Ashley Gibbs
Marketing Operations Manager
Dechert LLP
LMA Boston Future Leaders SIG Co-Chair
How did you get into Legal Marketing?
I started at Dechert back in 2010 (in Philadelphia) because I wanted to move out of an administrative facing function and marketing sounded like an exciting next step…I had no clue what “legal marketing” was and I had to explain my role and marketing’s function time and time again to friends and family! I’m used to getting a confused face when I talk about what I do. Recently someone said, “So… sort of like sales”. I said, “Sure, like sales”.
What aspect of the Future Leaders program are you most excited about?
Moving to the Boston office a few years back and knowing no one, I encouraged myself to attend the local LMA meetings just to start getting myself out there. Overtime I became familiar with faces and started to form friendships. I think Future Leaders played a big role in that and I hope to be that familiar face for new joiners.
What’s the greatest bit of advice a parent or mentor has given you?
My dad always said, “You don’t know unless you ask.” And it is so true. I apply that all the time in life (both personally and professionally) because you can’t get in trouble for asking a question and you really won’t know the answer unless you ask it. I have accomplished a lot just by asking questions.
If you weren’t in Legal Marketing, what would you be doing instead?
Either developing and executing fitness programs for young athletes or being a professional baby animal handler.
What are three words others would use to describe you?
Reliable, realistic and funny
What’s your idea of a perfect day?
Winter: Waking up to snow and going for a run followed by eating a lot of food throughout the day ending with either a snowshoe or cross country ski and binge watching a series until bedtime.
Summer: Going for a run followed by sitting lakeside with a book while eating a lot of food throughout the day and then binge watching (I’m a lot more active in winter apparently).
Please note in case he reads this: My husband would accompany me in both scenarios.
Pick something out of your pocket/purse and explain why it's important to you.
I’d have to look in my backpack as that is what I use the most because of my commute. And it would have to be whatever book I’m reading (always fiction and usually a little twisted) because books have always been my constant companion. And let me stress ‘books’ not ‘e-books’.
If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?
Whatever it takes to make it happen.