Kelly MacKinnon, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer at Gibson Dunn| LWA Ep. 83

In this episode of Leaders with Ambition, host Nicky Acuna Ocana sits down with Kelly MacKinnon, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Gibson Dunn.

Kelly shares her remarkable journey from Olympic hockey hopeful to leading marketing and business development at one of the world’s top law firms. She discusses the lessons learned from elite sport, the importance of intentional career moves, and how she’s built a reputation for positivity, authenticity, and team leadership in the legal sector

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Kelly McKinnon's Journey
02:28 From Sports to Marketing: Kelly's Unique Path
09:15 Finding Home in Legal Marketing
11:37 Transitioning from Management to Leadership
18:15 The Importance of Networking and Mentorship
21:39 Investing in Yourself: The Role of Coaching
24:20 Building a Strong Team
26:51 Coping with Burnout and Imposter Syndrome
31:09 Personal Qualities for Success
35:09 Encouraging Continuous Learning
36:43 Lessons from the Big Four
40:42 Current Challenges in Law Firms
44:38 Words of Wisdom for Success

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About Kelly MacKinnon:

Kelly MacKinnon is Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Gibson Dunn, where she leads global strategy across marketing, communications, and client development. From her early days as an elite athlete to her leadership roles at top law firms, Kelly is known for her positivity, authenticity, and commitment to building world-class teams. She is a passionate advocate for mentorship, continuous learning, and creating cultures where everyone can thrive.

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About Nicky Acuna Ocana
With over 25 years of experience leading high-performing recruitment teams, Nicky Acuna Ocana is a dynamic leader in the recruitment industry. As Regional Managing Director for the US, UK, and Europe at Ambition, she oversees a team of specialist recruiters dedicated to connecting top talent with professional services firms.

Her teams focus on niche areas: the US division specializes in Legal Marketing & Business Development recruitment, while the UK & Europe team excels in placing professionals within Business Services functions within Legal, Practice and Consultancy.

Passionate about Allyship, Belonging and Inclusion (ABI) and talent retention, Nicky is a sought-after keynote speaker. She frequently presents at industry conferences, sharing insights on recruitment trends, hiring strategies, retention best practices, and ABI in the workplace.

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About Ambition

Ambition is a leading international recruitment consultancy specialising in Professional Services recruitment.

Our team is made up of true specialists who have a thorough understanding of their markets and are committed to being proactive business partners.

In the US:

​Ambition specializes in executive search for Marketing, Business Development & Communications professionals in the legal sector.

Using our extensive network and recruitment expertise, our talent solutions cater to Director, Head of positions, Senior Management, and Management roles within BD, Marketing & Communications functions.

We represent a wide variety of firms - from the AmLaw top 200 to boutiques - and take pride in on our ability to deliver the very best talent solutions to our clients.

Visit https://www.ambitionsearch.com

In the UK & Europe:

We work with Legal, Accountancy and Consultancy firms, recruiting for roles within: Finance, Accounting, Audit, Outsourcing, Business Development, Marketing, Communications, Insolvency, Restructuring, Corporate Finance and Tax.

With a longstanding network and extensive experience within the Professional Services market, we are able to provide all the benefits of a large, international business whilst operating with the personal, bespoke service of a local expert.

Find out more at https://www.ambition.co.uk