Action Step – Speaking Success

The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility.  Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.

SPEAKING SUCCESS

A recurring theme among the Alliance’s Flex Success™ Award winners, Spotlight on Flex features, and other diverse leaders highlighted at Alliance programs is that someone  – usually a leader in the organization – spoke success to them early in their careers. That is, someone in a position of power clearly communicated the expectation that these individuals would achieve leadership roles and other success markers within the organization and in their careers. While many who speak success go on to become sponsors by investing their time, talent, and knowledge so others can succeed, speaking success is a critical first step on that journey…

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Spotlight on Flex – Kristine Sendek-Smith

The Spotlight on Flex showcases professionals from member organizations who exemplify personal and professional success while working a flexible schedule. Their stories illustrate the long-term benefits that flexible schedules offer to both individuals and organizations.

This month, we are pleased to share insights from Kristine Sendek-Smith, Partner in the Washington, DC office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.

Kristine Sendek SmithDiversity & Flexibility Alliance: How have you made flexibility a priority and a success with your career? How have clients contributed to your flex success?

Kristine Sendek-Smith: As lawyers, we have varying degrees of “Type A” personalities, and work-life balance implies equilibrium. But that’s not reality, and it’s hard for a lot of us to come to terms with. I like the Alliance’s term “work-life control” instead; flexibility is a delicate thing, and what works for one individual may not work for another. But technology, along with a give-and-take attitude, will help keep the trains running wherever you are.

Even though I started my legal career as a summer associate at Akin and then as a first year litigation associate here in 1997, I left in 2000 to work for a small environmental defense firm. My career path then took me to the US Attorney’s Office in Baltimore, Civil Division, for five years. While there, I had my daughter and started working a part-time schedule. I was lucky to be in a division with wonderful, female mentors, some of whom were also on a reduced hours schedule. In 2010, I returned to Akin on an 80% schedule (meaning, for me, I’m out of the office on Fridays), and I became partner while working flexibly. The firm has been amazing with supporting and implementing its Reduced Work Schedule Policy under the leadership of our chair, Kim Koopersmith. Last year, we elected 14 new partners, of which three were on a flex schedule.

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Upcoming Event -Signature Seminar Series

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s bi-monthly Signature Seminar Series explores a mix of organizational solutions and individual strategies related to inclusion, retention, and workplace flexibility.

There’s no doubt that business development is a key to success.  But how do we avoid the pitfalls of over-extending, over-exhausting, and over-committing ourselves to things all in the name of business development?  Learning to say no is just as important to your personal and professional success.  Listen as Sara Holtz, Founder & CEO of ClientFocus and author of Bringin’ in the Rain, guides us through the art of saying no to take back control of what really matters and enhances our careers.
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The Alliance’s New Partner Report Featured in National Publications

The findings of the Alliance’s 2015 New Partner Report have been featured by numerous national publications, including the American Bar Association Journal, the American Lawyer, Crain’s Chicago Business, Law360, and the Wall Street Journal:

Which major firms promoted zero women to partner this year? by Debra Cassens Weiss

At Some Firms More Than Others, Women Lag Among New Partners by Julie Triedman

Guess which Chicago law firm has promoted the most female partners by Claire Bushey

Female Attys Make Modest Gains In Partner Promotions by Andrew Strickler

Legal Industry Potpourri: Demand Down, More Women Advancing by Sara Randazzo Read more

Share of Women Among New Partners Rebounds

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Releases Its Annual New Partner Report

WASHINGTON, DC, November 9, 2015 — Women constitute over one-third of 2015 new partner classes in the U.S. offices of the nation’s major law firms, according to data collected by the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”). At 34.4 percent, the share of women among new partner classes has climbed over two percentage points from last year (32 percent in 2014), and meets the figure from 2013. Key findings from the report include: Read more

Highlights from the Alliance’s 2015 Flex Success™ Leadership Institute

On October 28 & 29, 2015, the Alliance held its second annual Flex Success™ Leadership Institute at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Washington, DC.  The Institute was a success with nationally recognized faculty teaching registrants from top law firms about confidence, business development, sponsorship, negotiation skills, interrupting bias, and developing a leadership plan. Here are some of the highlights: Read more

Upcoming Event -Signature Seminar Series

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s bi-monthly Signature Seminar Series explores a mix of organizational solutions and individual strategies related to inclusion, retention, and workplace flexibility.

Effective pitching is directly related to your bottom line.  Join us as Suzanne Franchetti of Franchetti Communications leads us through the Six Ways to Guarantee Your Pitch Cuts Through the Clutter.  This process, specifically designed for legal and professional services audiences, will provide the missing links to your presentation and media communication efforts. Whether you’re speaking to one person in an informal meeting, a large crowd at an industry event, or preparing to speak with the news media – partners, associates, and corporate legal teams will benefit from these messaging strategies when they need to: Read more

2016 Flex Success™ Award – Nominations Now Accepted!

2016 FSA Call for Nominations

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2016 Flex Success™ Award will be accepted from Monday, November 2, 2015 until Friday, December 18, 2015. Nominees will be notified of their status in January 2016 and winners will be presented with the Flex Success™ Award at the Alliance’s 2016 Annual Conference, which will take place on March 16, 2016, at Jones Day in Washington, DC. Read more

Pitching Success: Six Ways to Guarantee Your Pitch Cuts Through the Clutter

November 2015

Featuring – Suzanne Franchetti, President, Franchetti Communications

You have only a few moments to capture someone’s attention…How do you reduce the risk of being just another distraction? Effective pitching is directly related to your bottom line. Suzanne Franchetti will lead participants through the Six Ways to Guarantee Your Pitch Cuts Through the Clutter.  This process, specifically designed for legal and professional services audiences, will provide the missing links to your presentation and media communication efforts. Whether you’re speaking to one person in an informal meeting, a large crowd at an industry event, or preparing to speak with the news media – partners, associates, and corporate legal teams will benefit from these messaging strategies.