Maxme: We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills are everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators, and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies, and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds …

Welcome Melissa, and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight! 

You’re an Executive Director & Experience Designer for Hive Legal - a commercial law firm founded by a group of experienced partners from large law firms who sought to re-design legal services and remove unnecessary barriers and costs.

In 1 sentence (ok, we’ll give you 3), what does your job/work entail?

Melissa Lyon: Using design thinking mindsets and processes, I help people and organisations in the legal ecosystem to identify, develop and implement purposeful, creative, human-centred ways to improve the experiences of their people and clients.

We have even created our own framework to do this - HiveThinkP (the P stands for the power of purpose) which combines the concepts of human-centred design, design thinking, purpose and agile. 

I also work with the Hive team to conceive and develop creative programs. We’ve just redesigned our performance review process, Thrive@Hive, to now focus on career growth, and also redesigned the way we communicate with our clients via HiveWay.

M: You’ve been with Hive for over eight years now, but prior to that spent almost 15 years in large Firm environments including two years as a Partner with Dobson Mitchell Allport, and over 12 years with MinterEllison wearing various hats, from Senior Associate to Business Development. 

In recent years you’ve also been involved with the Centre for Legal Innovation - currently a member of its Advisory Board. And let’s not forget your enviable list of career accolades, including Winner of the Australian Law Awards’ Innovator of the Year (Individual) 2020!

How does all this work speak to your personal purpose and what drives you as an individual?

ML: I love what I do now and find it truly fulfilling (insert happy dance). Although I started with a very traditional career pathway, I have really benefited from opportunities to branch out to different roles (including BD and design), and to develop additional skill sets. My ‘human’ experiences in the legal ecosystem, both good and bad, have played a pivotal role in getting me to where I am now. I have been helped along the way and inspired by forward thinkers including a Managing Partner who helped me become a Partner on a part time basis straight after my first parental leave in the nineties! 

Being part of an inspiring, innovative community like The Centre for Legal Innovation, and sharing experiences and a passion for change also fuels and informs my personal purpose.

So what’s my ‘purpose’ and my ‘why’?

To help people in the legal ecosystem, especially those new to it, to see that a great career in law doesn’t necessarily need to follow a traditional path. Yes, there are alternative paths and you don’t have to wait as long as I did to have a fulfilling career!

M: Tell us a little about your personal education pathway/s - what led you to where you are now? How closely do your formal qualifications match your current career?

ML: My education started very close to home in a very small school in a North Eastern Tasmanian farming community with 4 students in my year and my mother as one of my teachers! Gradually working my way up to larger schools and ending up completing a Bachelor of Arts/ Law (Hons) at the University of Tasmania. Once I had studied law I assumed that practicing was the only way to go so I jumped into a traditional legal career path. Looking back, I really enjoyed the management subjects I had studied, including organisational administration and behaviour. In a way what I do now is very much in line with those areas. I still draw on my legal knowledge  but now use other skills I have studied along the way including Design Thinking.

M: If you could share one piece of career advice to your 21-year-old self it would be ...

ML: Don’t get stuck on one career pathway, or think that your value is limited to one area or organisation. Have the courage and confidence to try things out earlier.

M: Maximising the potential of individuals, communities, and businesses through the power of human skills is the reason Maxme exists. Can you tell us a little about the role and/or value of human skills in the work/workplaces you're involved with right now?

ML: Human centred design and a real focus on human skills (as opposed to technical skills) are relatively new concepts for the legal ecosystem, yet they have a valuable role to play when it comes to  improving both the Client and Employee Experience. The last few years have seen an increased appreciation for this, and a number of firms and organisations are now placing more value on human skills. I’m very happy to see this!

M: Self Awareness sets the critical foundation for all Maxme learning experiences. With that said … what’s your strongest trait/personal superpower?

ML: I love a good super power. I feel that mine is ‘connecting the dots’. This has proven very handy for my legal, business development and innovation roles. 

One of my favourite sayings is that at the heart of creativity and innovation, lies the ability to connect seemingly unrelated things. 

I try to use my super power every day, but must admit sometimes it becomes hard when you’re ‘in the weeds’. I’ve learned to give myself permission and time to ensure I’m looking at the bigger picture and being creative. The mindsets that come with Design Thinking definitely help with that!

M: And on the flip side, what’s one human/‘soft’ skill you’ve had to really work on improving over the course of your career?

ML: Legal training (both academic and in practice) often encourages you to jump to a solution or answer quickly. Sometimes that means you overlook being empathetic and thinking about your users. That’s something I’ve had to overcome and still need to work on.

M: If you could share one piece of career advice with recent Uni graduates or candidates keen to work with a firm like HIVE, what would it be?

ML: Very timely as we are just about to recruit our Hive Grads for 2023. 

Find a firm or organisation that feels right for you. Really consider and test its culture, purpose, values, ways of working and how it supports its team… not just the words - examine its actions to ensure what it actually does, aligns with what it says it does. Importantly, consider if they align with your purpose and if you’ll have the opportunity to grow and develop a fulfilling career and play a valuable role in the future of that firm or organisation.

M: You’ve been granted approval to add one University graduate to your team, but have 100 applicants, all with outstanding academic results. How do you find your perfect candidate - what are you looking for?

ML: In fact we will be adding two! 

Human skills are as important to us as academic skills. A Hive Grad will be curious to learn and do things differently. They will have empathy and bring skills and mindsets which support our  culture and our purpose of improving the experience for their colleagues and our clients.

M: In the words of John Dewey, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.” What’s next on your #learning agenda?

ML: What a great saying! I love the fact that we now have the opportunity to learn through micro credentialing. It gives us the ability to test out a direction we’d like to go in. I’ve recently launched into understanding more about designing purposeful futures for organisations and teams using design thinking approaches, and of course, focussing on the humans!

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