Empowering Women in Law Leadership
Starting a law practice after encountering frustration as a partner or an associate in a traditional law firm is not uncommon for women attorneys. But growing a law practice from a solo or partnership practice into a mid or large sized firm takes a variety of skill sets –leadership among them.
“The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t often hinges directly upon the ability to lead a team,” says conference organizer Jennifer C. Goddard, CEO of Integrity Marketing Solutions, a law firm consulting firm. “The equine experiential learning process is immediate and direct. What you learn in the arena, working with a certified facilitator and horses, can be applied right away in the law firm.”
The conference takes place from September 12 – 14, 2018 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs and at nearby Legacy Ranch, where a full roster of speakers will complement the structured horse work with sessions on leadership and empowering women in law. The faculty includes Ginny Telego, President and Founder of The Collaboration Partners. Ms. Telego is a Certified Advanced Facilitator and Master Trainer with the Equine Experiential Education Association (E3A) who coaches clients to be more effective leaders in their organizations and communities.
Additional confirmed speakers are:
- Victoria Collier, JD, The Estate and Asset Protection Law Firm
- Wendy Witt, JD,Founder and President, Attorney Alchemy
- Jennifer Goddard, M.S.,Founder and CEO of Integrity Marketing Solutions
- Jena Sawyer, M.Ed., Founder, Jena Sawyer Coaching and Development
- Molly Hall, Co-Founder, Hiring and Empowering Solutions
- Laney Lyons , Co-Founder, Hiring and Empowering Solutions
- Patricia McLelland,President, Pro-Soft Associates
Central to the conference are the Legacy Ranch horses, selected for their abilities as teachers and partners. Their innate sense of human behavior, combined with guidance from the professional equine learning facilitator team, creates a unique experience that has consistently revealed leadership abilities—as well as challenges – in attorneys attending programs at Legacy Ranch.
“We have been hosting law firm retreats at Legacy Ranch for the past year,” says Goddard. “The horse work, which we usually incorporate into the first day, has proven to be invaluable in setting the stage for breakthrough thinking and transformation.”
Goddard explains that it can be difficult for attorneys to get accurate feedback from the people around them. “Remember, whether working with staff, colleagues or supervisors, everyone we relate with has their own agenda and filter.”
One recent client visited Legacy Ranch for help pushing her law firm past its current limits. In discussions about her mission and values, Goddard says she described herself as “a smart and compassionate lawyer who cares deeply about people.”
But when she arrived at the Ranch, Goddard and her staff got a completely different vibe. “She was cutting, demanding and dismissive. She really came across as a bit of a dragon lady to us.”
Day One at the Ranch started with some simple activities in the arena with one of the Ranch’s most laid-back, easy-going horses. Goddard says her client was so aggressive in every interaction that the horse became quite agitated. When asked to assess what was happening, the client responded that the horse was “not listening” to her and became even more aggressive toward him.
A few moments later, Goddard says the horse yanked the lead rope out of her hands and took off, putting as much space between him and his aggressor as he possibly could.
“You know what? I don’t think ANYONE within her circle had the courage to stand up to her when she was acting like that. No one had spoken to her like that … at least not in a very long time, if ever! But my horse absolutely did not care how many letters she had after her name, whether she was successful, said she was caring and compassionate, or admitted to being a dragon lady.”
The next morning when her client rejoined the team in the conference room, Goddard says she came in quietly and said she had been thinking about her experience with the horse.
“I don’t want to show up like that,” she said. “I care deeply about people. I want to serve. But I see that I am not showing up like that in my interactions. Let’s re-boot, please. I want to change my image.”
Her story is not unique. Authenticity in leadership is hard for everyone, but it’s particularly tough for lawyers. That strong need to maintain a professional image can be the number one obstacle to authenticity.
Working on a professional leadership image is not about projecting anything fake or false. It’s about surfacing and polishing behaviors and skills that allow your authentic self to be most effective.
Registration is now open for the Empowering Women in Law Leadership 2018 conference at https://integritymarketing.lpages.co/empowerment-retreat/. Early Bird discounts are available through the end of July.