Are You an Outlaw? Meet Lydia Bednerik

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

Meet Lydia Bednerik, Marketing Director at Wendel Rosen, a 65-attorney firm in Oakland, CA. As Marketing Director, Lydia oversees traditional marketing communication initiatives and business development activities. She speaks and writes on various legal marketing subjects including green initiatives, online marketing for small and mid-size firms, CRMs, pro bono work and more. Lydia is an active member in LMA and has served in multiple leadership capacities.

We asked Lydia a few questions, and her answers can be found below. Enjoy getting to know this Outlaw!

Q: Where would you like to live?
A: I actually feel really blessed to live in amazing part of the world with ideal climate and close proximity to everything from mountains to oceans. That said, I would love to have a quiet place overlooking the Pacific Ocean close enough to hear the waves and smell the sea. 

Q: What is your idea of happiness?
A: Disconnecting and listening to the sounds of nature. It’s really centering to be able to find yourself living in a moment in time not worried about the past or anticipating the future. That and having a good belly-laugh over silly stuff.

Q: What is your motto?
A: I have two: “Stay curious” and “be positive.” I feel it’s important to put good energy into the world in all your interactions large and small.

Q: What is your greatest fear?
A: I don’t know if it’s my greatest fear, but you probably will never see me jumping out of a plane.

Q: To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
A: Watching email almost obsessively. I have an extremely hard time disconnecting from electronic communication – especially when away from work. I need to do a better job of unplugging in the evenings and on weekends.

Q: Finish this sentence, If I could have one super-power, it would be…
A: …to heal other people’s pain.

Q: Who are your favorite authors/ What are your favorite books?
A: Outside of work related reading (business and leadership books), for summer reading I enjoy almost any suspenseful action/mystery novel with a good conspiracy twist. Other old favorites include Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons and The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

Q: If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
A: My Great Grandmother. I knew her a little bit into my early teens, but I don’t think I fully appreciated her strength and how she had carved out her own path in a pretty conservative environment. I think it would be fascinating to have a conversation with her now that I am an adult.

Q: What got you into working in the legal industry?
A: One of my very first jobs was for my current firm when I was a senior in high school. I came in after school to stock copy rooms, deliver faxes, help out in the file room, and tidy common spaces. That was my first exposure to the legal industry. After graduating from college, I came back to the firm again as a temporary placeholder while I decided what I wanted to be when I grew up. It took me a couple of years winding my way through different roles at the firm, from secretarial support to the accounting department. Eventually, I found my home in marketing. With the education and encouragement I received through my engagement with the Legal Marketing Association, what started as a job, eventually became a career.

Q: Your favorite musician/ band?
A: I don’t really have one favorite. Country music, both classic and current, is my go-to genre — Allison Krause, Lady Antebellum, Alan Jackson, Zac Brown Band. Throw in a little classic and alternative rock, from Stevie Ray Vaughan to the Talking Heads and I’m happy.    

Q: What is your current state of mind?
A: Energized. We’re juggling some fun projects at the firm.

Q: Your favorite virtue?
A: Integrity.

Q: What would you consider your greatest achievement?
A: I think it’s still yet to come…

Q: Who would you have liked to be?
A: I’m pretty happy with the cards I have been dealt. Maybe just a more adventurous version of myself.