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Sarena Gaylor wants to make sure you know there is a difference between networking and making friends, and she is definitely more interested in the latter. And who wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who loves to host, takes cooking classes in every country she visits, and is likely willing to try anything. Read on to learn more about Sarena, what “trash panda” days look like, and why she is the reason some people get the Sunday scaries.
Name: Sarena Gaylor
Job Title: Member, CCO
Company: Couch Lambert, LLC
Length of time at current company: 14 years
Length of time in industry: 14 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
With a lot of luck! I never imagined I would go to law school, but after deciding very late in college that medicine wasn’t going to be the path, I took the LSAT on a whim because the testing center wouldn’t refund my MCAT fee. Three years of tailgating at LSU sounded like a good time until I figured out the next move. During my 2L year, a family friend suggested I clerk at the firm he worked at, and they haven’t been able to get rid of me since.
What is your career highlight so far?
I’ve had the opportunity to work in a firm that allowed me to take ownership of my pillar of responsibilities from almost the very beginning of my career. With this trust and responsibility, I have created/revamped departments, cultivated a positive office culture and mentor individuals. Being able to see the growth of the Firm and our employees, even those who no longer work for us, brings me great pride. It motivates me day in and out, and I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will look like.
When or how are you most productive?
After everyone goes home or on the weekends. I’m the person causing “Sunday scaries.” I spend most of my day on calls or meetings, so after hours is the only time I can stop multi-tasking and grind through my work.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Morgan Smith embodies leadership. She empowers others by “making room at the table” and engaging employees in conversations or decisions they normally would not be a part of. She challenges business as usual and is a true project manager. I love her no-nonsense, data driven mentality – it’s black and white analysis in a space where you rarely have the ability to do so.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
My superpower is making friends, which is not to be confused with networking. I genuinely want to know everything about everyone and immediately become invested. I assume everyone wants to be my friend too, so I’ll relentlessly check in, calendar your birthday, and offer to host you at my home if/when you’re in Nola.
What do you like most about this industry?
What I appreciate most about the industry is its intersectional nature. Specifically, in the legal field, it’s unique for an attorney to be fluent in cyber security, programming, data systems, LLM applications, etc. I fully attribute this to everyone in our space as we possess such diverse backgrounds and openly share the knowledge. Spending time with the larger group often serves as a reminder of how much there is still learn.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
In the same light of what I love about the industry, I also dislike having to be an expert on all facets of the business. The pressures we receive from external sources is overwhelming and ever changing, usually faster than we can roll out updates. We must make quick decisions that increasingly drive legal risk on subject matters that go beyond standard legal doctrine. Looking at you AI…
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Realistically, I have no idea which is partially why I’m still here. I have a full retirement plan that involves designing and building homes, animal rescue, travel planning, and working in the hospitality industry.
Describe a typical work day.
8 am start with a coffee to walk around the litigation and collection floors. 8:30-4 meetings.
What is your guilty pleasure?
There’s no guilt here, but I call it trash panda day – phone is on sleep mode, UberEats enough food for 5 people, turn on Bravo, and float in and out of consciousness on the sofa with the puppies.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Anytime I was on the brink of being overwhelmed, Chris Couch always grounded me by reemphasizing that no matter how much I tried or wanted to, I could not control everything. There are some things that are outside of our control, and there’s nothing you can do about it, so focus on those things that are in your control and everything else will fall into place.
What are you currently reading?
“Home is Where the Bodies Are” by Jeneva Rose – Don’t let my preferred reading genre scare you. I can’t read case law all day!
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I love cooking as much as I love eating. All of my travels are centered around food, and I try to take at least one cooking class in every country I visit. I’m also extremely adventurous, so don’t bet against me on whether or not I’ve already or would try something.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Bryson Clark
