Featured Member: Aliza Licht

Tell us your work story : Who are you and what do you do?

 

I am the founder & president of LEAVE YOUR MARK LLC, a consultancy specializing in creative brand marketing and digital strategy. As a brand storyteller, I help clients build their brand equity by crafting compelling multi-faceted narratives that engage and captivate the audience. I am also the author of the best-selling career advice book, LEAVE YOUR MARK and the host of the LEAVE YOUR MARK podcast.  I am best most known as the creator and voice behind the award-winning social personality DKNY PR GIRL. where I was one of the first people in the fashion industry to launch a social media personality on Twitter. As DKNY PR GIRL, I organically built a multi-platform community of over 1.5mm followers.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

Award-winning digital marketer, author and host of LEAVE YOUR MARK

What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced, work-wise?

Leaving a corporate cushy job to begin my journey as an entrepreneur. I failed the first time, but succeeded the second.

If you could change one thing about how your given field operates, particularly with regards to women, what would it be, and why?

There are still too many women in power who are not leading by example, creating toxic work environments and impossible work/life balance.

What advice do you have for other women looking to make a career change but are afraid or lack confidence? How is it on the other side?

Get comfortable with change and the unknown. Give yourself permission to fail, then start again.

What continues to draw you to your chosen field and what do you hope to accomplish in the years ahead?

I am passionate about brand stories, creativity and innovation. I hope to be able to help women succeed by paying forward what I have learned and sharing advice from the amazing guests I have on the LEAVE YOUR MARK podcast

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

I didn’t receive this, but it’s something I believe: Your reputation doesn’t follow you everywhere, it gets there before you do.

How do negotiate the balance between life and work when you are the one setting the boundaries?

It’s never a perfect balance– priorities shift throughout the day. The key is to try and be present during each.

If you could tell your younger self one thing about what this professional journey would be like, what would you tell her?

Experiment more!

How do you make work work for you?

I face every day with renewed enthusiasm. You never know what can happen!

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Strong Foundations: A Crash Course on Being an Ally to Black Folks

 

Thank you to Kalyn Wilson who generously offered her time and expertise to lead a webinar for our members on being an ally to Black people. Kalyn is an HR and Diversity and Inclusion expert who just launched group and 1-1 coaching. We were honored to be her first session and help get her business up and running. It’s important for our community to come together, learn from each other, do better, and strengthen our ties.  Kalyn’s talk about how to be an ally was riveting and included lessons on the current language of the Black Lives Matter movement, an overview of past resistance movements, the linear historic landscape of racism and inequity,  how to speak out at work and how to become an ally in this moment.

 

If you missed the webinar, watch it below.  Don’t forget to share it with your friends and colleagues!

Strong Foundations was part 1 in a three part series.

  • Unlearning Anti-Blackness: It’s Deeper Than the N-Word
  • Unlearning Anti- Blackness: Making the Personal Sacrifice

You can reach Kalyn directly through her website  if you or your business is interested in hiring her to do corporate or 1-1 coaching.

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Featured Member: Kalyn Wilson

Kalyn Wilson is a perfect member to feature because she personally and professionally exemplifies the women in our member community. She is an optimistic, generous, thoughtful leader who uses her experience in HR and organizational development as a consultant to help companies better understand the benefit of Diversity and Inclusion for their companies.

 

Kalyn sees the Black Lives Matter movement as a teachable moment to help her white allies understand the history of systemic racism in the same way that we understand sexism and the role it plays in keeping women from rising up in the workplace.  Kayln teaches a webinar she created – A Crash Course on Being An Ally to Black Folks-– for clients.

 

Tell us your work story : Who are you and what do you do?

I’m a witty, wise woman who’s influencing the field of HR for good. I use my extensive experience in Human Resources, Organizational Development, and Diversity & Inclusion to improve HR systems and amplify unrecognized talent.

You recently pivoted your career coaching practice to create programming for groups. How has this moment shaped your thoughts on what diversity and inclusion means.
Switching to groups means I get to multiply my impact on the world. Diversity and inclusion is a very sensitive topic for most of us, and I find that people feel more comfortable starting their D&I journey in the safety of a group. The shared energy can encourage people to share their thoughts or latch onto others’ “aha” moments to inspire their own. The group setting can accelerate learning. Plus, it’s just fun for me when I connect with large groups!
Why is it important to teach the history of the current protest?
It is critical to teach history, not just important. The issues at the center of the current protests are compounded layers of concerns, atrocities, and injustices dating back to the 17th century. That’s a lot of information to process, so I want to give non-Black people a crash course in how we reached this explosive point. I’ll share more than a simple recounting of key events; I’ll explain how the pivotal moments intersect and how these moments birthed the systemic issues permeating every layer of our nation’s racial experience – socially, politically, and financially.
Many people are confused about what language to use and how to interact on social media without being offensive or using outmoded paradigms to talk about race. What’s important to think about when trying to navigate these waters with empathy.
The smartest thing we can all do in this moment is to focus on strengthening our allyship within our sphere of influence. So many of us are functioning from a place of guilt, anxiety, and emotional overload. We try to outdo others and ourselves with the wittiest or “woke”-est statuses, just to impress or connect with strangers. This can be toxic – to us and others. Protect your emotional space and respect others’ emotional state by focusing on showing up in meaningful ways for your friends, family, and co-workers. Take a social media break if you need to or turn off the news. It’ll be worth it!

 

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

My proudest professional accomplishment is pursuing a doctoral degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. It represents my commitment to continuous learning and growth, and it also boosts the visibility of underrepresented talent. (My dissertation research centers on optimizing the Black male employee experience.)

 

What advice do you have for other women looking to make a career change but are afraid or lack confidence? How is it on the other side?

 

Validate your fear but don’t let it define you. I always say emotions are simply signals; they show us what we need to heal so we can move forward! You can do this, even if you take baby steps to get started. It feels surreal to be on the other side of fear and diminished self-confidence. Sometimes I still feel impostor syndrome, but I try to keep a list of my accomplishments in an Excel spreadsheet so I can encourage myself in those moments.

 

Do you have any advice on how to craft a winning pitch?

 

Imagine yourself as if you’ve already sealed the deal… How do you feel? What do you see yourself saying when meeting with the client? Can you see their joy as they look at your work? Use this vision’s positive energy to put how you’d add value into words. The mind is powerful and excited energy is too.

 

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

 

Focus on progress not accomplishments. Achievement addiction can be toxic. When you understand your “why” and the meaning behind the steps you take in your career, you avoid burnout and losing yourself.

 

How do negotiate the balance between life and work when you are the one setting the boundaries?

 

I recognize that it’s an ongoing journey where I never quite “arrive”. I try to let this excite me rather than frustrate me. For example, the pandemic triggered all kinds of major life changes for me; they’ve led me to pursue more creative outlets and change up my workout routine. It wasn’t expected (or welcome at first), but I can see how they’ll produce tons of long-term benefits.

 

How do you make work work for you? 

 

Wow… My answer to this today is so different than what I would have said three months ago. For work to work for me, I have to experience freedom – intellectually, creatively, and emotionally. I need to own my thoughts and my work, so I’ve been working on my communication skills to be an even stronger advocate for myself professionally. I firmly believe we teach people how to treat us by what we allow. How I set boundaries and communicate my professional needs to others sets the tone for our relationship and my work. That’s why I want to speak up for myself even more.

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Featured Member: Shannon Lorraine

 

 

Tell us your work story : Who are you and what do you do?

I own a PR and Branding agency that I started 12 years ago. I work with clients in lifestyle, fashion and cpg. Currently I am working with Alex Borstein from The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and launching her accessory collection Henabee’s.

 

What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced, work-wise? 

Starting my own business was a very tough decision to make. I had been a buyer at Nordstrom in Seattle and I was only in NYC for a few years. I was running a very large high-end fashion showroom in NYC and I just knew if we combined branding and PR with sales it would be more effective. The first year of company, 2006, I was chosen as one of the top 100 forward thinking companies in New York.

 

If you could change one thing about how your field operates, particularly with regards to women, what would it be, and why?

I think there needs to be more transparency. We need to support each other more. There is plenty of work to go around. Listen to each other and help.

 

What advice do you have for other women looking to make a career change but are afraid or lack confidence? How is it on the other side?

It is scary but so worth it to do it if you love it. But you have to love it– It isn’t easy.

 

Do you have any advice on how to craft a winning pitch?

Be concise. Use specific examples. Research the company!!

 

What continues to draw you to your chosen field and what do you hope to accomplish in the years ahead?

I love what I do. I get to work with all different types of creative people and I am always learning. I love being the bridge between accounting and creative. Art +

Commerce is my formula for success.

 

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

Listen! Listen to your clients, listen to your vendors and keep learning.

 

How do negotiate the balance between life and work when you are the one setting the boundaries?

That is an ongoing struggle. As a mother it is so important to be that my daughter sees how much I love my work but I also have to learn that I have cap work hours at home that is a tough one.

 

If you could tell your younger self one thing about what this professional journey would be like, what would you tell her?

Trust your gut!

 

How do you make work work for you? 

I love what I do!

 

If you want to be a Featured Member please fill out this form:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/featuredmemberquestionnaire

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Featured Member: Joanna Rohr

 

Whether playing rugby or organizing sports entertainment events for companies who’s mission she believes in, Joanna Rohr says it’s important to live and work your values. As our Featured Member she offers guidance about how to treat those above and below you and how her industry needs to change to support working mothers.

 

Tell us your work story : Who are you and what do you do?

I’ve been a sports marketing consultant and event producer for over 10 years. I’ve been managing sponsorship and events for brands such as adidas, Gatorade, Progressive and Under Armour. I pride myself in my strong Midwest work ethic, creative problem solving, and leadership abilities. I am passionate about connecting people through sport and entertainment experiences. I left the agency world a year and a half ago so I could have more work life balance to raise my daughter. When I’m not pursuing freelance passion projects, you can find me playing rugby, traveling, skiing, and enjoying the outdoors with my husband Paul and my daughter Bailey.

 

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

Producing the adidas Parley Run for the Oceans event in NYC, raising awareness of marine plastic pollution through running.

 

What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced, work-wise? (Please think broadly here. This can be anything from a tricky boss or colleague to whether or not to return to a job after maternity leave.)

The hardest challenge has been trying to balance my career and raising a child in a country and an industry that doesn’t support mothers.

 

If you could change one thing about how your given field operates, particularly with regards to women, what would it be, and why?

The biggest thing I would change is a more acceptable national maternity leave policy. It’s crucial for the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing that a mother and a child be together for the first few months. Working in the event marketing industry has such high demands on travel, often 50-75% of your time is on the road, it makes it impossible for a new mother to meet her babies needs when she has to go back to work 6 weeks later.

 

What advice do you have for other women looking to make a career change but are afraid or lack confidence? How is it on the other side?

I would say not to hesitate to enlist the support and guidance of other women. Once you figure out what career or company you want to work for, don’t hesitate to let it be known. Women can be really helpful to one another, you just need to enlist the right support and ask the key questions and the doors will open.

 

Do you have any advice on how to craft a winning pitch?

When I’m pitching, I always try to put myself in my clients shoes and figure out their pain points. What problem are they trying to solve? What are they being measured by? Once you’re on the same page and in the trenches, your work will show, you’ll be able to find strong solutions and they’ll see you as a true extension of their team.

 

What continues to draw you to your chosen field and what do you hope to accomplish in the years ahead?

I love the creative problem solving that comes with my job. I hope to continue to help brands build events and partnerships that help them reach their goals. My goal would be to work with more brands and projects that I’m inspired by such as REI & Patagonia.

 

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

One of my first bosses did a secret test during my first interview. While I was waiting, he had the receptionist spill a tray. There was water and papers everywhere and she was embarrassed. I got up to help her with a smile and told her if she hadn’t done it I would have. He told me I passed and that he only wanted to hire people that would help wherever needed and were kind to everyone. That always stuck with me. Treat the CEO and the Janitor the same and everyone will want to work with you. There have been so many times that my path has crossed with people I’ve worked with in the past. It’s important to make a good impression with everyone, senior and junior, you never know where they’ll end up, they may end up being your boss or client one day!

 

Who has been your biggest cheerleader // supporter // mentor? 

My girlfriends that I worked with at Match Marketing Group. They’ve been my biggest supporters in breaking out to do freelance work, they’ve even hired me over the past year!

 

How do negotiate the balance between life and work when you are the one setting the boundaries?

It’s difficult to find balance but I think being kind to yourself during the process is important. I try not to beat myself up too much if I’m not doing a great job of juggling it all. It’s impossible to be a perfect mom but you can be a great mom. I do regular monthly check ins with my husband and myself so we can adjust however needed.

 

If you could tell your younger self one thing about what this professional journey would be like, what would you tell her?

Nothing will turn out the way you planned, stay flexible and enjoy the ride!

 

How do you make work work for you? 

I make work work by only taking projects I’m passionate about and work for my family. Projects that aren’t too demanding with travel and have realistic timelines are key when you’re a mom.

 

If you want to be a Featured Member please fill out this form:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/featuredmemberquestionnaire

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Featured Member: Ife Obi

 

 

Ife Obi is an optimist, over-achiever, and a realist. She is our Featured Member because she understands that to #makeworkworkforyou,  it’s important to take risks, make bold changes when it isn’t working for you and trust in your own resilience.  

 

Tell us your work story : Who are you and what do you do?

I’ve spent over 15 years in marketing entertainment, consumer products, and services. Always striving for more, I ventured out on my own and started to focus on marketing consulting while opening my own small chain of fitness studios in Brooklyn, NY.

 

What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced, work-wise?

My hardest challenge work-wise was to leave a situation that wasn’t healthy for me and to enter a world of the unknown. I spent a long time in a situation where the environment was toxic but the pay and perks were great. Deciding to leave and take a chance on what’s next, or to stay, make great pay but to give up on my mental well-being was a hard choice to make. But ultimately, in my opinion, it was no longer a choice.

 

What advice do you have for other women looking to make a career change but are afraid or lack confidence? How is it on the other side?

We thrive in environments that excite us. If a job or a career is not serving us any more, it’s time to change. If not, we just grow resentful and it eats away at so many parts of our lives. It’s important to remember that we are extremely resilient. All the work that we put into what we do is not exclusive to one company, or one department, or even one field. We are problem solvers and hard workers. When we make the change, there may be some hurdles but ultimately, we’ll figure it out and get to where we want to be. And with that you’ll find much more happiness and fulfillment.

 

What continues to draw you to your chosen field and what do you hope to accomplish in the years ahead?

I believe marketing is all about solving a problem which is what excites me. How do we get this to be viral? How do we drive more revenue? How do we increase users? It always requires new ways of thinking or new techniques or you will end up falling behind. Marketing is the biggest part of the success of any business, and as a business owner myself, it’s important for me to stay in the know, applying those learnings to my own business.

 

 

How do negotiate the balance between life and work when you are the one setting the boundaries?

 

I still struggle in finding the balance as I’m a workaholic, but I have gotten over the idea that I need to prove myself to anyone. If I’m hired to do a job, then they are confident in me getting the job done. So with that I can work remotely, I can leave the office at 5, I can stay home when I’m sick, I can have my life outside of work…and have no guilt.

 

 

How do you make work work for you? 

I can’t work just to earn. I have to enjoy what I’m doing, learn from what I’m doing, and it has to come with balance and fulfillment. I make sure whatever I do checks all those boxes.

We want YOU to be a Featured Member!

Sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/featuredmemberquestionnaire

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Featured Member: Cayce Cage

Cayce Cage has built a career around seeing, cultivating, and celebrating other people’s talent, which is why it’s especially nice to be able to celebrate her unique talents as this month’s Featured Member. We love her commitment to others as much as we love her commitment to herself. She is a beacon of respect, support, and enthusiasm in the workplace, which are qualities we value and that lift up everything and everyone.

 

Tell us your work story : Who are you and what do you do?

I am a consultant who specializes in brand building through staffing placement, content creation, training and sales strategies.
 
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
A 30 year corporate career helping lead and develop people to their potential that became a spring board for me to start my own business.
 
What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced, work-wise?
My hardest challenge was starting a new job, only to find the culture was not the right fit for me.
What advice do you have for other women looking to make a career change but who are afraid or lack confidence? How is it on the other side? 
First, you have to decide what really matters most to you and make that a priority. Once you let go of what you are ‘supposed’ to do or be, it’s very liberating. Then decide what you love doing for work, your passion. Then decide how little money you can live on while you make the transition and find a way to ensure that you have that money for one year while you build your own business. Then hustle, hustle, hustle!
Happiness is not connected to financial income.
 
Do you have any advice on how to craft a winning pitch?
Be yourself and speak your truth. Don’t write what you think they want to hear. Promote your skills and offerings. Have confidence in yourself. You can do this!
 
What continues to draw you to your chosen field and what do you hope to accomplish in the years ahead?
Staffing is where my passion is really based. Helping people find people and helping people grow. I hope to continue to work as a consultant part to full time on a regular basis forever. Maybe write a book…
 
What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received? 
Trust your instincts
 
How do you negotiate the balance between life and work when you’re the one setting the boundaries? 
I make the decisions of balance based on my projects and not taking on too much work that would create an imbalance. Learn when to say ‘no’.
 
If you could tell your younger self one thing about what this professional journey would be like, what would you tell her?
It just keeps getting better!
 
How do you make work work for you?
I have created a business that I can do remotely from anywhere. That’s most important to me.
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Featured Member: Jennifer Lazarus

Tell us your work story: Who are you and what do you do? 

 

I am a seasoned digital media professional with 15+ years in content and social media creation and strategy in both the health and wellness and lifestyle categories. I have a proven track record for growing audiences and building retention with unique content and marketing campaigns that bring energy to brands and reach target audiences wherever they are. In my role as Chief Digital Officer, I achieved a 300% growth in audience and revenue for the core digital products while simultaneously building out social media platforms from infancy through maturity, eventually reaching over 1 million engaged users.

 

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

 

In 2013, I was recognized by Folio magazine among the 100 Most Innovative and Influential Professionals in Magazine Media.

 

What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced, work-wise?

 

The hardest (and most disheartening) challenge I have ever faced was in the earlier days of my career when I encountered women who wanted to hold me back instead of lift me up. I vowed to never repeat history and have made this a focus of any management position I’ve held.

 

If you could change one thing about how your given field operates, particularly with regards to women, what would it be and why?

 

I would want to see more women at the top — in the C-Suite — or seated at the table making big strategy decisions. Women are critical thinkers when it comes to dissecting and understanding audience, and delivering key content to those audiences. In my field, it all comes down to this and we just don’t see enough women filling these roles at big digital media companies. 

 

What advice do you have for other women looking to make a career change but who are afraid or lack confidence? How is it on the other side? 

 

Believe that you are as capable as anyone else who has done the same. It’s not an easy road, but you have what it takes. 

 

Do you have any advice on how to craft a winning pitch?

 

My approach, for better or for worse, is honesty. In other words, I tell them what I know how to do well and I try to never overreach.   

 

What continues to draw you to your chosen field and what do you hope to accomplish in the years ahead?

 

In my field (Digital Media), you are forced to keep up with the latest on everything — so it keeps your mind sharp and au courant. It can also be dizzying. 

 

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received? 

 

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good (because I could).  

 

Who has been your biggest cheerleader / supporter / mentor?

 

My biggest supporter was my boss of 12+ years who was the president and CEO of the company. He always believed in me, and promoted me at a very young age. He encouraged my ideas and believed in my abilities. With his confidence and support, I felt like I could do anything, truly. I was very lucky to have him as my ally for so long, and because of him, I had many successes.

 

How do you negotiate the balance between life and work when you’re the one setting the boundaries? 

 

This is the toughest challenge and I have to admit I am not so great about it, as hard as I try. I do create a schedule for myself while my kids are in school so I am available after school and in the evenings, but this can sometimes be impossible. I try my best, and hope it all evens out in the end. I don’t know any working parent who doesn’t struggle with this. 

 

If you could tell your younger self one thing about what this professional journey would be like, what would you tell her? 

 

Be prepared for a winding path, and all the challenges that come along with it. And, stop worrying so much. 

 

How do you make work work for you?

 

I have to like what I am doing enough to make it work for me, otherwise, no matter what I do it simply won’t work. 

Want to be a Featured Member? Fill this out to be considered!
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Featured Member: Lisa Strong

Lisa M. Strong never stops moving forward. Seemingly indefatigable, she embraces all of the opportunities each phase of her life brings, welcoming the journey and throwing herself headlong into the moment. A multiple-marathoner, she is on the long run when it comes to her career as well, navigating each leg of the race with grace, perspective, and agility, which is why we’ve chosen her as this month’s Featured Member. 
 
Tell us your work story : Who are you and what do you do?
I graduated with a BS in Marketing and International Business, and started my career in retail management with Walmart Stores, Inc. I then utilized my CPG and management experience at one of the original “big data” companies, Information Resources, Inc, where I assumed an international project management role. During this time I earned my MBA with a concentration in HR Management. I took a career break while raising my family, and was able to take on several volunteer opportunities, including establishing a 5K fundraising race for the local PTA. During my pause, I also ran several marathons and served as Vice President of the booster club for my daughter’s gymnastics team. In 2015, I went back to part-time retail work at The Runner’s Edge, a local run specialty store. I recently completed a course in Agile project management and am currently looking to re-enter the workforce full-time. I am seeking a position at a company with a mission to create positive change in the world.
 
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
My proudest professional accomplishment is the role I played in the creation and implementation of a new user interface for our database department at IRI. I was chosen to be part of a project team whose charge was to migrate our legacy mainframe system to a Windows-based relational database. I represented my department and worked as part of a cross-functional team to design, develop, and implement the new system at home, as well as in our European offices. It was very satisfying to know that I was part of the project that would bring our clients more accurate data, our company greater efficiency, and our workforce better job satisfaction.
 
What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced, work-wise?
The hardest challenge I’ve faced work-wise was the decision to take a break to stay home after having my first child. I had been intent on going back to work after maternity leave. I loved my job and was experiencing great success. However, at that time, maternity leave was not very long, and most companies were reluctant to allow flex time/work-from-home/job sharing arrangements. I was in the fortunate position to be able to afford to stay home and enjoy time raising my baby (eventually babies). Giving up a blossoming career at a company I loved was a very hard choice. But I wouldn’t change a thing.
 
If you could change one thing about how your given field operates, particularly with regards to women, what would it be and why?
Historically, upper-level management positions have gone to men, especially in marketing/advertising/technology fields. Things are changing, but it is still a bit of a “boys club” atmosphere at the highest levels. I would like to see women selected and promoted and put on track for C-suite positions. I would also like to see board of directors with more gender equality (not just women, but people of color, and gender non-conforming individuals as well).
 
What advice do you have for other women looking to make a career change but who are afraid or lack confidence? How is it on the other side? 
My advice is to do research up front. Identify companies that are friendly towards women in the workplace, and who have programs in place to help you re-launch after a break from the workforce. Identify the skills you have and take a class or workshop to bring them up-to-date. Becoming current will boost your confidence. Talk to friends and coworkers. Ask them what they see in you, and have them identify your positive qualities/skills. This will help boost your confidence, and will give you an idea of how others see you, which can be used to identify jobs that may be a good fit. I’m still looking for my re-launch opportunity, so I cannot yet comment of how it is on the “other side”.
 
Do you have any advice on how to craft a winning pitch?
Be succinct, be honest, be yourself.
 
What continues to draw you to your chosen field and what do you hope to accomplish in the years ahead?
I enjoy helping people through connection, communication, and positive experiences. Those are the things that draw me to my field. In the years ahead, I hope to find a position doing meaningful work at a company whose mission is to improve the world in a positive and lasting way.
 
What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received? 
Find a mentor, challenge yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
 
Who has been your biggest cheerleader / supporter / mentor?
Helene Silverman at IRI was my first real mentor.
 
How do you negotiate the balance between life and work when you’re the one setting the boundaries? 
Understand that there will be compromises, but one should never eclipse the other. Sometimes work will be the main focus, but over time that should balance out with family and life.
 
If you could tell your younger self one thing about what this professional journey would be like, what would you tell her? 
Build a vast network full of interesting people from all aspects of your life/journey. They will be your biggest resource and support system for the duration of your working life.
 
How do you make work work for you?
I find a job that I love and it doesn’t seem like work. If you view work as a positive part of your everyday life, it won’t seem like an imposition.
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Featured Member: Brooke Sanita

 

When we founded The Second Shift, Brooke Sanita was precisely the kind of member we hoped to serve. Passionate about her profession, dedicated to her family, working hard to make work work without sacrificing everything else that mattered to her in the bargain. We are so proud to cast a spotlight on her journey and share her insights with all of you.
 
Tell us your work story : Who are you and what do you do?
I am an attorney who has practiced commercial, bankruptcy, and business litigation for over 10 years. I am also a mom of 3 young children, ages 6, 5 and 3.
 
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
Winning my first trial where I represented a foreign buyer from Israel, prepared the case and the witness (while he resided in Israel), and litigated the entire trial on my own—and won. I was the only woman in that courtroom other than the court reporter and I was 9 months pregnant.
 
What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced, work-wise?
Juggling motherhood and work.
 
If you could change one thing about how your given field operates, particularly with regards to women, what would it be and why?
I wish the law would embrace mothers and let lawyers have the professional independence to work and be there for their families. It feels like you have to choose.
 
What advice do you have for other women looking to make a career change but who are afraid or lack confidence? How is it on the other side? 
It’s wonderful to be in control of your own life and to not regret spending time with your family.
 
What continues to draw you to your chosen field and what do you hope to accomplish in the years ahead?
I really love the law and I hope to be able to make it work for me and my family.
 
Who has been your biggest cheerleader / supporter / mentor?
My parents.
 
If you could tell your younger self one thing about what this professional journey would be like, what would you tell her? 
You are going to want more than just a career so set yourself up in an area of law that is conducive to work-life balance.
 
How do you make work work for you?
I’m looking for opportunities that allow me professional independence and trying to learn how to ask for what I need without apologizing.
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