Sarah Walker-Smith, the chief executive of Ampa group, has made history as the first female non-lawyer to head a top-50 law firm, originating from a council estate in Lincoln. Under her leadership, the firm has reached significant milestones, becoming the largest legal and professional services organization to earn B Corporation certification, which mandates consideration of the implications of business decisions on stakeholders such as individuals, clients, suppliers, communities, and the environment. Additionally, she has overseen a remarkable 65% increase in turnover within just three years.

1 Embrace a mindset of lifelong learning: The journey of becoming more adept never truly ends. Just when you think you have mastered everything, there is always more to learn. Remember, failures are often stepping stones to success.

2 Begin with a pragmatic vision: Leverage your existing strengths and conduct an honest evaluation of your current situation. While establishing your goals, remain flexible to adapt as circumstances evolve. Sometimes progress requires revisiting earlier steps, and occasionally, you may need to disrupt the status quo to enable improvement. If there’s no urgent crisis motivating change, ignite one by presenting a compelling case balanced with potential risks and benefits.

3 Align profit with purpose: Integrate your commitments with actions to incorporate ESG principles seamlessly into your operational framework. Consider becoming a B-Corp.

4 Recognize the right moments for intervention: Effective leadership hinges on asking the right questions as much as providing answers; knowing when to engage or withdraw is crucial.

5 Take ownership of your communications: Authenticity cannot be delegated. Courageously articulating your truth in a constructive manner is typically effective.

6 Focus on connection rather than persuasion: Prioritize being respected over being liked. Engage the right individuals to ensure that collaborative efforts succeed; when this is achieved, everything else will follow.