Get in the driver's seat!

Hosted by Sandra Bekhor, Practice Management Coach

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Oct 2025

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EN-CA

About the show

Busy professionals tend to get lost in the day-to-day operation of their practices. 'Get in the driver's seat!' will be that helpful reminder that you don't have to be a passenger on your own bus. This podcast features inspiring stories about the moments, big and small, that illustrate effective leadership from team management and client communication to rainmaking. Practice management coach, Sandra Bekhor, interviews successful lawyers, architects, accountants and healthcare professionals for touching and uplifting (and even entertaining) examples taht illustrate what really works... and what really doesn't!

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29 recent

October 15, 2025Episode 2839 min

Selling without being salesy! Guest: Mark Hunter

Today, we’re talking about how to - and I know you don’t like this word - sell without being salesy as a lawyer or other type of professional. What do we mean by that? Profile building, initial consults, referrals and introductions. This conversation explores various stages of the sales process in legal and other professional services, including:How professionals can self-promote with ease, without coming across as bragging. How to get comfortable asking for business from a prospective client. How to ask for introductions and referrals from your network, without detracting from nurturing the relationship. How to set initial consultations up for success, for yourself and your team. How to close a sale. In this episode, we share stories and ideas from our own experiences of supporting lawyers and other professionals through this process and how that has evolved over the years. Some aspect of selling is going to be part of your job for the remainder of your professional career. Getting comfortable with this can be a game-changer! Mark Hunter is an award-winning marketing, brand, and communications executive. Mark has designed internal and external programs that drive adoption and deliver exceptional client experiences. His expertise spans B2B and B2C environments, with particular strength in helping legal professionals translate complex services into compelling messages that resonate with their audiences. If you are interested in learning more about Mark Hunter, please go to: glenmaplegroup.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.

July 24, 2025Episode 2733 min

A sense of urgency! Guest: Fran Jakubowicz

Today, we’re talking about a sense of urgency in professional services firms. There are (considerable!) benefits to knowing when to speed up and when to slow down. Having the skill to do that can be a game-changer in terms of keeping your team productive and motivated, reducing turnover, maximizing the value of your business development efforts and retaining client loyalty.This conversation explores the full range of situations where sometimes a sense of urgency is:- Completely lacking and, as a result, leaders experience the frustration of lost opportunities- Non-stop go-go-go because leaders have lost their ability to distinguish true from false urgencyIn this episode, we share stories and ideas from our own experiences of ramping up our response rate to slowing down and making space for planning, coordinating and collaborating. We even suggest some specific ideas to try if you are running into typical inner obstacles like perfectionism, hypervigilance and people pleasing. The tools we share (including leadership presence, communication strategies, priority management systems and ways to balance teams) have worked for us. So, we encourage our listeners to draw on these hard-won insights! To learn more about Fran Jakubowicz, please go to SunHouseMarketing.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.

April 30, 2025Episode 2648 min

Lawyers need creative hobbies! Guest: Karen Dunn Skinner

Today, we're talking about something different. Creative hobbies and the benefits they can bring to lawyers and other professionals. What do you do when you finally have some quiet time, after a long and stressful day of lawyering? For many, the answer includes some mindless scrolling, binge-watching, going for a run or diving into a great book. And sometimes that can be exactly what we need to give our minds and bodies a break. But other times, it leaves us lacking. We need something that goes beyond helping us slow down and, instead, actually fills our cup back up. Well, in this podcast, Karen and I talk about how a creative hobby can be that something that inspires and energizes you every day, even on days when you feel drained or depleted. In this episode, we share stories and ideas from our own experiences of leaning into art, including getting started, keeping it going, fitting it into a busy life, taking it with you wherever you go and overcoming fears of the blank page. We even suggest some specific ideas to try if this is all a bit new to you. Despite what our teachers or society may have taught or told us over the years, we're all creative. You can do this. You might even love it. To learn more about Karen Dunn Skinner, please go to https://www.leanlegal.academy/.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.

January 30, 2025Episode 2547 min

The how & why of doing DEI right! Guest: Michelle Davis

Today, we're looking at DEI from a different perspective, completely. Rather than the shoulds of it, we're addressing the why and the how of doing it right.The landscape of professional services firms is somewhat divided when it comes to the difficult topic of DEI. Some firms have policies. Some don’t. Some are open to learning more. Some are disillusioned, disappointed are disinclined. Further still, following the basic requirements may not have had much of an impact and, as a result, there are new or lingering concerns and uncertainty about the value of these programs. Some of the questions that came up in this episode, include: Why it's in your interest to do DEI right. What does it mean to do DEI right? How can DEI make your firm stronger? What are firms getting wrong about DEI? What are the missed opportunities with DEI in professional practice? Skillfully tackling this sensitive topic and sharing actual experiences with me is Michelle Davis. To learn more about Michelle, please go to mvdconsulting.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.

December 12, 2024Episode 2452 min

Leaning into difficult conversations! Guest: Hannah Lau

Today, we’re talking about difficult conversations in the workplace. Facing them head-on, rather than avoiding or delaying... because the underlying issue probably isn’t going away anytime soon.In this episode, we share relatable stories and ideas that range the full gamut of the difficult conversation, from being the initiator to being on the receiving end, from the spontaneous to the planned. It's a sensitive topic, but we invite you to lean into it with us. Getting better at difficult conversations can be a game-changer for anyone in professional services, where your work primarily focuses on engaging with other people (clients, teams, supervisors, collaborators). Growing this critical communication skill can embolden you to pursue your goals and reduce stress along the way. Tackling this challenging topic with me (masterfully!) is Hannah Lau. To learn more about Hannah, please go to https://astera.asia/.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.

November 26, 2024Episode 2351 min

The power of stick-to-itiveness in marketing! Guests: Mark Robins and Stuart Rudner

Lots of lawyers and other professionals give marketing a try. Once, twice, three times. But they get distracted, discouraged or busy and never really hit their stride. When marketing comes to a halt, you're not just walking away from inquiries, exposure and media. There's also the hidden cost of lost opportunities to build confidence, engage with community and maybe even have a little fun along the way. If any of this feels familiar, you'll enjoy this podcast. Stuart and Mark share stories about overcoming obstacles on the way to marketing success, from their own experience. Stick-to-itiveness seems to be one of the real winners here, even in the face of serious doubt or significant change.To learn more about Mark, please go to LawyerLocate.ca. To learn more about Stuart please go to rudnerlaw.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.

October 23, 2024Episode 2251 min

Make the most of your board experience: Guests: Annie Tayyab and Michael Binetti

At some point in their career, many lawyers and other professionals consider serving on a board of directors as part of their professional development. And when they do, they usually come face-to-face with inevitable questions, like these ones:- What type of board is right for me? - How can I best contribute? - What are some proven ways to handle conflict? So, In this episode of Get in the Driver's Seat, we're pulling back the curtain on what it really means to join a board and how to make the most of that experience, for yourself, your colleagues and the organization itself. While this discussion is enlightening about the journey itself (and it is), it ultimately brings us to the key to it all, which is becoming a better leader.To learn more about Michael, please go to https://www.agmlawyers.com/To learn more about Annie, please go to https://www.torkin.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.

September 18, 2024Episode 2140 min

From solopreneur to CEO: Guest: Lacey Kempinski

There are a lot of uncomfortable bumps along the way from solopreneur to CEO of your own professional firm: - letting go of control as you hire and delegate in a bigger way- prioritizing what matters to you and being flexible with the rest- facing your limits and asking for help from your team or outside advisors Learning to navigate these (sometimes surprising!) bumps can save you a lot of trouble, time and money. It may even get you where you're going faster and stronger. In this episode of Get in the Driver's Seat, Lacey Kempinski , an in-house fundraiser, turned mom, turned consultant, turned CEO, shares stories about the issues and opportunities she ran into on her journey and what ultimately worked for her, her team and her company. Lacey is the owner and founder of Balanced Good an organization that provides hands-on parental leave coverage for fundraising professionals. If you are interested in learning more about Balanced Good, please go to: www.balancedgood.com or https://www.linkedin.com/company/balanced-goodYou'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.

July 26, 2024Episode 2051 min

Performance reviews don't work! Guest: Deborah Glatter

There’s a lot of controversy around performance reviews these days! But rather than make a list of pros and cons, we’re performing a dramatic and playful role play. Our discussion shines a light on the issues to show a new way forward. Deborah plays the role of the passionate consultant shouting from the rooftops “performance reviews don't work”. I play the role of the unconvinced, but curious (and sometimes difficult!) client. If you are a practice manager looking to improve your firm's performance, this episode is for you!If you are interested in learning more about Deborah Glatter, Legal educator and management consultant, please go to:https://deborahglatter.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.

July 25, 2024Episode 1944 min

Better than perfect! Guest: Joanne Trotta

Today, Joanne shares with us why she exchanged an (enviable!), high-level executive role in big corporate for entrepreneurship and how this journey positioned her to build her successful venture.We're illustrating how and why to share an origin story. If you're considering how to tell your story, it can be difficult to decide: What to share? What to hold back? How to tie your journey to your ability to help clients today? This is a brave, open and focused discussion. You will see from our discussion that the key is to find those pivot points. When did you reach the end of the road with what you were doing? Why? What did you do about it? How did life change as a result? How do you offer greater value as a professional because you went through this transformative experience?Why are these origin stories so powerful? They are relatable. They are connecting. As Joanne openly shares here, they are authentic and vulnerable, quite the opposite of the perfectionism we were once taught to pursue. So, in some ways trying to be perfect might be a hidden obstacle on the way to building trust, the cornerstone of success in professional practice. So, what's better than trying to be perfect then? Leaning into your true voice, more and more every day, and playing a bigger game as a result. If you are interested in learning more about Joanne Trotta, please go to:https://www.leadersedgeinc.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.