Law firms are often seen as slow to change, but diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) can be powerful drivers of innovation. In this episode, Michelle Calcote King speaks with Terra Davis, Chief Diversity and Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens, about the business benefits of embracing DEI in law firms. She discusses how effective DEI work goes beyond the surface to create more welcoming and innovative workplaces where legal professionals want to build long-term careers.

Terra emphasizes that when DEI becomes embedded in firm culture rather than existing as a separate initiative, innovation naturally follows. She shares concrete examples, including how law firms, traditionally homogenous, can benefit from mentorship programs, flexible policies and professional development initiatives. She highlights the importance of fostering a culture that values diverse perspectives as well as how it leads to stronger attorney retention, better client relationships and, ultimately, greater innovation across the legal industry.

• The tangible ways diversity, equity and inclusion contribute to innovation in law firms.

• How mentorship programs connect people from different backgrounds and drive professional growth.

• The role of flexible work policies in supporting retention and work-life balance.

• How shifting DEI terminology can help navigate resistance and improve firm culture.

• The impact of qualitative data, like that collected during exit and stay interviews, on shaping DEI initiatives.

• How law firms can modernize policies, such as dress codes, to better align with client expectations.

• Steps anyone in a law firm can take to contribute to a more inclusive and innovative workplace.

Terra Davis is the Chief Diversity and Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens, where she is responsible for leading and integrating the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion, and professional development efforts, focusing on the recruitment, retention and progression of its attorneys. Outside of Knobbe, she served as the 2020-2022 co-chair of the Legal Marketing Association’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Shared Interest Group. In 2024, she was elevated to the Legal Marketing Association International Board of Directors. She is also a member of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, the only organization in the legal industry dedicated to diversity practitioners. In 2024, Terra was selected to serve the California State Bar’s 10-member Council on Access and Fairness. She is a proud graduate of Howard University and received her DEI certification from Cornell University. Terra is passionate about DEI, serving marginalized communities and pushing the needle forward for change.

• Check out Knobbe Martens

• Follow Knobbe Martens on LinkedIn and Facebook

• Connect with Terra Davis on LinkedIn

• Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on LinkedIn

This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.

Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms.

Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services, creative services and more.

To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

Professional learning and growth can bloom from unexpected relationships — and these opportunities are abundant in technical industries like architecture, engineering and construction. In this episode of “Spill the Ink,” Michelle Calcote King sits down with Reagan Branham, Chief Marketing Officer at HERA laboratory planners, to discuss the benefits of embracing mentorship opportunities outside the marketing department’s traditional hierarchy. Reagan tells us about a turning point in her AEC marketing career that led her to view each colleague, regardless of discipline or department, as a potential mentor. She also shares how this mindset shift is helping her build a culture of collaboration, knowledge-sharing and shared success at HERA.

• About Reagan Branham transition from journalism to AEC marketing and what skills carried over.

• The importance of mentorship beyond traditional hierarchies and how to build symbiotic learning relationships across an organization.

• How AEC marketers can identify cross-departmental learning opportunities with their technical staff and make the most of them.

• How HERA laboratory planners leverages open communication and collaboration in its culture to improve employee retention and enhance professional growth.

• How to navigate billable-hour constraints to pursue impactful mentorship relationships.

• The role mentorship plays in empowering professionals to grow and succeed, especially in remote work environments.

• A real-world example of how constructive feedback can shape long-term career development.

With more than 25 years of experience in AEC marketing and journalism, Reagan Branham’s diverse background includes graphic design, writing, editing, social media and product design. Reagan is an active member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), writing articles for its magazine and speaking at conferences. She also serves on the board of SMPS St. Louis as education director. Reagan has worked at HERA laboratory planners for eight years, starting as a marketing manager. She currently serves as the firm’s chief marketing officer.

• Check out HERA laboratory planners

• Follow HERA laboratory planners on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram

• Check out the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS)

• Connect with Reagan Branham on LinkedIn

• Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on LinkedIn

This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.

Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms.

Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services, creative services and more.

To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.