35,000 Butterflies Taught Me Leadership—Here’s How

Hello, Friends and Colleagues,

Ever feel like you’re doing everything but not moving forward? Another contract. Another meeting. Another email chain that just won’t die. You check off a thousand tasks, but at the end of the day, are you really leading—or just managing chaos?

I’ve been there.

And then, not long ago, I found myself standing in front of an art exhibit that changed how I think about leadership.

At the Phoenix Art Museum, I stared at 35,000 black paper butterflies swarming the walls. It was stunning—mesmerizing, even. But then I learned something that stopped me in my tracks.

The artist, Carlos Amorales, never placed a single butterfly himself.

Instead, he set the vision. His team executed. And from miles away, he sent a simple thumbs-up for final approval.

That was it. That was the art.

And suddenly, I realized: The best leaders are conceptual artists, too.

At a time when AI is reshaping sustainability, pro bono work is redefining purpose, and legal professionals are drowning in to-do lists, this lesson couldn’t be more relevant.

Great leadership isn’t about doing everything—it’s about vision, delegation, and trust.

Let’s dive in.

Leading Like a Conceptual Artist: Vision, Trust, and Letting Go

Right now, legal leadership is being challenged in ways we haven’t seen before. AI is automating decisions. Sustainability is forcing new compliance structures. And burnout is making lawyers question their purpose.

If we want to thrive, we need to lead differently. Like great artists, the best leaders:

• See what others don’t yet see. (Vision)
• Create systems that allow execution without micromanaging. (Delegation)
• Know when to step in—and when to simply give the thumbs-up. (Trust)

Here’s how this plays out in AI governance, sustainability, and purpose-driven legal work.

1. Vision: Seeing the Big Picture Before Anyone Else

Carlos Amorales didn’t glue butterflies to walls. He saw the outcome before it existed and designed a process to make it happen.

AI & Sustainability Parallel: In my recent article Pamela Isom shares how AI is revolutionizing environmental sustainability—helping businesses make smarter, data-driven decisions about resource use, climate risk, and sustainable growth. But here’s the thing: AI doesn’t define the vision. Humans do.

Legal Leadership Takeaway

• The best legal leaders don’t drown in the details—they define the strategic direction and trust their systems.
• If you don’t set a clear vision for AI and sustainability, your company will place its efforts randomly—like butterflies without a pattern.

Action Step: What’s your North Star for AI and sustainability governance? Define one guiding principle this week that will help your legal team make smarter decisions—even when you’re not in the room.

2. Trust: Letting Go and Letting Leadership Scale

Carlos Amorales wasn’t in Phoenix placing butterflies. He designed a system that ensured excellence without his constant oversight.

So why do so many legal leaders feel like they have to be in every contract, on every call, fixing every little problem? If you’re doing everything, you’re not leading—you’re managing.

Pro Bono Leadership Parallel: Feeling like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel? You’re not alone. Tomorrow on Thursday February 6, I’ll be hosting a LinkedIn Live conversation with Adriana Dulic about how pro bono work can help you step out of the cycle and lead with purpose.

Feeling Like You’re on a Hamster Wheel? Let’s Talk About Adding More Meaning to Your Life!

• Learn how pro bono work can expand your leadership without burning you out.
• Find practical ways in-house lawyers can get involved—without overwhelming their schedules.
• Unlock unexpected benefits—because pro bono isn’t just about giving back; it’s about leveling up.

Legal Leadership Takeaway

• Great leaders create systems. They don’t control every detail.
• Pro bono work isn’t just a side project—it’s a leadership accelerator. It expands your skill set, builds trust, and deepens your impact.

Action Step: Where can you let go of control this week? Delegate one responsibility and say YES to something that actually fuels your leadership growth.

3. The Art of the Thumbs-Up: Strategic Validation Over Micromanagement

Carlos Amorales’ most powerful leadership move? A simple thumbs-up.

• It told his team they were on the right track.
• It empowered them to own the outcome.
• It kept momentum moving without unnecessary bottlenecks.

AI & Governance Parallel: As Isom points out, AI decision-making needs thoughtful governance—not heavy-handed control. The best leaders design frameworks for AI to operate within, rather than trying to oversee every move.

Legal Leadership Takeaway

• Are you empowering your team with clear signals of success?
• Do your approvals build confidence—or slow everything down?

Action Step: This week, swap one long approval process for a simple strategic thumbs-up. Watch how it shifts the energy in your team.

Let’s Talk Leadership—Because 35,000 Butterflies Can’t Be Wrong

Carlos Amorales didn’t place a single butterfly himself—but he made sure every one of them landed exactly where it needed to be. That’s the art of leadership: trust, not control.

So here’s my challenge to you:

• Audit your leadership. Where are you placing butterflies when you should be guiding the vision instead?
• Test your trust. This week, delegate one decision completely—no micromanaging, just a thumbs-up when needed. See what happens.
• Refine, don’t redo. Instead of taking work back to “fix it,” coach your team to improve it themselves.

Leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about enabling more.

35,000 butterflies proved it. Now it’s your turn.

What’s one thing you’ll let go of this week? Reply and let me know.

Warmly,

Olga

That’s all for this Notes to My (Legal) Self? edition. Subscribe now to get notified of each new edition, or share it with an aspiring legal leader who would find it valuable.

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Olga V. Mack is a leading innovator in the legal field, driving digital transformation and championing the use of technology to modernize law. With a focus on efficiency, accessibility, and client-centric solutions, she has redefined traditional legal practices through groundbreaking tools, strategies, and advocacy. As an award-winning legal tech CEO, General Counsel, accomplished author, and sought-after thought leader, Olga is dedicated to empowering the legal profession to embrace transformative technologies and stay adaptable in an ever-evolving world.