Operations. 

As a consultant, she has worked for Massimo Ianni & Associates and Ten Rivers Hospitality, both firms are dedicated to assisting service oriented companies and hotels, as well as hotel development projects. In the educational field, Carrie has been a professor at Swiss American Hospitality Institute, Fundacion Collegiato, and the Business School at Universidad de San Andrés. 

Together with the Austral Group, she collaborates as a tourism and hotel industry expert panelist and gives conferences to visiting MBA candidates from prestigious foreign universities visiting Buenos Aires.  In 2004, she was also a co-founder of Cast9, a consulting boutique specializing in service, quality, and training using innovative concepts and methodologies which apply theatrical techniques, theory and exercises to human resources for the hospitality industry. Expedia Lodging Partner Services, a division of Expedia Group, recruited Carrie to lead their team and ambitious growth plans for South America in 2017.

Enjoy the podcast.

Carrie Wilder

Expedia Group

Director of Market Management, Argentina

Carrie’s LinkedIn Profile

linkedin.com/in/carriewilder

Websites

• casacalma.com.ar  (Portfolio)

• laalondra.com.ar  (Portfolio)

• cast9.com  (Portfolio)

Phone

• 5491161561222 (Mobile)

Email

carriewilder@gmail.com

Twitter

• godiva3

FreemanMeansBusiness.com

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Freeman Means Business and Jaffe Launch “Bubbles, Bites & Bits of Wisdom” Featuring Deborah B. Farone

“Bubbles, Bites & Bits of Wisdom” Featuring Deborah B. Farone

(San Francisco) October 17, 2018 -- Freeman Means Business and Jaffe announce the launch of “Bubbles, Bites & Bits of Wisdom,” a series of businesswomen’s networking and educational events. The inaugural program features national author, marketing strategy advisor and coach, and former CMO of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, Deborah B. Farone. The event takes place Thursday, December 13, 2018 from 5 - 8 PM at the San Francisco Wine School. Farone will share her insights on, “Empowerment: To Get the Career, Clients & Life You Want.” Icebreakers, networking, wine tasting and dinner to follow.

“These one-of-a-kind sophisticated programs create an opportunity to elevate women while giving them the practical introductions to help them meet like-minded, career-focused professionals. They will leave with real-world tools to use to produce the business and personal life they desire,” said Susan C. Freeman, Founder and CEO of Freeman Means Business, and Senior Vice President, Marketing & Business Development of Jaffe. 

Farone will also introduce her book, Best Practices: Law Firm Business Development and Marketing. In the book, she covers topics such as the steps to take to build an individual reputation and brand, including the use of press, speaking engagements and social media, and the business development tactics of the country’s most successful rainmakers.

As the CMO at two of the world’s most successful law firms and as a marketing professional at a global management consultancy, Farone has had unparalleled experience in professional services marketing and communications. Farone Advisors provides marketing and communications strategy and advice to professional organizations in North America and Europe in order to help them position their companies for growth. 

“Deborah is a connector, linking clients and legal service providers. She is our go-to person when we are looking for authentic industry knowledge and insights on where the legal market is trending,” says Connie Brenton, Chairman of the Board, CLOC | Senior Director of Legal Operations, NetApp, Inc.

Susan Freeman will also host an icebreaker event before the wine tasting and dinner. Enjoy custom curated food & wine pairings selected by Master Sommelier David Glancy and prepared by Resident Chef Danae McLaughlin. The event will be hosted by one of San Francisco Wine School’s industry leading instructors who will guide guests through an engaging food & wine pairing experience as guests explore several bites and sips discussing the unique wine and food combinations and why they work together.  

DETAILS:

“Bubbles, Bites & Bits of Wisdom” at the San Francisco Wine School, 415 Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA.

Thursday, December 13, 2018, 5 - 8 PM  

Admission is $120 per attendee for speaker, networking, wine tasting & dinner

RSVP today at the FreemanMeansBusiness.com “Events” page. 

About Freeman Means Business:

Founded in 2010, Freeman Means Business focuses on helping professional women succeed and communicate effectively with the world, and helping men communicate with women in business. Freeman Means Business provides training on building relationships that result in new business.

About Jaffe:

Jaffe, the legal industry’s full-service marketing, branding and public relations agency, has been recognized by the National Law Journal, Ragan's PR Daily and PR News for its outstanding marketing, PR, social media and business development services. The Legal Marketing Association has repeatedly honored the agency with “Your Honor Awards” for its creative and results-driven programs. Jaffe prides itself on its exceptional client service and its comprehensive service offerings, including public relations, marketing, business development, branding, social media, content marketing and SEO, website and digital media, and leadership and management consulting. The agency’s experienced strategists are based in major markets, including Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and in Florida.

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