The Rainmaking Podcast

Most professionals know they need more high-value clients. What they don't have is a system to bring them in predictably — without cold pitching, diluting their brand, or spending all their time on marketing instead of client work. Esther Stewart is a Business Growth Strategist and founder of Cottn Owl. A former Fortune 500 finance associate, she spent eight years inside billion-dollar institution...

You know you're great at what you do. But can you actually say it — clearly, confidently, and without sounding like you're reading a resume? That's the gap Donna Griffit has spent 16+ years helping professionals close. Donna Griffit is a corporate storyteller, communication coach at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of Sticking to My Story: The Alchemy of Storytelling for Startups....

AI isn't coming for lawyers — but it is coming for the lawyers who don't adapt. Dr. Catherine McGregor joins Scott Love to break down exactly what technology transformation means for the legal profession and what lawyers can do right now to get ahead of it. Catherine is an executive coach, author, and management consultant who works with law firms and in-house legal teams on leadership and talent...

Most professionals fear niching down. Sharon Toerek did the opposite — and built a nationally recognized law firm by going all in on one market. In this episode, Scott Love talks with Sharon Toerek, marketing and intellectual property attorney and founder of Toerek Law (Legal + Creative), about exactly how she doubled down on a niche — and how you can too. Whether you're a lawyer, consultant, or a...

In Episode 323 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews Alison Reynolds, Director of Digital Marketing at Vinson & Elkins, about the firm's major website redesign and what professional services firms must do to remain visible in the age of artificial intelligence. Alison shares lessons learned from an 18-month redesign project, including how AI-powered search is changing website strategy,...

After interviewing more than 300 of the world's leading experts on business development, rainmaking, leadership, and professional services growth, Scott Love distills the most important lessons into his Top 10 Business Development Tips. In this solo episode, Scott shares practical strategies that law firm partners, attorneys, recruiters, consultants, accountants, and other professionals can use to...

In Episode 321 of The Rainmaking Podcast (Legal Series), Scott Love interviews Bernie Clark, founder of Majux, about one of the biggest hidden growth opportunities in law firms: intake efficiency. Bernie explains why many law firms spend heavily on marketing and lead generation but fail to maximize results because they lack a structured intake process. From phone calls and website forms to text me...

In Episode 320 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews mortgage entrepreneur and networking strategist Sarah Hubbard on how professionals can boost deal flow through referrals, networking, and relationship-driven business development. Sarah explains why referrals remain one of the most powerful ways to generate trust, shorten sales cycles, and create consistent business opportunities—espe...

In Episode 319 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Yuliya LaRoe, founder of Leadwise Group, about why partner development has become a strategic imperative for law firms. Yuliya explains that today’s legal market demands far more than technical excellence—partners are now expected to be leaders, business developers, managers, and culture builders. As law firms face increasing client...

In Episode 318 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with communications strategist Alejandra Ramirez about one of the most overlooked drivers of successful mergers and acquisitions: communication. In this episode, Alejandra explains why 75–90% of M&A deals fail and how poor internal communication, lack of trust, and unclear messaging create confusion, disengagement, and talent loss during...

In Episode 317 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Pam Meissner of Cathedral Capital about “Exit Readiness for Law Firm Founders” and what it truly takes to prepare a law firm for a successful merger, acquisition, or succession transition. Pam explains why many law firm founders struggle emotionally after selling their firms and why exit planning is about far more than valuation—it’s...

In Episode 316 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with executive coach and business strategist Ivy Slater about how professional services firms can create high-impact strategic plans that drive real growth. Ivy breaks down the structure of an effective strategic planning retreat, including who should attend, how to facilitate productive conversations, and why firms must think beyond shor...

In Episode 315 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love shares seven powerful business development lessons learned from building his art business—and how those same principles apply to law, recruiting, consulting, and high-level B2B sales. From niching deeply and creating true distinction to forming strategic alliances and leveraging charitable relationships, Scott explains how success in one domain...

In Legal Episode 314 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Frank Koranda of Polsinelli about the power of niching deeply—and how building a focused, specialized practice can transform client development, deal flow, and firm growth. Frank shares how his firm moved beyond a general M&A offering to create a dedicated private equity M&A practice, aligning talent, messaging, and strategy ar...

In Episode 313 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Fin Wycherley, founder of Supersized Media, about how professionals can build a consistent client pipeline through online connections. Fin explains why relying on referrals, directories, and traditional networking is no longer enough—and how lawyers, consultants, and executives can use personal branding and high-value content to beco...

In Episode 312 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with storytelling expert Rob D. Willis about how rainmakers can use stories to win clients, build trust, and communicate more effectively. Rob explains why storytelling is deeply wired into human behavior and far more powerful than raw data or bullet points—because stories simplify complexity, create emotional connection, and help clients...

In Episode 311 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Val Madamba about what in-house counsel actually want from law firm events—and why most firms get it wrong. Drawing from original research and interviews with in-house lawyers, Val reveals that many events fail because they feel too generic, overly broad, and disconnected from real client needs. Instead of defaulting to lecture-style...

In Episode 310 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Andy Clark—author of Getting the Whole Pie—about the flywheel concept for sustainable business growth. Instead of relying on one big breakthrough, Andy explains that long-term success comes from consistent, disciplined execution that builds momentum over time. He breaks down how professionals—especially in law, recruiting, and consul...

In Episode 309 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Danny Bobrow, creator of the Persuasion Blueprint, about the Three C’s of Persuasive Communication: Caring, Connection, and Collaboration. Danny reframes persuasion as an ethical, non-coercive process focused on influencing outcomes through trust and understanding—not manipulation. He explains why most professionals fail to connect e...

In Episode 308 of The Rainmaking Podcast (Legal Series), Scott Love speaks with Phil Flora of SurePoint Legal Insights to break down the 2025 State of the Legal Industry Report. The data reveals a surge in lateral hiring across nearly 6,000 law firms, with especially strong growth in transactional practices like corporate, real estate, and banking. Larger firms continue to consolidate market share...

In Episode 307 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews leadership expert Jon Lokhorst on what it means to practice mission-critical leadership in today’s volatile and complex business environment. Jon introduces a powerful framework for leading in all directions—not just managing direct reports, but also leading yourself, influencing peers, and effectively managing upward. In professional...

In Episode 306 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Robert Weiss of MultiVision Digital about how law firms can build authority and win clients using video marketing. While most firms rely on referrals, networking, and written thought leadership, Robert explains that video accelerates the “know, like, and trust” factor by allowing prospects to see how attorneys think, communicate, and...

In Episode 305 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love sits down with Hannah Romick, an expert in performance improvement, change management, and stakeholder engagement, to unpack the growing impact of generational differences in professional services firms. As law firms and advisory organizations navigate shifting expectations around work, communication, and career development, leaders are increasi...

In Episode 304 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with legal industry advisor Tim Corcoran about one of the most overlooked drivers of law firm profitability: pricing strategy. Many firms focus heavily on billable hours, origination credit, and revenue targets, but fail to connect the critical dots between how legal services are priced, how lawyers practice, and how firms ultimately gene...

In Episode 303 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love speaks with Jason Stiehl, Managing Partner of the Chicago office of Crowell & Moring, about a unique perspective on law firm business development: treating networking like theater. Jason explains why successful rainmakers approach conferences and networking events as a series of interactions over time rather than a quick sales pitch. Preparation...