Celebrating the promotions of attorneys of color in the TCDIP Community!

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
One of the better pieces of advice I received from an attorney-of-color was to “focus on the work.” At any organization, there are politics. But if you focus on the work and don’t sweat the small stuff, things generally work out.

What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
We are shaped so much by our life experiences and the values that drive us. My parents made enormous sacrifices to give my sisters and me an opportunity to get an education here in the US and to move here from Nicaragua. My father always taught us to live a life of service and to chase your dreams, not titles. My mother imparted in us a love for laughter and selfless giving. I would not be here without them and without the support of strangers who became friends, managers, and mentors. I am deeply grateful for my Latino heritage, which allows me to live and navigate multiple cultures and languages. I am so lucky to work for Cargill, a company that deeply embraces and values diversity.

What kind of challenges have you overcome in your path to this new role?
I am used to being the first Latina in a role, but I never want to be comfortable being the last. That means working hard to ensure that door stays open. In that regard, I have learned to use my voice more powerfully. Early on in my career, I did not appreciate the incredible power of being your truest self and being an authentic leader. I understood it at an intellectual level, but I had not fully internalized it. I have learned the importance of being present and practicing active empathy. We may never understand fully what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes, but we can support, grow, listen, and advocate. I have been so inspired by so many of my colleagues at Cargill to do better.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Be an authentic leader and work to stay that way. Stay curious and have a thirst for learning. I will never have figured it “all” out. Above all, lead true to your values and put people first. I made a promise early on in my career that I would never turn down coffee (virtual these days!) with anyone who wanted help with their career or was looking with a new job. And, looking back, it’s one of the most rewarding things I have done in my career. Find your passion, whether it’s practicing a particular area of law, helping people solve complex problems, managing a team, counseling clients through change, or building something new.

What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
Taking chances and not letting my fears dictate my actions.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Don’t be afraid to ask for opportunities, put yourself out there, and leave your job if you don’t feel appreciated.

What’s once piece of advice you would like to share with the TCDIP community about how legal employers can advance and retain more attorneys of color in the Twin Cities?
It isn’t enough to just hire attorneys of color, legal employers must provide them real mentorship, sponsorship, and continued support.

What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
Chris was reelected by the partnership to serve as Co-Chair of the Firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, as the firm will look to Chris to focus on the firm’s efforts toward Recruitment, Hiring, Advancing and Retention of lawyers firmwide. As Minneapolis Paralegal Partner, he will also be committed to and responsible for the recruiting, retention and engagement of paralegals in the Minneapolis office.

What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
People – including partners and our administrative team – who invested in me early and often was key to me continuing to develop and build a practice.

What kind of challenges have you overcome in your path to this new role
New to the Twin Cities market, I interviewed while heavily pregnant and started at the firm when my daughter was 4 months. Within two years my son arrived. Ramping up slowly, then ramping down and back up again was difficult, and I took my time to create the balance that I needed at work and at home. As such, it took me longer to build a practice than I had anticipated, and while my colleagues never wavered in their support, my internal drive to succeed was frustrated. By continuing to just do the best work on the projects that I had time to take, and not worrying about the things that I couldn’t be involved in, I found a path that worked for me.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Just keep at and be true to yourself. There will be more opportunities to do good work than there is time to do it all. You have to actively work to shape your career and practice for you. If you take a backseat to managing your career, you will have the career and practice that other people thought you should have.

What’s once piece of advice you would like to share with the TCDIP community about how legal employers can advance and retain more attorneys of color in the Twin Cities?
You cannot assume that your attorneys are happy and content with what they have achieved so far, with the work that you’ve done to advance and retain them thus far. You have to ask the hard questions, and when people are willing to give you their hard truths, you have to listen and take it to heart without being defensive or dismissive. If attorneys of color are willing to talk with you about any difficulties they are experiencing, you should assume that they left 90% of the challenges unsaid. If you wait too long to have these discussions, you may be forced to have them at an exit interview.

What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
Central to what contributed to my promotion is consistency. I consistently demonstrated strong business acumen, collaboration skills and leadership.

What kind of challenges have you overcome in your path to this new role?
There are all kinds of challenges we face and will continue to face professionally and personally as we seek to make a difference and realize our own potential. One challenge that I had to overcome in my journey is maintaining self-confidence. Understanding the subtle differences in being courageous and being confident was important for me and my development as a leader. Having the fortitude to persevere through challenging situations did not always mean that I was confident in my own ability. I focused on building confidence as part of my core being. It is who I am without reservation.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
One piece of advice that I received that I would like to share with other attorneys of color is that what got you to this point may not advance you further. Reflect on what is in the way of you becoming the person you want to be. We need to prepare ourselves – through skill sets, capabilities and expertise – to show up and be counted on when it matters.

What’s once piece of advice you would like to share with the TCDIP community about how legal employers can advance and retain more attorneys of color in the Twin Cities?
I have been blessed to have many people throughout my life who encourage, coach, correct, mentor and support me. It is vitally important for legal employers to invest time, energy and resources into developing and maintaining meaningful professional relationships with attorneys of color. In addition to committed mentorship and sponsorship programs, legal employers can either develop or provide access to leadership programs designed to enhance leadership and management skills and capabilities. This purposeful investment provides a framework for mutual accountability among attorneys of color and legal employers for the future.

What kind of challenges have you overcome in your path to this new role?
Regardless of your background, focus on gaining the most experience you can, especially in specific areas of practice that interest you. Nothing can replace experience in a particular practice area, and gaining substantive knowledge and building your personal brand name in this practice will take your career to the next level.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Legal employers are starting to understand that clients are diverse, and this requires equally diverse attorneys who can bring a variety of experience and thoughts. To attract, retain, and advance more attorneys of color or other diverse backgrounds, legal employers need to accept different thought processes.

What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
It’s not “what” has contributed to my promotion but, rather, “who” contributed to my promotion. There are countless mentors–both formal and informal–who made my promotion a reality. From the judges I worked with during my clerkship and senior lawyers at my former firm, to my mentors at Faegre, I am the fortunate beneficiary of invaluable guidance and support along the way.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Master your craft. Become the best lawyer you can and learn how to be the best advocate possible. After that, find mentors and advisors to give you the help you need (and everyone needs it). You will stumble along the way but lean on your mentors and advisors, stay the course, and you will succeed.

What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
There are many things that contributed, but these three stand out:1. I find the work very interesting. There is great variety, it is global in nature, and very challenging! The work provides me with the opportunity to collaborate with other functions and to engage with our senior leadership team regularly. 2. I have great support from my leaders. Michael Duran, who is our Vice President and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, was very supportive, as was his predecessor, Veena Lakkundi. Our Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Ivan Fong, was also very supportive and took time to work with me personally on my professional development. 3. I have a great team that is very smart and works hard. We all love and believe in the importance of the work that we do and that makes it fun.

What kind of challenges have you overcome in your path to this new role?
I first came into my role on an interim basis and there were several high-profile matters that needed to be addressed all at once. All the while I was continuing to wrap up my work for the Litigation group and learning how to manage a global team. It was a lot to try to balance initially.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
Make connections! Your current colleagues or classmates can help you find a path to a great job down the line. Be willing to take risks and try different things. I never thought I would be in-house doing what I am doing now. Throughout my career I have been willing to take on new challenges and new roles and have found it to be rewarding.

What’s once piece of advice you would like to share with the TCDIP community about how legal employers can advance and retain more attorneys of color in the Twin Cities?
Invest in your people. Demonstrate through your actions that there are real opportunities to grow your career in the organization and to take on interesting and challenging work. Be committed to their growth and development and they will be more committed to staying.

What’s something that contributed to your promotion that you would like to share?
The attorneys at Greene Espel have been incredibly supportive of my growth as an attorney. I appreciate their mentorship and commitment to seeing me succeed.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with attorneys of color who are looking to rise in their careers?
To other attorneys of color, I say this: You are not an imposter. You are just as qualified as your peers. And you belong at the table. Don’t let anyone (including yourself) tell you otherwise.