Future Shapers: There’s No Leadership Playbook

BRG Director Mark Jennings sits down with James Breese, a partner at Stewarts, to discuss:

• what the holiday classic Home Alone can teach us about confidence, determination, resilience, and the instinct to protect
• why leadership isn’t about following a single playbook—and why adaptability matters when managing teams
• how James helped build Stewarts’ policyholder disputes team from the ground up and what he has learned by stepping into partnership along the way

Whether you lead a growing team or are developing your leadership style, this episode reminds us that the best leaders constantly learn, adapt, and create opportunities for others to succeed.

Selected Transcript Summary

[4:40]
Home Alone as a leadership lens. James explains why he chose the holiday classic. He describes it as one of his most-watched films and identifies four themes that connect to his leadership approach: confidence, determination, resilience, and protectionism.

[6:05]
Protection as a leadership principle. James connects Kevin McCallister protecting his family home to his own desire to protect the policyholder disputes team he helped build at Stewarts. He reflects on the responsibility of supporting junior colleagues who may have taken a risk by joining a newer practice.

[7:50]
Learning leadership by observing others. James discusses how people shape their own leadership styles by taking what they admire from mentors and managers while learning what not to repeat from styles that did not resonate.

[8:35]
Adaptability across a growing team. James explains that leadership cannot follow a single script because different people need different kinds of support. Adaptability has become especially important as his team has grown across levels of experience.

[9:35]
Determination and resilience in legal practice. James describes his determination to succeed and deliver the right outcomes for clients, stakeholders, and the team. He connects resilience to the need to overcome difficult cases, career challenges, and opposing views.

[12:10]
Old Man Marley and quiet leadership. Mark and James discuss the value of looking beyond first impressions. James frames Marley as a quieter leadership figure who listens, observes, waits, and steps in at the right moment.

[12:50]
Strategic patience in case management. James shares one of the best pieces of advice he received as a lawyer: invest time early in a case to understand strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and strategy before diving too deeply into the details.

[14:35]
Mistakes without blame. James explains that when mistakes happen, his first question is never “Whose fault was this?” He argues that leaders should use mistakes as learning opportunities that strengthen both performance and culture.

[19:30]
The path to partnership. James describes making partner as a milestone in a long-held ambition to become a lawyer. He notes that the role brings new challenges but has not fundamentally changed how he sees himself or operates.

[23:20]
The qualities emerging leaders need. James identifies adaptability, communication, and teamwork as essential leadership qualities. Mark adds patience and understanding, especially as expectations around work-life balance and urgency continue to evolve.

[27:05]
Creating space for challenge. Mark reflects on shifting from the idea that leaders are always right. James agrees that people should be encouraged to challenge views, especially in disputes work, where different interpretations can improve case strategy.