Welcome to "No Clubs Required," a groundbreaking podcast that pairs with our book that aims to dismantle the old-school notion that business deals and career advancements are best made on golf courses and in traditional boys' clubs. Each episode features advice from trailblazing women—from fierce lawyers, ambitious corporate execs, forward-thinking general counsel, and beyond. Together, we explore how women can become rainmakers and achieve success by forging their own paths, distinct from the tactics traditionally employed by men.
In this episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with Brie Leung, Founder of Red Bird Strategy, to talk about strategy as service, the invisible work women carry, and what it really takes to drive meaningful change within law firms.
Brie shares how she has built her career around two guiding principles: the people she works with and the impact she has. As a trusted thought partner to firm leaders, she offers candid insight into the systemic barriers women face, from being labeled “too nice” to carrying the emotional and cultural labor that often goes unrecognized.
This episode is about giving yourself grace and remembering that supporting people—not just delivering services—is where real progress begins.
Learn more about No Clubs Required:
https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
28 Jan 2026
Tech-Forward Leadership with Rachel Shields Williams
In this episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with Legal Marketing Association president Rachel Shields Williams to talk about leadership, emerging technology, and what it really takes to advocate for change inside a law firm.
As a leader working at the intersection of data, systems, and innovation, Rachel shares what it’s like to champion new technologies to audiences that may be unfamiliar—or even resistant—while navigating the added scrutiny women often face when they’re direct, decisive, and persistent.
She also outlines which technologies and data points matter most right now for business development, offering practical insight into how lawyers can better understand their clients, their markets, and their own performance.
Learn more about No Clubs Required:
https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
19 Dec 2025
Building Buy-In with Maura Brandt
In this episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with industry trailblazer Maura Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer at Crowell & Moring. We talk about strategies for authentic business development, the power of mentorship and sponsorship, and why consensus-building is a superpower in driving change. Maura also opens up about balancing a high-pressure career with family life, embracing flexibility, and rewriting the rulebook for professional success.
This conversation is about the importance of building relationships to break barriers, no clubs required.
Learn more about No Clubs Required: https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
3 Dec 2025
Failing Forward with Rebecca Robinson
In this episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with Rebecca Robinson, Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Richmond School of Law, to talk about resilience, reinvention, and embracing a career path you didn’t expect.
Rebecca details her journey from law school to litigation to admissions—and the critical moment that changed everything: not passing the bar exam on her first try. She shares how that experience reshaped her understanding of success, the role an extraordinary mentor played in helping her rebuild her confidence, and why choosing happiness over expectation can be the bravest professional move of all.
These unexpected detours allowed her to discover her passion for guiding the next generation of lawyers. This conversation is about navigating early-career uncertainty, redefining failure, and giving yourself permission to build a life—and career—that actually feel right. No clubs required.
Learn more about No Clubs Required: https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
29 Oct 2025
Leading with Purpose and Perspective with Morgan Shaw Parker
In this episode of “No Clubs Required,” we sit down with Morgan Shaw Parker, President and COO of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, to talk about leadership, resilience, and redefining success in spaces not built for you.
From her start as an intern with the Kansas City Chiefs to becoming the NFL’s first female Vice President of Communications, Morgan’s story is one of grit, heart, and intention. She shares lessons learned from mentors like Lamar Hunt and Arthur Blank, what it takes to lead through change, and why she believes doing good things for the right reasons is always the right play.
This conversation is about embracing differences and leading with authenticity, no clubs required.
Learn more about “No Clubs Required:” https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
10 Oct 2025
Staying Fearless with Marianne Talbot
In this episode of “No Clubs Required,” we sit down with Marianne Talbot, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Bailey Glasser, to talk about grit, creativity, and the courage it takes to know your own value.
From her early work in civil rights law—including time at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice on the Rodney King case—to her years as a litigator, law professor, entrepreneur, and now legal marketing leader, Marianne’s career has been anything but conventional. She shares her seven essential elements of success, why every lawyer needs a “naughty list,” and how finding your swagger can change your trajectory.
This conversation is a reminder that success isn’t about fitting in, it’s about staying fearless.
Learn more about No Clubs Required: https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
9 Sept 2025
The Importance of Autonomy and Representation with Toni Wells
In this episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with Toni Wells, founder of Bespoke Marketing Partners, to talk about carving your own path, embracing autonomy, and reshaping what success looks like in the legal industry.
With two decades of experience inside top firms and now as a consultant and coach, Toni has built a career centered on empowering underrepresented voices. She shares how her journey from in-house leadership to launching her own consulting business has shaped her perspective on balance, belonging, and the power of building community.
This conversation is about advocating for yourself and creating space for others to rise with you.
Learn more about No Clubs Required: https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
19 Aug 2025
Brand, Authenticity, and Breaking the Mold with Nancy Kostakos
In this episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with Nancy Kostakos, former Chief Marketing Officer at Cooley LLP, to explore the power of brand, the importance of authenticity, and what it takes to stand out in a profession where everyone seems the same.
With decades of experience leading marketing at some of the nation’s top law firms, Nancy has witnessed firsthand how clarity of purpose and personal branding can transform not just how firms are perceived, but how they lead.
This is a conversation about rejecting the generic, championing your voice, and building a career – and a culture – that feels true to who you are.
Learn more about No Clubs Required: https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
29 Jul 2025
Owning Your Role with Mariana Loose
In this episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with Mariana Loose, Chief Marketing Officer at Alston & Bird, for a candid conversation about doing the hard work, advocating for yourself and your clients, and taking initiative.
A legal marketing lifer, Mariana has spent more than 25 years in law firms of all sizes and specialties. We talk about taking career development into your own hands, the shifting dynamics between marketing and business development, and how to advocate for yourself in a traditionally rigid professional structure.
If you’ve ever had to explain your value to a room full of attorneys or wondered how to keep evolving in a field that’s constantly shifting, this episode is for you. Mariana’s story is a testament to the power of curiosity, initiative, and intentional growth—no clubs required.
Learn more about No Clubs Required: https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
15 Jul 2025
Challenging the Status Quo with Debbie Foster
In this episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with Debbie Foster, CEO and Founder of Affinity Consulting Group, to talk about building better businesses—and better leaders—by challenging the status quo.
With more than 25 years of experience helping law firms solve complex problems, Debbie shares how strategic alignment, honest conversations, and a focus on relationships can reshape not just organizations, but entire industries.
We talk about what it really takes for law firms to innovate, how to build alignment without chasing consensus, and why creating space for diverse voices at the table is essential for the future of the profession. Debbie’s story is proof that creating meaningful change takes both clarity and courage.
This conversation is about raising each other up, making room at the table, and building success on your own terms—no clubs required.
Learn more about No Clubs Required: https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
1 Jul 2025
Creating a Service-First Mindset with Deb Knupp
Deb Knupp, GrowthPlay Founder and CEO, discusses how prioritizing firm culture, leadership, and business development transforms the legal industry through authentic connection and service-oriented mindsets in this interview.
21 May 2025
Paving Your Own Path with Amanda Brandenburg
In the second episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with Amanda Brandenburg, Founder and CEO of OpusLex Partners, to talk about bold moves, trusting your gut, and building something that truly fits.
After deciding law school wasn’t the path for her, Amanda transitioned into legal staffing and recruiting—quickly rising to the top at two of the country’s largest firms. In 2018, she launched her own: a woman-owned legal recruiting company focused on delivering a high-touch, high-integrity approach to every search.
Amanda shares how her career pivots led to purpose, and why following your instincts is sometimes the smartest strategy of all.
This episode is about creating space, honoring your own path, and showing up with intention.
Learn more about No Clubs Required: https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
7 May 2025
Connection Over Competition with Felice Wagner
In this debut episode of No Clubs Required, we sit down with Felice Wagner, Executive Director and General Counsel of The Trial Network, to talk about the real power of connection.
With decades of experience navigating the legal industry, Felice has seen firsthand how transformative it can be when women show up for each other, not just as mentors, but as advocates, collaborators, and champions. She shares her journey from practicing law to leading national initiatives, and opens up about why redefining networking as relationship-building with purpose is key to changing the game for women in law and beyond.
This is more than a conversation about career growth. It’s a call to action for how we can rise, together. Learn more about No Clubs Required: https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required (https://www.fractionallawfirmcmo.com/about-us/no-clubs-required)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
24
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Host of No Clubs Required?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
