A coffee with Jude Smith, Jayva’s Head of Quality & Projects
In our first ‘coffee with’ blog of 2025, we caught up with new starter Jude Smith who joined our American team earlier this year, leading large-and-complex LEAP Legal Software installations, quality assurance and overall client success. It’s a challenging role, and Jude’s experience and qualifications position him perfectly for the job.
We asked Jude the usual questions, covering all things business and pleasure, so you can get to know him better. Read on for his answers…
What’s your business/professional motto?
Learn as much as you can and ask questions when you need to. This motto has worked throughout my 26-year legal career thus far. By being open, honest and questioning in my LEAP position, I learnt my way around the more-complex aspects of the software that much quicker, allowing me to pass my new-found knowledge onto clients. The same candid approach has worked equally well during my stints at law firms and the United States Courts too.
How do you make contacts which are useful for business?
I used to be a member of the Massachusetts Paralegal Association and attended their quarterly face-to-face conferences. Similarly, I was also involved with the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association which involved once-a-quarter meet ups. They were great places to build connections.
These in-person events stopped during Covid and, although they’ve since restarted, I actually moved out of Massachusetts into Rhode Island three years ago. Now, I try to get as much exposure as possible by going to local conferences and exhibitions as these events are where to make contacts and generate business.
Which individual has inspired you the most in your business life and in what way?
I’d have to give a shout out to three people in my business life who’ve inspired me, beginning with my good friend Brendon who works in the tech space. When I spotted the client success post at LEAP, way back in 2019, I was still working in the judiciary and was unsure my skills would translate. Brendon believed in me and encouraged me to apply. Thanks to his support, I was successful in my application, progressed to director level and worked at LEAP for 5½ years. Everyone needs a friend like Brendon.
Second, while at LEAP, Aneta Kasprzak acted as my mentor. She was a truly great teacher who also told me to believe in myself and ditch imposter syndrome by not listening to the saboteur in my head. Aneta moved to Jayva at a similar time to me and it’s wonderful maintaining our close working relationship.
Third, Jayva’s CEO Nicola Moore-Miller is inspirational for multiple reasons. Due to LEAP and Jayva’s tight partnership, I’ve really gotten to know her over the past few years. She successfully ran her company throughout Covid, kept things afloat, and has since expanded to other countries – all while having a busy personal and family life. What a visionary leader and formidable personality.
What’s your proudest achievement in business?
My proudest achievement is being director of LEAP’s partner network, empowering certified independent consultants like Jayva to be even better at their jobs and thus even better with clients, part of which involved planning and executing the inaugural partner network day since before Covid. It was a huge feat, necessitating instructing speakers, preparing presentations and attracting over 50 attendees made up of both consultants and LEAP-sters. There was a buzz on partner network day, and I basked in it.
What do you think makes Jayva different?
I’ve worked with Jayva since working at LEAP, so I already knew the business intimately prior to my move here. Jayva’s people and culture were the biggest draws. The strong relationships and compelling ethos come back to Nicola having robust values for her company, wanting it to succeed, caring about her staff and putting clients first. Other companies should take note.
What’s Jayva’s greatest asset?
People are Jayva’s greatest asset. In every region and at every level, the right people are assigned the right roles, bringing their talents to the table and getting aligned to make Jayva a resounding success.
How does Jayva benefit from the unique skillset you bring to the business?
I have a unique perspective of deep-rooted LEAP knowledge and managerial experience which I now bring to Jayva. Thanks to great people at LEAP who coached me and had confidence in me, I progressed from client success manager to partner network director. The skillset I developed along the way, from acquisition of new accounts to post-sales support, are beneficial to Jayva and its customer base equally – as it’s all about the relationships and that’s where my expertise lies.
Give one tip for a successful business.
Employers should listen to their employees. Staff members are client advocates by listening to their feedback and acting upon it, thereby enabling them to do a better job with the product, delivery of services, whatever. And that’s what allows businesses to thrive in a difficult marketplace.
Do you dress up or down for business?
For client meetings, I wear a collared shirt, be it button down or polo variety. I think it’s important to look professional. When I have no client meetings, I tend to wear a t-shirt and hoodie. At LEAP, I was regularly visiting clients on site as part of my client success duties; slightly less so when I was directing the partner network. At Jayva, I’ll primarily be required on site for larger installs which demand a weightier training presence – for which my professional clothes are at the ready.
If you hadn’t gone down your chosen career path, what would you be doing instead?
I’ve always been interested in the law sector. Even in my college days, I started work in a law firm as a courier in its mailroom. Across the years, I advanced up to paralegal status before switching to the technology arena. If I hadn’t followed a legal pathway, I’d be teaching English at college level. My degree from the University of Arkansas is in English. Books and language are two of my passions.
What item(s) do you always have with you?
It’d have to be not an item but a person… namely, my husband Spencer. I hardly go anywhere without him. We’ve been together for ten years, married for one year and we’re inseparable.
At what time of day are you most creative or inspired?
I’m definitely a morning person. I wake up early, at roughly 5.30am, to go to the gym – four or five times a week. These gym sessions give me the energy to power through the day with gusto.
When do you take your coffee break – morning, afternoon, evening? And where do you take it?
I have a coffee break mid-morning. I also make a point of taking an hour’s break and walking outdoors at midday with Spencer. In my opinion, it’s important to block out this calendar time as I return refreshed and raring to go again post lunch.
Espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, macchiato, flat white, frappe – what’s your coffee of choice?
I drink tea and coffee. My favourite of the former is Twinings English breakfast tea, and the latter is overnight cooled coffee with an extra shot.
Who would you most like to have a coffee with?
If I could have a coffee and chat with anyone, it’d be my late dad. When he was alive, we used to share coffee together in the afternoon. Even away I was away from home, we’d have a coffee while on a telephone call.
How do you relax outside of work?
I’ve already mentioned how I enjoy letting off stress at the gym. I love hanging out with my friends and shopping as well.
What’s the most inspirational book you’ve ever read?
With my English degree, you might expect my most inspirational book is a novel, but I mostly read political and social justice books these days. Where politics are concerned, if you don’t keep abreast, you’re not informed. Twilight of Democracy by Anne Applebaum is a highly regarded book as she’s a well-respected journalist with years of experience living in Eastern Europe and married to the former Hungarian ambassador. Her books are a call-to-action to stay alert to how people rise to power.
Back catalogue of ‘coffee with’ blogs
If this latest ‘coffee with’ blog has whetted your appetite for more, head to our website and read Q&As with Leanne Pearson, Jacqui Bettio, Piet Bourke, Will Penrice, Joe Sclafani, Chris Nelson, Viona Retkowska, Rosa Pelaez-Vinuela and Susan Rodgers.