Her Success Story

This week Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Daya Naef. The two talk about Daya’s journey from legal practice to founding her own consulting company, her expertise in helping law firms strategically integrate AI into their operations, and the challenges firms face in adopting new technology. In this episode, we discuss: * How attorneys and law firms can proactively implement AI to streamline low-level, repetitive tasks, starting with secure, paid tools like ChatGPT. * What are the risks of jumping into every new AI product—cautioning firms to avoid shiny object syndrome and focus on real, usable solutions for their teams. * When law firms hit “tech cliffs”—such as e-filing and digital service—and how those parallels inform today’s AI readiness. * Why discussing AI use openly in professional circles (and sharing "war stories" and best practices) helps reduce stigma and speeds up learning and adoption. * Why authenticity and real human conversation will remain important, even as AI automates more legal functions.   Daya Naef, CEO of The Success Partner   Daya Naef is an attorney, entrepreneur, and business strategist with 20+ years in law, 7 in coaching, and 1 in AI strategy. She helps law firms grow, innovate, and succeed through her firm, The Success Partner. A Loyola JD graduate, her career spans litigation, mediation, and legal consulting. Known for her leadership and sharp insights, she mentors professionals and speaks on business development and the future of law. Outside work, she enjoys sculpting, reading, and spending time with her cats.   Website:  thesuccesspartner.net/  [https://thesuccesspartner.net/]   Social Media Links: linkedin.com/in/dayanaef [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayanaef]

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Erin Andersen. The two talk about Erin’s journey from financial services to legal recruiting, the unique flat-fee hiring model she has pioneered for small law firms, and the critical importance of culture fit in driving long-term retention. In this episode, we discuss: * How Erin transitioned into legal recruiting * What makes her recruiting model unique * Why planning ahead in hiring is essential * When to hire and how timing matters * How Erin’s process saves law firm leaders time * How Erin ensures the right fit   Erin Andersen, Career Transition Coach and Flat-Rate Hiring Recruiter & Manager, is based in NYC and works for small law firms around the country. Certified in workplace culture, Erin places a strong focus on culture, making sure the candidates that she provides the firms with are both a technical and a personality fit. Her flat-rate fees allow a firm to budget and scale with new hires, including both support staff and Associates.  For a free consultation, you can email Erin at info@yourbrandnetworker.com   Social Media Links: linkedin.com/in/yourbrandnetworker [http://linkedin.com/in/yourbrandnetworker]

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Jay Berkowitz. The two talk about Jay’s journey from working for iconic brands like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola to building a leading internet marketing agency for lawyers, how Ten Golden Rules help law firms stand out in a crowded market, and practical ways attorneys (and professionals in any field) can use blogs. In this episode, we discuss: * How Jay utilizes AI in business operations beyond marketing to streamline and improve his hiring process * The actionable marketing tactics Jay recommends for legal (and non-legal) professionals * When Jay shifted to heavy digital marketing  * Why building a network of peers is just as important as finding clients * Ideal clients for Jay’s agency, and what differentiates “good” clients   Jay Berkowitz, Founder and CEO - Ten Golden Rules - Internet Marketing for Law Firms. Jay is a best-selling author, international keynote speaker, and award-winning digital marketing expert with over 25 years of experience. He has led marketing for major brands including Coca-Cola, Sprint, McDonald's, and AT&T, and served as a faculty member for the University of San Francisco's Internet Marketing Program. Jay is the CEO of Ten Golden Rules, a Boca Raton-based marketing agency specializing in law firms, and hosts the Ten Golden Rules of Internet Marketing podcast. A recognized thought leader, he has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, FOX Business, and major industry events including Inc. 500, PILMMA, and the Legal Marketing Association.   Website: https://www.tengoldenrules.com/ [https://www.tengoldenrules.com/]   Social Media Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayberkowitz/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayberkowitz/] https://www.facebook.com/jay.berkowitz [https://www.facebook.com/jay.berkowitz] https://x.com/JayBerkowitz [https://x.com/JayBerkowitz] https://www.instagram.com/jayberkowitz/ [https://www.instagram.com/jayberkowitz/]

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Kathy D'Agostino. The two talk about breaking down fears and misconceptions around AI, practical strategies for integrating AI into everyday workflows, and how Kathy’s approach goes beyond chasing shiny tech to focus on meaningful, role-based impact within organizations. In this episode, we discuss: * Kathy D’Agostino shares her journey from executive coaching to AI consulting for professional service firms, especially in the legal sector. * Kathy addresses the fear around AI, emphasizing it as a tool to boost productivity, efficiency, and job satisfaction—not to replace people. *  As of late last year, law firms and other businesses are shifting from seeing AI as a novelty to demanding real, trackable ROI. *  Kathy and Ivy discuss using AI for editing, document review, and process improvements, resulting in immediate, measurable time savings. * Kathy emphasizes embracing curiosity and continuous learning now to capture early gains in efficiency and competitive edge. Kathy D’Agostino is a former executive coach turned AI consultant and trainer, helping professional service firms and organizations boost productivity, efficiency, and employee engagement. As the founder of Win at Business AI [formerly Win at Business Coaching, she brings over two decades of leadership coaching and soft skills training expertise to her human-centered approach to AI.  Kathy empowers businesses to integrate GenAI tools in practical, strategic ways—focusing on real ROI rather than hype. Her mission: make AI simple, effective, and accessible to SME organizations to solo business owners.     Website: https://winatbusiness.ai/ [https://winatbusiness.ai/] Social Media Links:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathydagostino [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathydagostino/]

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Ryan Kimler. The two talk about how law firms and businesses in general can leverage financial data to drive growth, the importance of building the right financial team, and the pitfalls of misaligned pricing and out-of-control payroll costs.  In this episode, we discuss: * How law firms can evaluate whether they’re priced correctly * What consistent financial challenges law firms face  * When law firm leaders (and all business owners) should invest in building a solid financial team—including a bookkeeper, tax preparer, retirement advisor, and CFO advisor—ideally after reaching the six-figure mark * Why too many business owners only look at financials once a year, right before tax time, and how this hinders their ability to make informed, timely business decisions. * Who business owners should consult for financial advice, and why it’s important to have trustworthy advisors to help interpret the “story” the numbers tell   Ryan Kimler, founder of Net Profit CFO and host of the Net Profits podcast Ryan Kimler is a financial strategist who helps law firm owners, managing partners, and partners break free from the cash flow hamster wheel. With a focus on simplifying finances, Ryan specializes in identifying and stopping profit and cash flow leaks-so firm leaders can finally see where their money is going and grow with confidence. Through his “One Clear Profit Path” approach, he empowers law firms to track the five key metrics that matter most, increase ROI per staff member, and double their bank balance within a year. Unlike most outside CFOs, Ryan cuts through the confusion, delivering custom solutions that make financials easy to understand and act on-no more sifting through endless, unhelpful reports. If you’re ready to get your law firm on a profitable path and sleep better at night, Ryan Kimler is the expert to talk to. Website: https://financialclarityllc.com/ [https://financialclarityllc.com/] Social Media Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankfinancialclarityllc/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankfinancialclarityllc/]