Our fourth Women in LegalTech: Leadership & Development event was an inspiring gathering of professionals, industry leaders, and allies, all focused on breaking barriers and championing inclusive leadership in the LegalTech space.
From redefining productivity to embracing coaching as a leadership tool, our speakers delivered valuable insights that challenged conventional thinking and encouraged a more personalised, human approach to leadership and career development.
In this article, we’ve summarised the key takeaways from our expert speakers, highlighting the most impactful insights on leadership, productivity, and personal development.
Sophie Cliff, coach, positive psychology practitioner, and author of The Hustle Cure, led an insightful session on personalised productivity and redefining success on one’s own terms.
🔹 Beyond the hustle: Sophie shared how, when researching productivity books, she found that almost all the bestsellers were written by men—highlighting a lack of female voices in this space. She urged attendees to move away from ‘doing more’ for the sake of it and instead focus on work that truly adds value.
🔹 Understanding energy patterns: Introducing the concept of sleep chronotypes (bear, lion, wolf, dolphin), Sophie explained how aligning work schedules with natural energy cycles can lead to greater efficiency and well-being.
🔹 Personalised success: Encouraging attendees to define success on their own terms, Sophie posed a powerful question:
“What would you still want to do or achieve, even if you couldn’t tell anybody about it?"
This, she explained, is a great litmus test for determining whether a goal is truly meaningful.
🔹 The power of energy over time management: Sophie emphasised shifting focus from time management to energy management, acknowledging that different people operate best at different times of the day.
“We’re often told that the secret to success is waking up at 5am. But if that’s when you’re least productive, then it’s not a useful strategy for you. Productivity is about doing more of what actually matters.”
With over 20 years in tech, Bianca Spruit, founder of Sprout Coaching, explored how coaching can transform leadership and help teams thrive.
🔹 Coaching vs. Mentoring: Bianca clarified that coaching is not about giving advice but about guiding individuals to discover their own solutions, which fosters autonomy, confidence, and long-term growth.
“A friend might give you advice based on what would work for them. But coaching is about helping you find what works for you.
🔹 The Five-Step Coaching Process: Bianca outlined her structured approach, Center yourself, Orient, Assess, Coaching questions, and Humility, to help leaders empower their teams rather than dictate solutions.
🔹 Real-world impact: Bianca shared a compelling story of how shifting from problem-solving to coaching transformed a struggling team member into a proactive, empowered leader.
“I used to feel like I was hitting my head against a brick wall when my team brought me problems. When I learned to coach instead of just giving solutions, they started thinking for themselves—and their confidence soared.”
Today’s event reinforced the importance of diverse leadership, workplace inclusion, and creating environments where everyone can thrive. Both Sophie and Bianca shared practical, human-centred strategies that challenge outdated leadership norms and encourage more sustainable, authentic career development.
As LegalTech in Leeds continues to champion innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity, conversations like these are crucial in ensuring the future of LegalTech is dynamic, equitable, and shaped by a wide range of voices.
💬 What’s Next? How do you define productivity in your own leadership journey? Have you experienced the power of coaching in your workplace? Join the conversation and share your insights below!
📩 If you missed the session, we’ll be sending out some fantastic resources from Bianca and Sophie. Join our mailing list to receive them and stay updated on future events!
The session was hosted in partnership with Bruntwood SciTech and Whitecap Consulting
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