understanding and equalizing the playing field.
Conversations with Successful Women Blog Series - Post #1
Brittany Myers enjoying time with her young family in Louisiana
There are individuals who not only excel but also inspire those around them. One such woman is Brittany Myers, a mother of two from Northern Louisiana, who has navigated a distinguished career in law for over 12 years. Brittany's story is a testament to the power of dedication, adaptability, and the value of continuous learning.
In this personal and inspiring discussion, we dove into Brittany's career journey, shedding light on what led her to choose a career in law, the obstacles she has overcame, how she balances work and family life, and her advice for women navigating the intricate playing field of business. Additionally, Brittany shares insights for organizations looking to level the playing field for all.
The Game Changer: Brittany Myers
Brittany is no stranger to the complexities of a career, especially in the challenging field of law. As the Deputy General Counsel of a prominent manufacturing company, she held a high-level position and shouldered numerous responsibilities and urgencies. Despite the demands of her role, Brittany always found time to assist her colleagues, extending her hand to help with even the smallest of inquiries. Her warm smile and compassionate demeanor made her not just a leader but also a collaborator. Brittany's achievements speak to her unwavering commitment. She successfully guided our organization through a large merger and acquisition, demonstrating her strength as a strategic thinker. Her accolades extend beyond her legal prowess, including her status as a top-ranking graduate at LSU Law, earning honors and recognition as one of North Louisiana's "Top 20 under 40."
Brittany's journey is not just about her impressive career. She is a mother of two, highlighting the complex intersection of work and family life. Being a busy mom means that she needs to find balance in life. Outside of work, she loves running and walking. She knows the importance of exercise and incorporates activity to her daily life. At home, with her family she loves to bake. Her children are learning some of her mastered recipes such as an impressive chocolate chip cheesecake and classic chocolate chip cookies. And of course, being from Louisiana they love making Shrimp Etouffee. Because balance, right?
Early Influences: A Family of Educators
I asked Brittany, as a child what she wanted to be “when she grew up”. Surprisingly enough, she always had a desire to enter a career in the legal field. Coming from a family of teachers and public servants, she was the first of her family to go to Law School. Her father, a professor in paleontology, often joked “she went to the dark side”.
All jokes aside, her journey to seek a career she felt passionate about began with a solid foundation of inspiration from her parents, both dedicated educators passionate about their career paths. Her father's passion for paleontology and her mother's commitment to teaching, especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas left an indelible mark on her. Witnessing their devotion to their respective fields, Brittany learned the power of passion and the joy of making a meaningful impact.
The Path Less Traveled: Discovering the In-House World
Brittany always enjoyed helping people. Her bachelor’s degree is in Communications, and she has a master’s degree in Communications with a focus on counseling and interpersonal communication. Working with her, I know her to have a service mindset. She views herself as a support function, listens intently, empathizes with others needs and loves to come to a solution with others.
After graduating at the top of her class and achieving honors in law school, Brittany found herself in the private practice, a path many law graduates tread. However, it didn't take long for her to realize that litigation wasn't her calling. Litigation, by its nature tends to be adversarial. As a new graduate, paying off student loans, the realization she wasn’t fulfilled in private practice could have been disheartening, but it became the first turning point in her career.
Brittany's journey took an unexpected but transformative turn when she met Max Cox, an in-house lawyer with over a decade of experience. Max's stories about his in-house career opened her eyes to new possibilities. This encounter became a pivotal moment, demonstrating that there are alternative paths for lawyers beyond traditional litigation.
Embracing Change and Embracing Learning:
As Brittany delved into the world of in-house law, she discovered the importance of understanding the business she served. Her eagerness to learn the ins and outs of the products and services her company offered marked another milestone. This commitment to understanding the business and leveraging her legal expertise to support it allowed her to diversify her role and explore different facets of law.
Brittany's curiosity and willingness to adapt led her to the world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), a field she grew to love. She learned that in an in-house role, there's room to explore various responsibilities, from project management to contract review. This adaptability not only made her a valuable asset to her employers but also kept her engaged and fulfilled.
Investing in Yourself: A Key to Career Success:
Brittany's journey underscores a critical lesson for professionals, especially women: invest in yourself. While commitment to one's employer is essential, she highlights the importance of prioritizing your own knowledge and skill development. The expertise and experience you accumulate are portable assets that benefit you throughout your career.
The Excitement of Constant Learning:
Today, Brittany finds herself in a new role at Siemens, where she continues to embrace new challenges and opportunities. What fuels her passion? The chance to work on mergers and acquisitions, a field she's passionate about. The integration work she's involved in and the exposure to diverse products and services invigorate her daily routine.
Brittany's enthusiasm for learning, coupled with her appreciation for a company that invests in integration and knowledge, showcases her commitment to growth. Her excitement about cross-training, template management, and product support exemplifies her dedication to understanding the intricacies of her company's operations.
Brittany's career journey speaks to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and a commitment to self-improvement. Her path, which includes pivots, self-discovery, and a dedication to lifelong learning, can be an inspiration for women professionals and anyone striving for success in their chosen field.
Brittany’s story reminds us that success isn't always a linear path; it's about staying true to your passions, adapting to change, and never ceasing to invest in yourself. In her own words, "Knowledge benefits you the most, right? You carry that knowledge and what you learn and the soft skills, the hard skills, all of that with you.".
Navigating the Corporate Landscape: Insights and Inspiration for Women:
In a world where women continue to face unique challenges in the workforce, I needed to know, what challenges had Brittany has faced in her career. As a successful professional in a male-dominated field, she definitely has encountered and overcome obstacles that many women can relate to.
Breaking Through in a Male-Dominated Field:
Brittany acknowledges the stark reality of her profession: she often finds herself as the sole woman in the room or, if there are other women, they are not attorneys. This gender imbalance highlights the challenges women continue to face in male-dominated industries.
One significant challenge she highlights is the intersection of her career and motherhood. Balancing the responsibilities of a demanding job with those of a mother can be daunting. This struggle to juggle work and family life adds a unique filter through which women view their professional lives. She describes one of the biggest challenges in her career has been taking a snapshot of the season of life she is at and how does she get balance to work in that season. She recognizes that women have different season in life than a lot of men do, and that tends to be difficult.
The Quality vs. Quantity Conundrum:
I brought up a McKinsey Report I read on Women in the Workplace. The report states women in business are often tasked with more responsibilities but often receive less recognition for these responsibilities.
It was interesting to hear that she had also experienced the issue of women being tasked with more administrative and time-consuming responsibilities compared to their male counterparts. She observes that these tasks are often seen as less challenging, which may lead to the misconception that they are less important. This disparity in roles can result in women dedicating more time to their work without receiving equal recognition.
Navigating the Obstacles - Advice from Brittany:
Brittany offers valuable advice for women facing similar challenges:
Communication is Key: One important lesson she has learned is the importance of open and honest communication with your manager or superiors. She reflects on her own experiences and wishes she had communicated her feelings and perspectives more effectively. Don't be afraid to voice your concerns or perceptions.
Mentoring and Support: Brittany emphasizes the importance of mentorship and support. She has mentored young women in law school, college, and early in their legal careers, sharing her own experiences and insights. These relationships provide guidance and help young women navigate the complexities of their professions.
Understanding What Women Need:
I asked Brittany, based on her experience, what did she think that organizations could do better to support women in their workforce.
Her advice to organizations is that they should make a conscious effort to understand what women truly need in the workplace. Brittany highlights the need for a deeper conversation about flexibility, childcare, and other aspects of work-life balance. It's essential to move beyond assumptions and create policies and practices that align with the real needs of working women.
Promoting Acceptance: Brittany calls for a shift in workplace culture where women's needs are not seen as asking for permission or forgiveness but as an accepted part of the work environment. Achieving gender equality requires recognizing and accommodating the diverse challenges women face in their careers.
It is essential to create an environment where women's perspectives and experiences are valued and accommodated. By doing so, we empower women to thrive in their careers while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I loved how she described the playing fields “If we’re ever going to equal the playing field you have to understand that my playing field may be a baseball field and I can’t play on a football field.” Organizations need to understand the bases where people are coming from and cannot use an assumed base for all.
On Balancing Career, Family, and Self
Uncharted Paths - Career and Family:
Britt didn't always envision herself juggling a high-pressure career with a family. She entered her career with uncertainty about the compatibility of her ambitious professional goals and the desire to have a family. The challenging nature of litigation and the demanding work hours raised doubts about her future as a working mother.
Britt's journey into her career, marriage, and motherhood was a gradual process. She started her career as a single professional, making decisions based on her career trajectory. Marriage and family came later, requiring her to adapt to the evolving seasons of life.
Balancing Act - Strategies for Success:
Brittany shared her strategies for achieving a balance between her career, family, and personal life. Part of this process for her really involved taking stock of what was important to her and truly writing down a list of her absolute needs and wants. The items she listed were very specific, she didn’t generalize, so that she could build her strategy for balancing her career and family, to find another level of happiness in both.
Seeking Flexibility: She recognized the need for flexibility to manage her roles effectively. Transitioning to a remote job allowed her to optimize her time by eliminating the need for frequent travel. This shift not only improved her work-life balance but also increased her efficiency.
Prioritizing Family Time: Brittany is intentional about allocating quality time to her family. She identified the importance of creating lasting memories with her children by planning vacations and participating actively in their daily lives, like taking her daughter to school daily. Prioritization of family moments ensures she doesn't miss out on precious experiences.
Self-Reflection and Self-Worth: Imposter syndrome is a common struggle for professionals, and Brittany is no exception. Her approach to combatting self-doubt is a powerful reminder of the importance of self-awareness and self-worth. She emphasizes acknowledging your strengths and limitations and seeking to learn and grow rather than feeling like an impostor. I loved her advice on being open about what you know and what you do not know. Being as prepared as possible, if you are honest and say “I’m excited to be here, I want to learn. Here is what I know. Tell me what I don’t know.” People are very receptive.
The Future - Nurturing Expertise and Beyond:
As she looks into the future, Brittany shares her vision of honing her expertise in the ever-evolving field of technology and software for the next few years. She recognizes the significance of acquiring specialized skills that will remain in demand. Beyond that, who knows what the future holds. Perhaps she will be open to new opportunities, such as contemplating a transition to a smaller company where she can assume a leadership role.
Advice for Her Younger Self:
We started the discussion by talking about what Brittany wanted to be “when she grew up”. I needed to know, if she could go back to speak to her younger self, what advice would she give that little girl?
Looking back on her journey, Brittany imparts a valuable lesson to her younger self – the importance of confidence, humor, and not taking life too seriously. Her advice encourages embracing life's moments, fostering self-assuredness, and finding joy in the journey.
Brittany's journey is a source of inspiration for women who aspire to excel in their careers, maintain loving families, and nurture personal growth. Her story resonates with the universal theme of balance and the pursuit of self-discovery. Brittany's wisdom, coupled with her unwavering determination, reminds us that achieving a harmonious life is not just possible—it's within our grasp.