The Sport of Technology
Drawing parallels from her sporting background, Alexis calls technology itself “a sport”: a dynamic, team-driven environment where adversity is inevitable and resilience is key.
“And I think having those experiences early on – I mean, the crushing defeats, just being so disappointed – was so important. Because you don't throw in the towel. You keep going.”
Her sporting background, in volleyball, Division I track, and cross-country, instilled the discipline and teamwork, qualities she now prizes in her leadership style. By integrating the organisation and discipline of sport into her technology function, she’s able to bring a new dimension to the work at hand:
“You have the project manager who could be the quarterback or the captain of the football team, or you have the change manager… like all of those roles have to come together and they have to work together. Someone could be having a bad day, or we could be running late on a development sprint, and other people jump in.”
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Three Pillars of Resilient Teams
For Alexis, culture is lived through actions, not slogans. She expects her team to own outcomes, collaborate across silos, and trust each other. “We’re one IT,” she insists. “No throwing people under the bus.” She also models transparency and openness. “If something goes wrong, come to me with a solution,” she says. “That reflects well on you.”
These practices have helped take the IT function at her firm from a back-office function to a strategic driver that impacts business outcomes to the same extent as other pieces of the business.
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The Future of IT in The Legal Sector
Alexis sees both opportunity and hype in the legal technology space. “Everyone wants to leverage AI,” she says, “but it’s not about shiny objects, it’s about solving real business problems.” For her, the starting point isn’t technology; it’s understanding pain points. “Who in your organization can articulate where the challenges are? That’s where the value lies.”
She emphasises that AI and data initiatives fail without strong business partnership. “IT can’t solve problems in isolation,” Alexis explains. “We need domain expertise and time from the business to make these projects successful.” This means creating space for collaboration and prioritising projects that deliver measurable impact. “Go for low-hanging fruit,” she advises. “Show value quickly, prove out the technology, and build momentum.”
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Conclusion
Alexis Collins’ journey is a powerful reminder that, instead of following a playbook, leadership is about embracing uncertainty, asking for help when you need it, and staying anchored to your values. But her sporting background also reminds her that leadership also requires discipline and strategic planning. “Play two moves ahead,” Alexis says. “Even if you don’t love what you’re doing, you’re building experience. If you have the drive, you can be successful.”
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