CO-MANAGING PARTNER OF WEIL CO-HEAD, U.S. PRIVATE EQUITY MANAGING PARTNER, BOSTON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER LAW SCHOOL GRADUATION YEAR 2001 YEAR JOINED WEIL 2002 YEAR PROMOTED TO PARTNER 2017 HOMETOWN BUFFALO, NY What did you want to be as a child? “Not a doctor.” My career aspirations as a kid were not particularly well developed. In high school, I started thinking about law school as a “practical choice.” If your younger self could see you now, what do you think her reaction would be? “I can’t believe you aren’t playing piano for a living.” What was your first job? Pianist. I met a violinist in seventh grade, we hit it off, and for years we played duets at weddings and other events together. It was the best (and a good money maker!). Knowing what you know now, what might you have done differently when you were starting out? I rushed through college in three years, for no reason other than it was achievable. I would have slowed it down a little, done a semester or a year abroad. Describe a time when you had to make an important professional decision and how you went about selecting your course of action. When I was on maternity leave at Weil, I received an offer for an in-house position that, on paper, was my “dream job.” I was worried about coming back from maternity leave and how I would manage my commute, hours, progressing at the Firm, etc. I debated for weeks, actually made a list of pros and cons. Ultimately, two things kept me from making a move: First, even though the hours were going to be longer and more unpredictable at Weil, I realized that I actually had more flexibility in scheduling/commuting and would be able to see my daughter a lot more than I would have had I taken this other job that would have been 8:30-5:30, but it was a pretty rigid schedule, and by the time I left my house and got back home at the beginning and end of each day, I was going to miss critical time. At Weil, the ability to work from home once a week (I did that for years!) and to have a flex schedule, was a much better fit. And second, I really loved the people I worked with and that really mattered. In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you build yourself up? I read Emerson a lot when I’m stressed. Sounds a little goofy, but he uses so many words that we don’t find in everyday life (and definitely not in everyday law life), and that always helps me see past whatever issue is causing stress in the moment and appreciate the broader, bigger world. I also really love the concept of self-reliance. Emerson frames self-reliance and living “in the moment” in ways that motivate and inspire me – it’s a constant reset for me. What do you turn to when you need perspective or to unwind during a challenging time? The best dose of perspective is spending time with my daughter – she has always (even still, at 12 years old) delighted in everyday life. Doesn’t take much to make her happy – she finds joy and humor around every corner. Her consistent priorities help me to focus my own. As for unwinding, it’s two things: time outside (either running or being on the water – both are a major and instant de-stressor for me) and time with my friends (husband and daughter included). What’s the best piece of professional advice you received? You can’t do it alone. Being a fairly type-A person (most lawyers are!), it’s easy to convince yourself that you’re the only one who can do it right. When I was a senior associate, one of my mentors reminded me of all of the colleagues that were available to bounce ideas off of. The resources even within our practice group, for tough questions or new ideas, are a game changer. We can’t do it alone, and also don’t need to. What does success mean to you? How has your definition of success evolved over time? Success equals always giving more than you are receiving. If ever I reach the point where I feel I am taking more from my inner circle (professional and personal), the balance feels wrong. Knowing that people in my life can rely on me (and knowing that they actually are in my life) is when I am most satisfied, and most successful. The evolution of that, I think, lies in realizing that “having it all” is absolutely possible – you just need to be comfortable with your own definition of “all.” Excellent work product is certainly key, but an awareness of all of the other human dynamics and politics, and a recognition of the need to advocate for yourself and for others, are just as important. “ ” Please describe a mistake or failure and how it ultimately helped you learn and grow. For a long time, it was the belief that putting your head down and working hard to produce an outstanding result would speak for itself – that there was no need to otherwise advocate for self or career (and that doing so is “bragging”). Excellent work product is certainly key, but an awareness of all of the other human dynamics and politics, and a recognition of the need to advocate for yourself and for others, are just as important. What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made and was it worth it? My biggest professional sacrifice was probably taking a slow, winding road to partnership – I have always had a hard time being an actively forward thinker or planner, and it didn’t come naturally to take affirmative steps to move my career forward as a junior associate. In fact, for a decent stretch, I was focused more on maintaining status quo from a career perspective so that I could focus on being a mom. Looking back, I don’t think I actually needed to trade one for the other, and I could have been more progressive about my career path while also focusing on being a mom. But I feel great about the fact that I prioritized what I felt at the time needed to be prioritized – and so even if I “could” or “should” have made partner years earlier, I have no regrets. The linear path from first-year to partner is not the only or best path. 36 · WEIL WOMEN’S WISDOM
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