#76 Grow Strong: The NICU Lesson She Brings to Talent Development

Four months in a NICU changes you. For Kathryn Marquez, Global Director of Learning and Development at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), those 120 days watching her three-pound, 14-ounce daughter Evie fight to survive—born with an esophagus that never fully formed—made her a better parent, professional, and leader. The whiteboard goal "to grow strong" wasn't just for her daughter; it became something she carries with her in everything she does.

In this episode of Lawyers Who Learn, David Schnurman, CEO of Lawline, explores Kathryn's journey from a 22-year-old legal personnel assistant at Sidley Austin to her current global role. Taking notes in exit interviews—listening to departing attorneys describe their unhappiness, including one who hadn't spoken to anyone in two days—convinced her not to pursue law school and instead build a career supporting lawyers rather than becoming one.

Kathryn shares how BCLP’s learning approach partners with internal practitioners to ensure a pragmatic, targeted experience, rooted in a high-performance culture that emphasizes a client-focused, human-centered, results-focused mindset. Three former high-performing partner leaders bring this approach to life, as they now coach full-time to develop BCLP’s next-generation pipeline. Other in-person programming, including their global sponsorship program, mirrors the firm’s tailored investment in their high-potential talent.

The conversation turns vulnerable when Kathryn recalls meeting Dr. Nath, the surgeon who surprised her with his compassion, attentiveness, and skill, beginning that first day when he gave her his cell phone number. She still texts him six years later and uses that story when teaching client service. Drawing on Kim Scott's Radical Candor, Kathryn delivers her core challenge: high care with low challenge—avoiding hard feedback to protect feelings—is inherently unkind. True compassion means having difficult conversations, whether coaching an associate, conducting a layoff, or advocating for your child in a hospital room.