Welcome back to another series of the Black Lawyers Matter Podcast, brought to you by The Stephen James Partnership and Black Lawyers Matter!   In the fifth episode of Series 2, your host Samuel Clague, CEO and Founder of The Stephen James Partnership, speaks with Lee Ranson, Chief Executive (International) at Eversheds Sutherland. Join Sam and Lee for a captivating conversation on Lee’s unique path to legal leadership, exploring the influences that steered him from considering alternative careers to becoming a prominent figure in the legal world.   Delve into Lee's remarkable career progression, tracing his journey from litigator to managing partner and ultimately ascending to Chief Executive Officer of International at Evershed Sutherland.    Gain valuable insights from the experience and stories Lee shares; from his perspective on embracing professional challenges and opportunities for advancement - even if they may seem initially risky - to leading organisational change and the importance of clearly communicating an ambitious vision to inspire and motivate teams.   You can also expect to learn about Lee's unique approach to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), the critical role of developing strong business development and commercial skills alongside one's legal expertise for effective leadership, plus advice on the evolving legal landscape and much, much more!   Join us for an insightful conversation filled with practical advice and valuable lessons applicable to legal professionals at all stages of their careers!   Timestamped guide:   01:18 - If you hadn't chosen this career path, what do you think you'd be doing? 03:18 - When you were starting off, who did you look up to in the legal profession, and why? 04:50 - What are some of the tools that you have used to develop on a professional basis? 06:50 - You’ve been with the firm your whole career - what points in time have been the most important to your development? 10:55 - What does a typical day look like for you as Chief Executive? 14:12 - How did you find the transition from pure play fee earning into management and leadership? 16:27 - What has been your career highlight from a leadership perspective? 19:24 - Where did you passion emanate from, in terms of wanting to define the vision, and successfully articulate this to your colleagues? 21:27 - How would you say that legal leaders can drive change where concerns are being raised around diversity fatigue? 26:31 - what's your view on seeking out discomfort as part of a leaders role? 28:43 - What would you say are some of the greatest challenges for current and future leaders in the legal sector? 31:42 - Have you had mentorship in your career? What has that looked like? 35:19 - What other podcasts are on your listening list? 27:38 - What advice would you give to the pre-partner you, today? Connect with your host, Samuel Clague: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-clague-32911723/    Connect with your guest, Lee Ranson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeranson/    If you enjoy this episode, don't forget to subscribe for more and share with others in your Network!   Explore more about The Stephen James Partnership here: https://thesjp.co.uk/   Learn about the Black Lawyers Matter mission here: https://thesjp.co.uk/diversity-programmes    And discover SJP's Search and Advisory arm here: https://stephenandjames.co.uk/