2021 Next Big Thing: Change Management

Farayi Chipungu is an adjunct lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where she teaches courses in leadership and change management across degree and executive education programs. In addition to her role at HKS, Farayi teaches at the other Harvard schools including, serving as faculty chair for Leading Change for Lawyers at Harvard Law School. Prior to and alongside her work at Harvard, Farayi also works with McKinsey & Company where she advises clients globally, in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, on issues ranging from organizational design and large-scale transformation to team effectiveness and capability building.

Farayi is a lawyer by training, admitted to practice in Australia and in England and Wales. She holds degrees in arts and law from Monash University in Australia and is also a graduate of the Kennedy School where she completed her MPA. She and her husband recently welcomed their second child, baby Eskor, and are fast grappling with what it means to be the parents of two under two! 

Ashraf Lakhani is the chief business development and marketing officer at Porter Hedges LLP in Houston. With over 20 years of legal marketing experience, he is responsible for developing and executing the client development strategies, coordinating the client feedback program, managing public relations, and leading the marketing team.

Prior to Porter Hedges, he led the marketing efforts in Texas for both Morgan Lewis and Howrey as they expanded into the state. Ashraf served as the LMA President in 2018, co-chaired the LMA Annual Conference in 2015, and received the LMA Southwest Distinguished Service Award in 2020.

Jill Weber is the chief business development officer at Quarles & Brady, directing legal marketing and business development strategy for the firm with a focus on great client relationships. An experienced advisor, Jill leads a team of client relations, business development and legal marketing professionals dedicated to client service and engagement. Building strong client relationships and enhancing client service are her top priorities. Jill brings a wealth of experience from previous roles leading marketing and business development efforts for law firms as well as communications and marketing agencies. She initiated a nationally recognized business development coaching and training program that generated significant revenue for attorneys.

She has participated in the Harvard Law School, Leadership in Law Firms, Executive Education program, is a College of Law Practice Management Fellow, served as the 2017 LMA President and co-chaired the 2012 LMA Annual Conference, and was named to the National Law Journal’s inaugural list of "50 Business of Law Trailblazers & Pioneers."