Are You an Outlaw? Meet Catherine Alman Macdonagh

Who has redefined what it means to think outside the law (aka OUTLAW) and is helping each of us in the process?

Meet Catherine Alman MacDonagh, JD, creator of Legal Lean Sigma® and founder of the Legal Lean Sigma Institute. Having served in many roles throughout her career, including former corporate counsel and legal marketing and business development executive, Catherine is currently utilizing all of that experience as an instructor, author, speaker and consultant. In addition, she is co-founder of Coalition of Professional Service Providers. We asked her a few questions and her answers can be found below. Enjoy getting to know this Outlaw!

Q: Where would you like to live?
A: In a state of continuous improvement.

Q: What is your motto?
A: Changes from time to time.

Current themes: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African proverb

“I never lose, I either win or I learn.” Nelson Mandela

Two that never change: “When people show you who they really are, believe them the first time.” And “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – both by Maya Angelou

Q: Always by the book or an occasional cheater?
A: I prefer to think of it as “pushing the boundaries” but, given the choices, I have to go with cheater. Rules are great but they’re made to be broken when they just don’t make sense.

Q: Better to always tell the truth or are white lies justified?
A: With lawyer hat firmly in place, my answer is this: it is BETTER to always tell the truth AND white lies are justified. So C! Both A and B.

Q: Always paying attention or do you daydream?
A: Paying attention. That’s where I get the information I need for BIG ideas!

Q: Who are your favorite authors/ what are your favorite books?
A: I’m an avid reader and like many different genres. Kurt Vonnegut – brilliant. Over the years, my favorite author has been Stephen King (and all his pseudonyms) and I especially love The Stand – a brilliant piece of work. So I think that tells you some things about me that you might not have wanted. Hehehehe…

Q: If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
A: I’d want to have dinner with my sister Lynn, who we lost to suicide in 2003. I miss her.

Q: What is your current state of mind?
A: W I D E open

Q: Your favorite virtue?
A: Loyalty.

Q: What would you consider your greatest achievement?
A: Raising two children who, in addition to being my favorite people in the world, are amazing, smart, generous athletic, talented, and hilarious kids who are just really great people.

Q: Who is your real life hero?
A: My MOM! She is not just a survivor she is a thriver! Whip smart, incredibly strong, active, and vibrant. She is a living example about how attitude is a choice and that you can do and be anything you put your mind to – she is an incredible woman.

Catherine Alman MacDonagh, JD created Legal Lean Sigma® and is the founder of the Legal Lean Sigma Institute (she is a Legal Lean Sigma Black Belt and a certified Six Sigma Green Belt!). A former corporate counsel, Catherine is known for her thought leadership and first-to-market successes as a law firm marketing and business development executive. Now a highly rated instructor (Suffolk Law School and at George Washington University), speaker, and consultant, she works with law firms, legal departments and legal service providers to improve the way work is done, delivered and managed. Catherine lives in Massachusetts with her family, which includes a pack of three Havanese dogs.