Palmer Trinity School

acknowledged and understood during mediations and arbitrations. I serve as a conduit between those whose cultural distinctions would otherwise keep them apart or in a state of misunderstanding. How and when did you know you wanted to become an attorney/mediator? I went to law school on a whim, essentially. I was not someone who always wanted to be a lawyer—quite the contrary. But I'm glad I did it. I enjoyed being a litigator very, very much, but I knew early into my career as a litigator that I would prefer the work that was being done by the mediator. I met a mediator who gave me several tips on how I could use my litigation experience to build a strong, successful and prosperous career in mediation and arbitration. What do you love most about your career? Dispute resolution is my passion because I get to work with people who need help getting through a rough time in their lives. They often feel misunderstood, unheard and isolated. I love being the person who can reach them emotionally and help them through their problems. I help people to feel whole again and move on with their lives. I like to say that I help give people their lives back. What are the biggest challenges you've faced in your career? The biggest challenges I've faced are related to maintaining the business during the pandemic. Staying creative and agile in the face of extreme uncertainty has not been easy, but I have loved it more than any job I have ever had. What's your greatest accomplishment to date? My greatest accomplishments are my four children. Roman, Rex, Helena and Titan are my entire world. Everything I do, I ultimately do for them. Tell us a little bit about your recent book, #Networked, and the work you've done to empower women and encourage diversity. As part of my endeavors, I co-authored a book titled #Networked with 19 other female lawyers. The book chronicles our stories of grit and endurance during the pandemic as we were determined to grow and prosper during such a difficult time. The book debuted as a #1 bestseller on Amazon. Since the success of the book, my co- authors and I have been on an extensive speaking tour, seeking to inspire men and women alike. I have spoken to colleges, law schools, paralegals, networking groups, affinity groups and numerous law firms about the need to pull together in these times and support each other. I speak a lot about the story I share in the book, and the importance of believing in yourself and refusing to entertain naysayers. We know you give back through lots of community service. Can you talk about some of your volunteer work and why you do it? My desire to be heavily involved in community service certainly dates back to my time at PTS. While community service was a graduation requirement, I realized quickly that I enjoyed being part of my community and sharing the immense blessings that my family and I always enjoyed. Right now, I volunteer by giving my time and expertise to help indigent individuals who cannot afford to retain an attorney. Tell us a little bit about your personal life, like your four adorable children, and anything you enjoy doing in your free time. I spend a lot of time with family. We enjoy cooking and baking. We love to throw impromptu parties at home, complete with gourmet meals and silly decorations. For example, for Valentine's Day, my four year-old requested that we roast a 20-pound turkey and pretend it was Thanksgiving. She wanted it to be unicorn themed, so we decorated accordingly. What advice would you give high school students about life? About pursuing a career in law? I would recommend spending a lot of time researching different areas of law, and think about how those areas of law are practiced in different jurisdictions. Give consideration to which colleges will give you the best shot at which law schools, and which law school will get you to the area of law you want to practice. Be mindful of the cost of living wherever you go. From left – #Networked Book Cover, TMN Podcast. S U MME R 2 0 2 1 41

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